Alfred Kleiner
Alfred Kleiner received his PhD on the 24th of April 1874 from the University of Zurich. His thesis examined intermittent retinal stimulation under Johann Jakob Müller. He began teaching as a private lecturer in 1870 at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. This institution was also known as ETH or the Polytechnikum. By 1885 he held the title of Full Professor at the University of Zurich. He served as Chancellor between 1908 and 1910. His career spanned decades of academic leadership in Switzerland.
Kleiner conducted experiments with students Fritz Laager and Theordor Erismann during the early 1890s. They sought to determine if gravitational attraction could be shielded by physical barriers. No effect greater than experimental error appeared in their measurements. Kleiner published these results in 1905 while Laager published in 1904. Erismann released further findings in 1908 and 1911. Their work drew motivation from papers by Louis Winslow Austin and Charles Burton Thwing. The team focused on measuring instruments rather than theoretical physics foundations.
Einstein transitioned from Weber to Kleiner after a major falling out in mid-1901. Paul Drude controversy occurred around this same time. Einstein changed his dissertation topic from thermoelectricity to molecular kinetics. He showed Kleiner his first PhD draft in November 1901. This version was withdrawn in February 1902. Einstein later told friend Michele Besso that the process had become tiresome comedy. By March 1903 he reconsidered obtaining a doctorate entirely. A letter to Besso contained central ideas for what would become the 1905 dissertation.
Kleiner served as one of two faculty reviewers when Einstein submitted his thesis on the 20th of July 1905. His written judgment described the arguments as among the most difficult in hydrodynamics. Heinrich Burkhardt added that the mathematical methods demonstrated fundamental mastery. Carl Seelig reported that Kleiner initially returned the document claiming it was too short. Einstein added a single sentence before final acceptance. No further comments followed this revision. The University of Zurich granted him his doctorate in 1905 with the title Eine neue Bestimmung der Moleküldimensionen.
Einstein noted frequent discussions with Kleiner in letters to Mileva Maric during their correspondence period. After concluding a lecture on electrodynamics and relativity in 1909, Kleiner suggested a university position to Einstein. He recommended Einstein for a newly created professorship in theoretical physics. The Regierungsrat des Kantons Zürich appointed Einstein as associate professor effective from the 15th of October 1909. This role carried an annual salary of 4,500 Swiss Francs. Kleiner facilitated Einstein's career advancement through personal correspondence and professional recommendations throughout these years.
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Common questions
When did Alfred Kleiner receive his PhD from the University of Zurich?
Alfred Kleiner received his PhD on the 24th of April 1874 from the University of Zurich. His thesis examined intermittent retinal stimulation under Johann Jakob Müller.
What experiments did Alfred Kleiner conduct with Fritz Laager and Theordor Erismann in the early 1890s?
Kleiner conducted experiments with students Fritz Laager and Theordor Erismann during the early 1890s to determine if gravitational attraction could be shielded by physical barriers. No effect greater than experimental error appeared in their measurements.
How did Alfred Kleiner influence Albert Einstein's academic career after 1901?
Einstein transitioned from Weber to Kleiner after a major falling out in mid-1901 and showed Kleiner his first PhD draft in November 1901. Kleiner served as one of two faculty reviewers when Einstein submitted his thesis on the 20th of July 1905.
Why was Alfred Kleiners judgment of Einsteins 1905 dissertation significant for the University of Zurich?
His written judgment described the arguments as among the most difficult in hydrodynamics while Heinrich Burkhardt added that the mathematical methods demonstrated fundamental mastery. The University of Zurich granted him his doctorate in 1905 with the title Eine neue Bestimmung der Moleküldimensionen.
When did Alfred Kleiner suggest a university position to Albert Einstein and what salary accompanied it?
After concluding a lecture on electrodynamics and relativity in 1909, Kleiner suggested a university position to Einstein which carried an annual salary of 4,500 Swiss Francs. The Regierungsrat des Kantons Zürich appointed Einstein as associate professor effective from the 15th of October 1909.