Alan J. Heeger

Alan J. Heeger – Life, Career, and Insightful Quotes

Discover the life of Alan J. Heeger, American physicist and Nobel laureate. Learn about his early years, his groundbreaking work on conducting polymers, his academic journey, and his reflections on science.

Introduction

Alan Jay Heeger (born January 22, 1936) is an American physicist and materials scientist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2000 for his pioneering work on conductive polymers. Though trained in physics, his work bridged chemistry, materials science, and electronics, helping found a new class of “plastic metals.” His career demonstrates how cross-disciplinary curiosity, persistence in experimental exploration, and vision can reshape what’s possible in science.

Early Life and Family

Alan Heeger was born in Sioux City, Iowa, into a Jewish family whose roots trace back to Russian Jewish immigrants.

Heeger’s upbringing in small-town Iowa, in modest circumstances, instilled in him a grounded approach and early resilience—characteristics that later supported his long scientific journey.

Education and Academic Formation

• In 1957, Heeger earned a B.S. in physics and mathematics from the University of Nebraska, where he was one of the first in his family to continue beyond high school.

• He then pursued graduate studies at University of California, Berkeley, receiving his Ph.D. in Physics in 1961.

• After his PhD, he worked briefly as a research associate at Berkeley before joining the faculty of University of Pennsylvania in 1962.

  • At Penn, he progressed from assistant professor to full professor, served as Director of the Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter (1974–1981), and as Acting Vice Provost for Research in 1981–82.

• In 1982, Heeger moved to the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), where he held dual appointments in Physics and Materials (later), and became founding director of the Institute for Polymers and Organic Solids (1982–1999).

Scientific Contributions & Major Achievements

Conductive Polymers & the “Plastic Metals” Breakthrough

Before Heeger’s work, plastics (polymers) were considered insulators rather than conductors. Heeger, Alan G. MacDiarmid, and Hideki Shirakawa showed that by appropriate molecular design and doping, a polymer like polyacetylene could be made to conduct electricity. This discovery challenged the conventional divide between metals and polymers.

In 1977, their experiments exposed polyacetylene films to iodine vapor (a doping agent) and showed that conductivity could increase dramatically—a key step in the development of conductive polymers.

This created a new class of materials—plastic-like materials with electrical conductivity—opening the door to flexible electronics, organic semiconductors, solar cells, light-emitting polymers, and more.

One theoretical model that emerged in the context of these discoveries is the Su–Schrieffer–Heeger (SSH) model, which describes the topological properties and edge states in one-dimensional conductive polymers.

Entrepreneurial and Applied Impact

Heeger helped bridge science and application:

• In 1990, he co-founded UNIAX Corporation (with Paul Smith) to transform conductive polymer research into commercial products such as light-emitting displays.

• UNIAX was later acquired by DuPont.

• In 2001, he co-founded Konarka Technologies, which focused on solar cells made from plastic/organic materials.

• Other startup spin-offs include Sirigen.

Through these ventures, Heeger catalyzed the path from fundamental discovery to demonstrable technologies.

Honors, Recognition & Awards

• In 2000, Heeger was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (shared with MacDiarmid and Shirakawa) “for the discovery and development of conductive polymers.”

• He received the Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize (1983) for contributions to condensed matter physics.

• The Balzan Prize for the Science of New Materials (non-biological) was awarded in 1995.

• Heeger is also a member of the National Academy of Engineering (elected in 2002) for helping to found conducting polymer technology.

• He holds numerous honorary doctorates and medals, including from UCSB and Penn.

• He served as Director of the Institute for Polymers & Organic Solids at UCSB until 1999, stepping down from administrative duties to focus on research.

Personality, Approach & Scientific Philosophy

Heeger has often reflected on the joy of the scientific process. One of his frequently quoted views:

“Perhaps the greatest pleasure of being a scientist is to have an abstract idea, then … do an experiment … that demonstrates the idea was correct; … the essence of creativity in science.”

He describes himself as evolving from being a physicist to becoming more of an interdisciplinary scientist—drawing from chemistry, materials science, and engineering.

In interviews and writings, he emphasizes persistence, curiosity, and the willingness to test bold ideas experimentally. His career illustrates how many breakthroughs arise at the intersections of disciplines, by asking “What if?” and not being confined by traditional boundaries.

Memorable Quotes

Here are a few quotes attributed to Alan J. Heeger that reflect his views on science, identity, and materials:

“I started out as a physicist; however, I am what I have become. I have evolved, with the help of many colleagues … into an interdisciplinary scientist.”

“In spite of the evidence for the disorder-induced M-I transition … the metallic state of conjugated polymers has been a subject of controversy.”

“My high school years were fun and frustrating … The most important accomplishment was meeting my wife, Ruth.”

“The science of semiconducting and metallic polymers is inherently interdisciplinary; it falls at the intersection of chemistry and physics.”

Lessons & Reflections

1. Embrace interdisciplinary thinking. Heeger’s journey shows that breakthroughs often arise by bridging fields—physics, chemistry, and materials science in his case.

2. Persist with daring experiments. Some of the most transformative discoveries require pushing experiments where theory suggests possibility.

3. Translate discovery to application. He didn’t stop at theory—he helped start companies that tried to commercialize his discoveries.

4. Value the scientific process itself. He often emphasizes that the pleasure lies in seeing nature follow the logic of a well-conceived idea.

5. Allow your scientific identity to evolve. Heeger’s own shift from pure physicist to materials pioneer demonstrates that scientists can grow and adapt across paradigms.

Conclusion

Alan J. Heeger’s life is a compelling example of how one scientist’s curiosity, openness to crossing boundaries, and commitment to experimentation can reshape a field—and even help invent a new class of materials. From his roots in small-town Iowa to the heights of Nobel distinction, Heeger’s story reminds us that deep impact often grows from modest beginnings and sustained effort.