Dr. Marie Maynard Daly
Dr. Marie Maynard Daly was born in Corona, Queens, New York City on April 16, 1921, to Ivan C. Daly and Helen H. Page. With an early and encouraged interest in science, she earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Chemistry from Queens College in New York graduating among the top 2.5% of students in her class. She then went on to earn both master’s and Ph.D. degrees from New York University and Columbia University, working as a laboratory assistant and chemistry tutor respectively. With her thesis advisor, she discovered how chemicals produced in the body contribute to food digestion. She then went on to conduct research and work as a physical science instructor at Howard University and was awarded an American Cancer Society grant in support of her postdoctoral research on the composition and metabolism of components in the cell nucleus.
Daly began to research the effects of aging, hypertension, and atherosclerosis on the metabolism of the arterial wall in the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University. She received a number of fellowships, awards, and destinations as she continued her work moving on to become an assistant, then associate professor of Biochemistry and Medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University. In addition to working in the lab, Daly dedicated herself to increasing the number of minority students in medical school. After her retirement, she established a scholarship for African American Chemistry and Physics majors at Queens College in memory of her father, who was unable to complete his education due to lack of financial resources.
As a scientist, Daly has been a pioneer in research projects surrounding the human body, in particular, the effects of hypertension (high blood pressure) and blockage in arteries leading to a better understanding of how heart attacks are caused. In addition to her scientific work, her legacy has continued, especially after February 26, 2016, when a new elementary school P.S.360Q was named “Dr. Marie M. Daly Academy of Excellence”. Dr. Daly passed on October 28, 2003, but remains a prime example of how early exposure and support in STEM can lead to a fulfilling life as a Black STEAMer.
If you or someone you know is eligible, apply for the Ivan C. and Helen H. Daly Scholarship Endowment! https://qc-cuny.academicworks.com/opportunities/1356
Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Maynard_Daly
- https://www.sciencehistory.org/historical-profile/marie-maynard-daly
- https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/african-americans-in-sciences/marie-maynard-daly.html
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