Northwestern mourns Professor Emeritus Mark A. Ratner
May 14, 2026
Ratner is widely recognized as one of the founders of molecular electronics
Mark A. Ratner, the Lawrence B. Dumas Distinguished University Professor Emeritus in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern University, passed away on May 10 at age 83. He will be remembered as a brilliant scientist, enthusiastic researcher, supportive colleague and dedicated mentor.
Widely recognized as the “father of molecular electronics,” Ratner ’69 Ph.D. was a pioneering figure in theoretical chemistry whose work reshaped how scientists think about electronics at the smallest scales. In the 1970s, he showed, for the first time, that individual molecules could carry an electric current. At the time, this idea seemed almost implausible but since has become foundational to the field of nanoscience. That bold, seemingly improbable discovery laid the groundwork for designing tiny, molecular-scale circuits and devices that could power futuristic technologies, including molecular computers and quantum devices.