Physics Offers Two Tenure

The Physics Department has offered tenured posts to two high energy physicists, one of whom would be the first-ever woman senior faculty member in the department, officials said yesterday.

Loeb Associate Professor of the Natural Sciences Melissa Franklin and Fermi Institute staff scientist John E. Huth were notified yesterday morning that Harvard had extended them lifetime positions.

If she accepts the offer, Franklin will be the first woman ever promoted to tenure from within the department, according to Senior Lecturer on Physics Margaret E. Law.

Department chair Howard M. Georgi '68 said yesterday that he and his colleagues were very pleased that both appointments had been approved by the president, and said he hoped the scholars will accept the offer.

"I expect these people will eventually be the leaders in the field," he said. "We are excited about themcoming. We've had a very great tradition in thisfield."

Franklin and Huth have worked together at theFermi Institute on a number of projects involvingthe Colliding Detector at Fermi, the Institute'sparticle accelerator. They met in 1981, working asgraduate students at the Stanford LinearAccelerator.

Both professors are involved in the search forthe sixth quark--sometimes called the "topquark"--thought by many physicists to be the finalundiscovered part of the atom.

Franklin, who is in her mid-thirties, calledthe chances of her accepting the offer "prettyhigh" yesterday.

Huth said last night that the offer "lookedpretty good.

"It's a very attractive offer, and I think thechances are fairly good that I'll take it," hesaid."

He said that his decision will be based on whatkind of program he can put together with Franklinand other members of the Physics Department.

The scientist also said he would like to becomemore familiar with Harvard before making up hismind, since he had not spent much time inCambridge outside of a few visits and guestlectures.

Huth said that he holds the Harvard Physicsfaculty in "high esteem."

"It has one of the best reputations of theuniversities in this country," he said.

Another draw, he said, would be Franklin'spresence at Harvard, if she accepts. "She'sextremely intelligent, is a hard worker, andbrings a tremendous amount of passion to herwork," he said.

Both must now undergo formal negotiations withDean of the Faculty Jeremy R. Knowles beforesigning a formal contract.

Physics graduate students praised Franklinyesterday, citing her teaching skills and lack ofpretense.

'Different Style'

"We're very pleased," said Colin P. Jessup, asixth-year graduate student. "She's a verydifferent style of professor, and we needed moreyoung professors. We like her a lot."

Assistant Dean of the Faculty for AcademicPlanning Joseph J. McCarthy, who helps oversee theFaculty's affirmative action planning, saidyesterday that Franklin's appointment from withinthe department was "good news."

"This is exactly what we hope will beaccomplished," he said. "We've tried to makeprogress in this area."

Franklin served as a junior fellow in thePhysics Department before being appointedassistant professor in 1989. In 1991, she waspromoted to associate professor as part of a fouryear appointment.

Normally, a junior faculty member serves fouryears as associate professor before being reviewedfor tenure, but Georgi said that it was "clearlytime" to promote Franklin.

Huth has been at the Fermi Institute, locatedin West Chicago, Ill., since 1985.

Georgi said that Franklin would be a welcomeaddition to the department. "I've believed forsome time that we need more women on the faculty,"he said.

Franklin said that her appointment wouldhopefully strengthen the department's ties to itsyounger members.

"Students are the best part of the department,"she said. "There are a lot of undergraduate womeninterested in physics, without a lot ofconfidence. This should help inspire them."

McCarthy agreed that the appointment couldserve to inspire other women in the field.

"This should be real encouragement, not just atHarvard, but in the world of serious scienceoverall," he said. "I hope she accepts."

In addition to Law, the department has just onefemale junior faculty member. Neither holds tenuretrack positions

Franklin and Huth have worked together at theFermi Institute on a number of projects involvingthe Colliding Detector at Fermi, the Institute'sparticle accelerator. They met in 1981, working asgraduate students at the Stanford LinearAccelerator.

Both professors are involved in the search forthe sixth quark--sometimes called the "topquark"--thought by many physicists to be the finalundiscovered part of the atom.

Franklin, who is in her mid-thirties, calledthe chances of her accepting the offer "prettyhigh" yesterday.

Huth said last night that the offer "lookedpretty good.

"It's a very attractive offer, and I think thechances are fairly good that I'll take it," hesaid."

He said that his decision will be based on whatkind of program he can put together with Franklinand other members of the Physics Department.

The scientist also said he would like to becomemore familiar with Harvard before making up hismind, since he had not spent much time inCambridge outside of a few visits and guestlectures.

Huth said that he holds the Harvard Physicsfaculty in "high esteem."

"It has one of the best reputations of theuniversities in this country," he said.

Another draw, he said, would be Franklin'spresence at Harvard, if she accepts. "She'sextremely intelligent, is a hard worker, andbrings a tremendous amount of passion to herwork," he said.

Both must now undergo formal negotiations withDean of the Faculty Jeremy R. Knowles beforesigning a formal contract.

Physics graduate students praised Franklinyesterday, citing her teaching skills and lack ofpretense.

'Different Style'

"We're very pleased," said Colin P. Jessup, asixth-year graduate student. "She's a verydifferent style of professor, and we needed moreyoung professors. We like her a lot."

Assistant Dean of the Faculty for AcademicPlanning Joseph J. McCarthy, who helps oversee theFaculty's affirmative action planning, saidyesterday that Franklin's appointment from withinthe department was "good news."

"This is exactly what we hope will beaccomplished," he said. "We've tried to makeprogress in this area."

Franklin served as a junior fellow in thePhysics Department before being appointedassistant professor in 1989. In 1991, she waspromoted to associate professor as part of a fouryear appointment.

Normally, a junior faculty member serves fouryears as associate professor before being reviewedfor tenure, but Georgi said that it was "clearlytime" to promote Franklin.

Huth has been at the Fermi Institute, locatedin West Chicago, Ill., since 1985.

Georgi said that Franklin would be a welcomeaddition to the department. "I've believed forsome time that we need more women on the faculty,"he said.

Franklin said that her appointment wouldhopefully strengthen the department's ties to itsyounger members.

"Students are the best part of the department,"she said. "There are a lot of undergraduate womeninterested in physics, without a lot ofconfidence. This should help inspire them."

McCarthy agreed that the appointment couldserve to inspire other women in the field.

"This should be real encouragement, not just atHarvard, but in the world of serious scienceoverall," he said. "I hope she accepts."

In addition to Law, the department has just onefemale junior faculty member. Neither holds tenuretrack positions