Donald M. Ginsberg

Donald M. Ginsberg was a distinguished Professor of Physics at the University of Illinois, renowned for his pioneering work in superconductivity. He joined the department in 1959 after completing his PhD at UC Berkeley under Michael Tinkham. His research spanned critical areas such as impurity effects in superconductors, Chevrel compounds, and high-temperature superconductors (HTS), notably establishing the d-wave symmetry in YBCO through meticulously prepared crystal samples. Ginsberg authored foundational reviews, including a seminal 1964 article on nonequilibrium superconductivity, and edited influential volumes such as The Physical Properties of High Temperature Superconductors.

Education: PhD in Physics, UC Berkeley (1959). Sabbatical leaves included Cambridge University, UC San Diego, and IBM Watson Research Lab. His career spanned over four decades, mentoring 36 PhD students and publishing over 240 papers. Awards include the Oliver E. Buckley Prize (APS’s highest honor in condensed matter physics) and the Daniel C. Drucker Tau Beta Pi Award for teaching excellence.

Research interests focused on experimental and theoretical aspects of superconductivity, including quasiparticle tunneling spectroscopy, impurity effects, and crystal growth techniques. His work on YBCO samples became a global standard, enabling breakthroughs in understanding d-wave pairing and HTS properties. Beyond physics, Ginsberg was an accomplished flutist and poet, publishing whimsical verse reflecting his scientific and personal life.

Legacy includes the 1997 retirement symposium Superconductivity with a Smile, attended by international colleagues. His contributions to both science and academia remain celebrated at the University of Illinois and globally.