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td21
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History question:
I searched all over the web and cannot find the answer. I knew that Albert Einstein earned his phd from university of zurich.
from wiki:
In 1900, Einstein was awarded the Zürich Polytechnic teaching diploma.
(Between 1900 to 4/30/1905, I deduced that Einstein was unemployed and working for jobs like clerk.)
On 30 April 1905, Einstein completed his thesis, with Alfred Kleiner, Professor of Experimental Physics, serving as pro-forma advisor. Einstein was awarded a PhD by the University of Zürich.
(Therefore, I am curious of how he could complete a PhD when he was unemployed and working full time in 5 years)
It would be great if you could provide me with historical writings in this aspect.
Thank you very much.
Answers and Replies
- #2
jedishrfu
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This reference may help:
http://www.csun.edu/~dchoudhary/Physics-Year_files/ed_diss.pdf
- #3
HallsofIvy
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"unemployed and working full time"?
- #4
SteamKing
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HallsofIvy said:
"unemployed and working full time"?
That's how Einstein came up with the Theory of Relativity.
- #5
dipole
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SteamKing said:
That's how Einstein came up with the Theory of Relativity.
Employment is relative!
- #6
Vahsek
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dipole said:
Employment is relative!
Haha. Good one.
- #7
jedishrfu
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dipole said:
Employment is relative!
Especially if you're employed by relatives.
- #8
Curious3141
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jedishrfu said:
Especially if you're employed by relatives.
Nepotism is a rather relative business.
- #9
td21
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Yes, he was unemployed for a brief period of time. After posting the question, I also find a brief history of what Albert Einstein was doing between 1900 (undergrad graduation) to 1905 (award of PhD):
http://www.biography.com/people/Albert-einstein-9285408#marriage-and-family
"After graduating from the Polytechnic Institute, Albert Einstein faced a series of life crises over the next few years. Because he liked to study on his own, he cut classes and earned the animosity of some of his professors. One in particular, Heinrich Weber, wrote a letter of recommendation at Einstein’s request that led to him being turned down for every academic position that he applied to after graduation. Meanwhile, Einstein's relationship with Maric deepened, but his parents vehemently opposed the relationship citing her Serbian background and Eastern Orthodox Christian religion. Einstein defied his parents and continued to see Maric. In January, 1902, the couple had a daughter, Lieserl, who either died of sickness or was given up for adoption—the facts are unkown.
At this point, Albert Einstein probably reached the lowest point in his life. He could not marry Maric and support a family without a job, and his father's business had gone bankrupt. Desperate and unemployed, Einstein took lowly jobs tutoring children, but he was unable to hold on to any of them. A turning point came later in 1902, when the father of his lifelong friend, Marcel Grossman, recommended him for a position as a clerk in the Swiss patent office in Bern, Switzerland. About this time, Einstein’s father became seriously ill and just before he died, gave his blessing for him to marry. With a small but steady income, Einstein married Maric on Jan. 6, 1903. In May, 1904 they had their first son, Hans Albert."
I am amazed how he found a way to gain a PhD degree from Zurich (but how he did that is still quite mysterious to me and I find this webpage after posting the question and this webpage does not tell me how he obtained admission). In my opinion, this is not very likely to happen in today's world.
- #10
Evo
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You might like this website "CHRONOLOGY OF EINSTEIN'S LIFE" http://www.einstein-website.de/z_biography/chronological_table.html
I have found several website's that say that Einstein received his PhD for his paper "A New Determination of Molecular Dimensions".
Again here
Einstein earned a doctorate from the University of Zurich in 1905 for a thesis On a new determination of molecular dimensions. He dedicated the thesis to Grossmann.
http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/Biographies/Einstein.html
It does not appear that he actually attended at the time from what I can find.
- #11
D H
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td21 said:
I am amazed how he found a way to gain a PhD degree from Zurich (but how he did that is still quite mysterious to me and I find this webpage after posting the question and this webpage does not tell me how he obtained admission). In my opinion, this is not very likely to happen in today's world.
It happens a lot more than you would think. There's even a name and an acronym for Einstein's state between early 1902 (when he submitted his first thesis) and 1905 (when he submitted his second thesis, which was accepted in an amazingly short time).
The acronym is "ABD". It stands for "All But Dissertation" or sometimes even "All But Defense". A graduate student might get married, have a kid, and then find out that the grad student pauper life doesn't fit with having a family. Or a graduate student's advisor might have a heart attack and die, leaving the student in a terrible bind. All kinds of things can happen that makes someone leave graduate school, sometimes shortly before they would nominally receive that PhD. I've worked with a number of ABDs over my career, and some of them did eventually finish up what they left behind, eventually receiving that PhD.
- #12
f95toli
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At one point Einstein actually applied for a position in Kamerlingh Onnes lab (which was the first "modern" research lab in the world) but was turned down. This was perhaps in retrospect a good thing. I don't think Einstein would have been able to do the work he did if he had been busy liquefying helium:tongue:
(although the lab did generate an amazing number of discoveries during those years)
- #13
jtbell
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td21 said:
I am amazed how he found a way to gain a PhD degree from Zurich (but how he did that is still quite mysterious to me
From the link given in post #2:
Since the ETH was not authorized to grant doctoral degrees until 1909, a special arrangement enabled ETH students to obtain doctorates from the University of Zürich.
- #14
There is more to this Einstein mistery.
https://www.brainpickings.org/2015/06/12/einstein-divorce/
his first wife Mila got in a divorce settelment mony from Einstein Nobel price , the price he got some 3 years later. How did they know he would get it?
- #15
Evo
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el hombre said:
There is more to this Einstein mistery.
https://www.brainpickings.org/2015/06/12/einstein-divorce/
his first wife Mila got in a divorce settelment mony from Einstein Nobel price , the price he got some 3 years later. How did they know he would get it?
There is no mystery, it clearly says
The Nobel Prize — in the event of the divorce and in the event that it is bestowed upon me — would be ceded to you in full a priori.
(Video) Albert Einstein: The Size and Existence of Atoms
he did not know if he would get it, SAYS SO right there.
This is common in divorces where a wife may be awarded future compensation, for example a wife that gave up everything to put her husband through medical school can be awarded money years later when her husband gets rich from his medical practice.
Thread closed.
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FAQs
How did Einstein earn his PhD? ›
Einstein completed his Ph. D. thesis in 1905 with Professor Alfred Kleiner, who was an experimental physicist at the University of Zürich. He was awarded a doctorate degree with the dissertation entitled “A New Determination of Molecular Dimensions.
What was Einstein's PhD thesis about? ›In 1905, his annus mirabilis, or miracle year, Einstein published five groundbreaking papers. One of these papers was his doctoral thesis “Eine neue Bestimmung der Moleküldimensionen” (A New Determination of Molecular Dimensions), which he submitted to the University of Zurich.
Did Albert Einstein earn a PhD? ›On 30 April 1905 Einstein completed his dissertation, A New Determination of Molecular Dimensions with Alfred Kleiner, serving as pro-forma advisor. His thesis was accepted in July 1905, and Einstein was awarded a PhD on 15 January 1906.
Where did Einstein get his doctorate degree? ›2. Born on 14 March 1879 in Ulm, Germany, Albert Einstein was the most impactful physicist of the 20th century. He received a bachelor's degree from Swiss Federal Polytechnic in 1900 and a PhD from the University of Zurich in 1905.
Who earned the first PhD? ›In 1861, Yale awarded the first three earned PhDs in North America to Eugene Schuyler, Arthur Williams Wright, and James Morris Whiton, although honorary PhDs had been awarded in the US for almost a decade, with Bucknell University awarding the first to Ebenezer Newton Elliott in 1852.
Who has the most PhD in the world? ›Benjamin Bradley Bolger (born 1975) is an American perpetual student who has earned 17 degrees as of March 2022 and claims to be the second-most credentialed person in modern history after Michael W. Nicholson (who has 30 degrees). Like Nicholson, Bolger is from Michigan. Flint, Michigan, U.S.
How many Phds did Einstein have? ›Albert Einstein had one earned Ph. D. He received it from the University of Zurich, Switzerland, in 1905. Einstein's doctoral thesis was called 'A New Determination of Molecular Dimensions.
What researches and theories proved that Einstein was a genius? ›Einstein is also known for his theory of general relativity (an explanation of gravity), and the photoelectric effect (which explains the behavior of electrons under certain circumstances); his work on the latter earned him a Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921.
What is the shortest PhD thesis in the world? ›Among the shortest PhD dissertations in terms of total pages are John F. Nash's "Non-Cooperative Games" (1950). This dissertation is 24 pages long, and was completed in just three days. It discussed the theory of non-cooperative games, and was later published as a book.
Who was the youngest person to get a PhD? ›Karl Witte – Age 13
When he was still very young, he attended the University of Giessen in German and graduated with his doctorate at the age of 13. He still holds the Guinness Book of World Records' record for youngest doctorate and this distinction still stands.
Who has the youngest PhD? ›
The youngest person to be awarded a PhD is the German child prodigy Johann Heinrich Friedrich Karl Witte (born 10 July 1800; better known simply as Karl Witte), who received his doctorate from the University of Giessen, Germany, on 10 April 1814 at the age of 13 years 283 days.
Did Einstein have a PhD in philosophy? ›Einstein, who revolutionised physics, was awarded the doctorate of philosophy by the University of Zurich's mathematics and natural sciences department after finishing his doctoral thesis titled "A new determination of molecular dimensions" which explains how the size of atoms could be determined.
How many hours a day did Einstein study? ›Albert Einstein worked 10 hours a day, six days a week for years. He demonstrated a tremendous ability to focus on the work for extended periods and apply himself to big thinking.
What was Einstein's IQ level? ›Smarter than Einstein? Albert Einstein likely never took an IQ test but is estimated to have a 160 IQ—but even that can't stand up to these masterminds.
At what age did Einstein learn calculus? ›Albert Einstein didn't speak until he was three, but by age 12, he was already studying calculus. So it comes as no surprise that he would go on to revolutionize the world of science.
What is a PhD vs doctorate? ›A PhD is an academic degree focused on original research, data analysis, and the evaluation of theory. A professional doctorate focuses on applying research to practical problems, formulating solutions to complex issues, and designing effective professional practices within your field.
What is higher than PhD? ›The Doctor of Divinity (DDiv) and the Doctor of Civil Law (DCL) are considered by Oxford to outrank all other degrees, including a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. The DDiv is usually awarded for academic accomplishments beyond the PhD level.
How many years is a PhD? ›On average, a Ph. D. may take up to eight years to complete. A doctorate degree typically takes four to six years to complete—however, this timing depends on the program design, the subject area you're studying, and the institution offering the program.
What is the hardest PhD to get? ›What are the hardest subjects to get a PhD in? The hardest degree subjects are Aerospace Engineering, Law, Chartered Accountancy, Architecture, Chemistry, Medicine, Pharmacy, Psychology, Statistics, Nursing, Physics, Astrophysics, Biomedical Engineering, Astronomy, and Dentistry.
Which is the toughest degree in the world? ›- Chartered Accountancy.
- Astrophysics.
- Quantum Mechanics.
- Law.
- Aerospace/ Aeronautical Studies, Engineering.
- Biomedical Studies, Neurosciences, Biochemistry.
- Nursing.
- Dentistry, Medicine.
How many PhDs are billionaires? ›
On the flip side, “the masses are convinced that master's degrees and doctorates are the way to wealth,” Siebold notes. According to Wealth-X, only 22% of today's billionaires have a master's degree; 13% have an MBA and 10% have a Ph. D.; even fewer have a law degree (3%) or a degree in medicine (1%).
Why is Einstein considered a genius? ›Albert Einstein is widely regarded as a genius, but how did he get that way? Many researchers have assumed that it took a very special brain to come up with the theory of relativity and other stunning insights that form the foundation of modern physics.
How long is the average PhD thesis? ›Most dissertations are 100 to 300 pages in length. All dissertations should be divided into appropriate sections, and long dissertations may need chapters, main divisions, and subdivisions.
How many CEOs have PHDS? ›This indicates that the vast majority of CEOs have some sort of higher level education. We also find that nearly 20% of CEOs have a MBA degree whilst only 10% have a PhD.
What proved that Einstein theory was accurate? ›Bottom line: The solar eclipse of May 29, 1919, was the day astronomer Sir Arthur Eddington verified Einstein's general theory of relativity, by observing how stars near the sun were displaced from their normal positions.
How was Einstein a true genius How was he rewarded for his scientific achievements? ›He was awarded a Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the Photoelectric Effect in 1921. As declared by The Nobel Committee, he was awarded this prize "for his services to Theoretical Physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect."
What theory did Einstein disprove? ›Now scientists are coming for Einstein. New research confirms Einstein's theory of gravity but brings scientists a step closer to the day when it might be supplanted by something new. Albert Einstein can explain a lot, but maybe not black holes.
What is the easiest PhD to get? ›Generally, education, humanities, and the social sciences are considered the easiest fields in which to pursue degrees.
Is PhD shorter if you have a masters? ›A master's is a 1–2 year degree that can prepare you for a multitude of careers. A PhD, or doctoral degree, takes 3–7 years to complete (depending on the country) and prepares you for a career in academic research.
What is the quickest PhD to get? ›- Doctorate in Behavioral Health. ...
- Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision. ...
- Doctorate Ethereal Degree in Grief Counseling. ...
- Doctor of Occupational Therapy. ...
- Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy. ...
- Doctor of Nursing Practice.
What is the maximum age to do PhD? ›
There is no age limit for doing a PhD in India. Most PhDs take between three and five years to complete so it's worth considering what you want to do after completing your degree.
Why is a PhD called a PhD? ›Answer: PhD stands for Philosophiae Doctor, which is Latin for Doctor of Philosophy. A PhD is the terminal or highest attainable degree in most academic disciplines. Graduates from PhD programs are considered to have reached the top level of formal scholarship in that field.
How long is the shortest PhD? ›Professional students with a Doctor of Public Administration program have earned their doctorate credentials within three to four years. Considered as one of the shortest doctorate programs, the DPA program only requires a minimum of 49 credit hours of coursework and dissertation work.
What does PhD stand for? ›A Ph. D., or Doctor of Philosophy, is a high-level degree earned after a period of three or more years of graduate-level study, culminating in the creation, submission, presentation and defense of a research dissertation.
Who is the youngest Harvard PhD? ›...
Eugenie Carys de Silva.
Dr. Eugenie Carys de Silva | |
---|---|
Education | Bsc in Intelligence Analysis Msc in Intelligence Studies Msc in Liberal Arts PhD in Politics MPhil |
Only one United States President has earned a Doctor of Philosophy, Ph. D., degree. Woodrow Wilson, the nation's 28th President from 1913-1921, had the most extensive academic career of any United States President.
Is PhD always philosophy? ›PhD stands for Doctor of Philosophy. This is one of the highest level academic degrees that can be awarded. PhD is an abbreviation of the Latin term (Ph)ilosophiae (D)octor. Traditionally the term 'philosophy' does not refer to the subject but its original Greek meaning which roughly translates to 'lover of wisdom'.
Do people with PhD have high IQ? ›Originally Answered: What is the average IQ of PHds? It depends on the field. Generally above 120, similar to law and medicine. For physics and math, some estimates are around 145.
Did Einstein say 55 minutes? ›Einstein is quoted as having said, “If I had an hour to solve a problem I'd spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and five minutes thinking about solutions.” The point he makes is important: preparation has great value to problem solving. And what is any task worth doing but a problem to be solved.
What is Einstein 2 hour rule? ›Some of the most famous intellectuals and scientists spent time doing nothing but thinking. The author decided to implement a two-hour rule: just thinking with no distractions for two hours a week. It's helped solve problems and generate new ideas and solutions.
How did Einstein learn so much? ›
Einstein learned physics, not by dutifully attending classes, but by obsessively playing with the ideas and equations on his own. Doing, not listening, was the starting point for how he learned physics.
What is the IQ of Elon Musk? ›Elon Musk IQ is close to this starting point, with an estimated score of 155. The typical genius has an IQ of around 140.
What is IQ of Bill Gates? ›Bill Gates IQ was set at 160 IQ, which put him ahead of Warren Buffet and Elon Musk in the most recent rankings.
Who has 400 IQ? ›Marilyn vos Savant | |
---|---|
Born | Marilyn Mach August 11, 1946 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
Occupation | Author columnist |
Spouse | Robert Jarvik ( m. 1987) |
Children | 2 |
Genius may have come early for Einstein, who made his first major discovery at the tender age of 26, but according to a new study from the National Bureau of Economic Research, most scientists don't achieve their first big breakthrough until their late thirties.
Was Einstein a fast learner? ›Albert Einstein was considered a slow learner when he was young. He struggled with learning to speak, and with learning to write in English. His slow development caused him to be curious and interested in more ordinary things, things that most of us overlook—like time and space.
Who actually invented calculus? ›Today it is generally believed that calculus was discovered independently in the late 17th century by two great mathematicians: Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz.
How many PhD does Einstein have? ›Albert Einstein had one earned Ph. D. He received it from the University of Zurich, Switzerland, in 1905. Einstein's doctoral thesis was called 'A New Determination of Molecular Dimensions.
Has a PhD student won a Nobel Prize? ›In 1950, John Nash graduated from Princeton University with a doctorate in mathematics and a thesis that bore the simple title, "Non-Cooperative Games." In it, he laid out the underpinnings of game theory, and in 1994 he won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences with John C.
What does Einstein have a PhD in? ›By mid-1905, he was awarded his PhD in physics. By the end of 1905, he had published four seminal papers (they would later be known as the annus mirabilis papers), which established special relativity, the existence of atoms, and the photoelectric effect.
What is the fastest PhD? ›
- Doctorate in Behavioral Health. ...
- Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision. ...
- Doctorate Ethereal Degree in Grief Counseling. ...
- Doctor of Occupational Therapy. ...
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Norbert Wiener – Age 17
In 1909, Wiener graduated with his degree in Mathematics from Tufts. In 1909, Wiener went to Harvard University to begin graduate work in the field of Zoology. Apparently, his experience at Harvard in the Zoology department did not go well so he transferred to the department of Philosophy.
The shortest possible doctoral thesis in mathematics is one sentence long. Proof. One sentence is clearly a lower bound, because a thesis in mathematics must contain a proof. We show that this bound can be attained by the following explicit construction of a theoretically possible doctoral thesis.
Who is the most cited PhD student? ›Albert Einstein. Einstein's PhD thesis titled “A New Determination of Molecular Dimensions” was completed in 1906 and is the world's most cited work.
Can you get a PhD in intelligence? ›A PhD in intelligence studies allows vast opportunities to specialize. You can focus your research on a particular stage in the intelligence cycle, a type of intelligence collection or analysis, or intelligence policy applications.
Do you need high IQ for PhD? ›You can get a PhD with any IQ; it just might be easier to get one the more intelligent you are. If you're a 100, but willing to work damn hard, you can get one.