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Nancy W. Y. Ho
Dr. Nancy Ho was born in mainland China in 1935. Although she had humble beginnings as a sickly child, she strived to make the most of her abilities by working hard. Before the Communists took over...view moreDr. Nancy Ho was born in mainland China in 1935. Although she had humble beginnings as a sickly child, she strived to make the most of her abilities by working hard. Before the Communists took over mainland China, her family moved to Taiwan, where her health improved considerably as she grew up. Despite still having considerable self-doubts, she became a very good student in high school and college. With a bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering from National Taiwan University, she came to the US to pursue graduate studies. Her interests changed to science, and she completed her MS in Organic Chemistry at Temple University, and her Ph.D. at Purdue University. She taught herself recombinant DNA technology when the field was nascent and became one of the leading experts of this new technology in the country. She was invited to join the Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering (LORRE) to lead the development of a genetically engineered Bakers yeast that could convert renewable cellulosic biomass (wood, grasses, straws, etc.) to ethanol as transportation fuel, a technology many scientists worldwide had pursued but failed. In 1993, Dr. Ho was the first in the world to successfully develop such a genetically modified yeast. For this groundbreaking achievement, she received numerous honors. For example, she was recognized in 1999 by the Discover Magazine and given her their award for Technological Innovation. President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush invited her as an honored guest to attend the 2007 State of the Union Address, where she sat with Mrs. Bush and other honorees. Finally, in 2016, she received Americas highest honor in science and technology, the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. She was given her medal by President Barack Obama in a ceremony at the White House.view less