Skip to main content

Moira A. Gunn, Doctor of Science

Education

  • BS 1970, Computer Science, University of San Francisco
  • MS 1972, Computer Science, Purdue University
  • PhD 1974, Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University

Career Highlights

  • 1974-1980 NASA,     Institute for Advanced Computation
  • 1990    Patent, Nutritional Measurement System
  • 1993-Present     Host, Public Radio’s “Tech Nation” and “BioTech Nation”

Moira Gunn is the founder and host of Public Radio’s “Tech Nation” and “BioTech Nation,” heard nationally on the NPR channels on Sirius satellite radio. Moira is afforded the opportunity to speak not only with innovators who drive technology today, but everyday people who are adjusting to a new high-tech world. Her book, Welcome to BioTech Nation: My Unexpected Odyssey into the Land of Small Molecules, Lean Genes, and Big Ideas will be published in June 2007.

A former NASA scientist and engineer, Moira is a Board Member Emeritus of the Tech Museum of Innovation. She was the first woman to earn a PhD in mechanical engineering from Purdue University, where she also earned a master’s in computer science. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She received the College of Science Dean’s Ovation Award for outstanding contributions to the College of Science in 2006 and is serving a second term on the Dean’s Leadership Council. Moira also served as the moderator for the opening panel on technology at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. She is a member of the International Academy of Digital
Arts and Sciences, the organization that presents The Webby Awards.

In 2006, Moira was instrumental in creating the Science Laureates Program at Purdue University. Science Laureates is a unique, ongoing program designed to foster a global community of science journalists and thought leaders. She was named a founding Science
Laureate in 2006.

Moira has two sons and resides in San Francisco, California.

Purdue University College of Science, 150 N. University St, West Lafayette, IN 47907 • Phone: (765) 494-1729, Fax: (765) 494-1736

Student Advising Office: (765) 494-1771, Fax: (765) 496-3015 • Science IT, (765) 494-4488

© 2023 Purdue University | An equal access/equal opportunity university | Copyright Complaints

Trouble with this page? Disability-related accessibility issue? Please contact the College of Science Webmaster.