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Making significant contributions to the fields of science
and medicine, Emmett W. Chappelle is noted as being among the 100 most
distinguished African American engineers and scientists of the 20th
century. After being drafted into the military, Chappelle began his collegiate
career studying electrical engineering at Phoenix College. He graduated from
the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in biology and four years
later obtained a master's degree from the University of Washington, Seattle. He
served as a biochemistry instructor at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN
from 1950 to 1953, and then continued as a research associate at Stanford
University. Joining the Research Institute for Advance Studies in 1958,
Chappelle made discoveries later helping to create a safe supply for
astronauts.
In 1966,
Chappelle began work at National Aeronautics and Space Administration where he
pioneered developments in cellular material as he worked as an exobiologist and
astrochemist. He later cultivated techniques in the detection of bacteria in
substances ranging from drinking water and food to urine, blood, and spinal
fluid. As of recently, Chappelle continues his involvement in the use of
laser-induced fluorescence in determining the health of forest vegetation and
holds 14 patents. He maintains his memberships in professional organizations
including the American Chemical Society, the American Society of Biochemistry
and Molecular Biology, the American Society of Photobiology, the American
Society of Microbiology, and the American Society of Black Chemists. He serves
as a mentor to minority high school and college students studying in his laboratories.
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The mission of NSBE is to increase the number of culturally responsible Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community.
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