Moira Gunn

Timeline

1. 1970–1974

   Degrees at USF and Purdue

   She earns a BS in computer science at the University of San Francisco in 1970 and an MS in computer science at Purdue in 1972. A chance meeting with Dick Garrett, who heads Computer-Aided Design in Purdue's Mechanical Engineering department, steers her to a PhD in mechanical engineering, which she completes in 1974 as the first woman to earn that degree there. Her thesis teaches other students to generate computer graphics without advanced programming.

2. 1974–1990

   NASA, then robotics consulting

   From 1974 to 1980, she works at NASA's Institute for Advanced Computation on large-scale scientific computation and global communications, with emphasis on infrared satellite image processing and global climate and weather modeling. She then consults on robotics, financial data management and nutrition research for clients from IBM to the U.S. Navy. In 1990, she earns a patent for a Nutritional Measurement System.

3. 1983–1993

   From campus radio to Tech Nation

   In 1983, she takes over a nationwide tour as a spokesperson for a Post Cereals and Atari promotion of educational software, and she then interviews scientists on the University of San Francisco's college radio station. She creates the public radio program Tech Nation in 1993. Larry Page and Sergey Brin appear on it in 2000, when Google is still relatively obscure.

4. 2004–2007

   BioTech Nation and a book

   She creates BioTech Nation in 2004, as DNA, genetically modified food and bioenergy move into national focus. Her book Welcome to BioTech Nation, published by AMACOM in 2007, profiles people across the biotech industry, and Library Journal names it one of the Best Science Books of 2007.

5. 2006–2009

   Science Laureates and a Purdue doctorate

   In 2006, she helps create the Science Laureates Program at Purdue, a global community of science journalists and thought leaders, and is named a founding Science Laureate. Purdue awards her an honorary doctorate in science in 2009.

6. 2007–2009

   Directing information systems at USF

   She directs the Information Systems Program at the University of San Francisco from 2007 to 2009. In 2008, she is named EE Times Educator of the Year.

7. 2011

   A National Science Board award

   The National Science Board gives her its 2011 Public Service Award for her contribution to the public understanding of science and engineering.

8. As of October 2026

   Bioentrepreneurship and AI at USF

   She is a professor and the Founder and Director of Bioentrepreneurship at the University of San Francisco, and she hosts Tech Nation, whose recent episodes include a conversation with Shana Kelley of Biohub Chicago about AI-powered biology. A graduate course, AI + Biotech, is scheduled for Spring 2027 and examines how AI is used in drug discovery.