Professor Alexander Pines FRS

Alexander Pines was a chemist whose work helped to develop nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy - a technique for revealing molecular structure and organisation based on the magnetic properties of atomic nuclei - into a powerful tool for studying solid materials. The methods he pioneered found widespread application in fields such as biomedicine, chemistry and materials science.


Amongst his many contributions to the NMR field have been significant developments in multiple-quantum spectroscopy, zero-field NMR and cross-polarisation. Alongside his research, Alexander was highly regarded as an educator and was presented with the Distinguished Teaching Award of UC Berkeley.


Alexander also received numerous awards in recognition of his research, including the Wolf Prize for Chemistry and the Irving Langmuir Award in Chemical Physics of the American Chemical Society. He was also an elected Member of both the US National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Professor Alexander Pines ForMemRS died on 1 November 2024.

Subject groups

  • Chemistry

    Chemistry, physical

Professor Alexander Pines FRS
Elected 2002