He is often called the "father of the atomic bomb " for his role in overseeing the development of the first nuclear weapons. After research at other institutions, he joined the physics faculty at the University of California, Berkeley , where he was made a full professor in Oppenheimer made significant contributions to physics in the fields of quantum mechanics and nuclear physics , including the Born—Oppenheimer approximation for molecular wave functions ; work on the theory of positrons , quantum electrodynamics , and quantum field theory ; and the Oppenheimer—Phillips process in nuclear fusion.
With his students, he also made major contributions to astrophysics , including the theory of cosmic ray showers, and the theory of neutron stars and black holes. In , Oppenheimer was recruited to work on the Manhattan Project, and in was appointed director of the project's Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico , tasked with developing the first nuclear weapons. His leadership and scientific expertise were instrumental in the project's success, and on July 16, , he was present at the first test of the atomic bomb, Trinity.
In August , the weapons were used on Japan in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki , to date the only uses of nuclear weapons in conflict. He lobbied for international control of nuclear power and weapons in order to avert an arms race with the Soviet Union , and later opposed the development of the hydrogen bomb , partly on ethical grounds. He continued to lecture, write, and work in physics, and in was given the Enrico Fermi Award as a gesture of political rehabilitation.
In , the U. He was hired by a textile company and within a decade was an executive there, eventually becoming wealthy. Oppenheimer was initially educated at Alcuin Preparatory School. In , he entered the Ethical Culture Society School , [ 10 ] founded by Felix Adler to promote training based on the Ethical movement , whose motto was "Deed before Creed".
Oppenheimer's father had been a member of the Society for many years, serving on its board of trustees. During his final year of school, Oppenheimer became interested in chemistry. He recovered in New Mexico , where he developed a love for horseback riding and the southwestern United States. Oppenheimer entered Harvard College in at age He majored in chemistry; Harvard also required studies in history, literature, and philosophy or mathematics. To compensate for the delay caused by his illness, he took six courses each term instead of the usual four.
