Editing Frederick Seitz (section)

==Academic career==
After graduate studies, Seitz continued to work on solid state physics, publishing ''The Modern Theory of Solids'' in 1940, motivated by a desire to "write a cohesive account of the various aspects of solid-state physics in order to give the field the kind of unity it deserved". ''The Modern Theory of Solids'' helped unify and understand the relations between the fields of [[metallurgy]], [[ceramic]]s, and [[electronics]]. He was also a consultant on many [[World War II]]-related projects in [[metallurgy]], [[radiation damage]] to solids and electronics amongst others. He, along with [[Hillard Huntington]], made the first calculation of the [[Gibbs free energy|energies of formation]] and migration of [[Vacancy defect|vacancies]] and [[Interstitial defect|interstitials]] in [[copper]], inspiring many works on [[point defect]]s in metals.<ref name=PhysicsToday /> The scope of his published work ranged widely, also covering "[[spectroscopy]], [[luminescence]], plastic deformation, irradiation effects, physics of metals, self-diffusion, point defects in [[metal]]s and [[Insulator (electricity)|insulators]], and science policy".<ref name=PhysicsToday />

Early in his academic career, Seitz served on the faculty of the [[University of Rochester]] (1935–37)<ref name=TDo /> and after an interlude as a research physicist at [[General Electric]] Laboratories (1937–39)<ref name=TDo /> he was at the [[University of Pennsylvania]] (1939–1942) and then the [[Carnegie Institute of Technology]] (1942–49).<ref name=TDo />

From 1946 to 1947, Seitz was director of the training program in atomic energy at [[Oak Ridge National Laboratory]]. He was appointed professor of physics at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, in 1949, becoming chairman of the department in 1957 and dean and vice-president for research in 1964. Seitz also served as an advisor to [[NATO]].<ref name=NYTobit /> From 1962 to 1969 Seitz served as president of the [[United States National Academy of Sciences]] (NAS), in a full-time capacity from 1965.<ref name=NAS>[[United States National Academy of Sciences]], 7 March 2008, [http://nationalacademies.org/morenews/20080307.html Past NAS President Frederick Seitz Dies at 96] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525110630/http://www.nationalacademies.org/morenews/20080307.html |date=2010-05-25}}</ref> As NAS president he initiated the [[Universities Research Association]], which contracted with the [[United States Atomic Energy Commission|Atomic Energy Commission]] to construct the world's largest [[particle accelerator]] at the time, [[Fermilab]].<ref name=PhysicsToday />

He was the president of [[Rockefeller University]] from 1968 to 1978 during which he helped to launch new research programs in [[molecular biology]], [[cell biology]], and [[neuroscience]] as well as creating a joint MD-PhD program with [[Cornell University]].<ref name=NYTobit />  He retired from Rockefeller University in 1979, when he was made President Emeritus.