Dr. Ruth Ella Moore, born in 1903, was known as the first African American woman in the United States who acquired a PhD in natural sciences. After Moore performed her dissertation on tuberculosis at Ohio State University, she became an associate professor and continued her scientific research. Her work as a bacteriologist was exceptional, and she became the first woman to lead a department at Howard University. Similarly, she was also the first African American to join the American Society for Microbiology. Her research on blood types, immunology, and tooth decay had a significant impact and still serve as a reference for many scientists today.
Learn more at research.osu.edu