Photo of Nettie Maria Stevens

Nettie Maria Stevens

1861 - 1912
Genetics; Cytology
USA USA

Personal Information

Born: 1861

Died: 1912

Country of Birth: USA

Nationality: USA

Ethnicity: White

Education

Westfield State University 1883; Stanford University BA Physiology 1899 MA Biology 1900; Bryn Mawr College PhD Cytology 1903

Professional Life

Field of Study: Genetics; Cytology

Institution/Corporation: Bryn Mawr College; Carnegie Institute of Washington

Degrees & Memberships: none

Awards & Achievements

Awards: 1901-02 Presidendent's European Fellow; 1905 Ellen Richards Prize for the Best Scientific Paper Written by a Woman; 1908 Alice Freeman Palmer Fellowship; 1994 National Women's Hall of Fame; 2016 Google Doodle; 2017 Westfield State University opened the Dr. Nettie Maria Stevens Science & Innovation Center

Achievements: While working on her MA she discovered 2 new species of single-celled organisms Licnophora macfarlandi & Boveria subcylindrica & documented their life cycles

1905, discovered XY sex-determination system

She & her sister Emma were 2 of the 3 women to graduate from the Westford Academy between 1872 & 1883

Completed 4 years of college at Westfield Normal School (now Westfield State University) in 2 years with the highest scores in her class

1905, won $1,000 for Best Scientific Paper written by a woman

Her research provided critical evidence for Mendelian & chromosomal theories of inheritance

Published approximately 40 papers during her lifetime