Nuclear Physicist Maria Mayer; Never Give Up: Her dedication, resolve helped define nuclear structure.(LEADERS & SUCCESS)

Byline: MICHAEL MINK

Low and no pay. Ridicule. None of that stood in Maria Goeppert Mayer's way.

Mayer sidestepped those obstacles to become one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century and only the second woman, after Marie Curie, to win a Nobel Prize in physics.

Mayer (1906-72) taught some of the most difficult science courses at the nation's most prestigious colleges, including Johns Hopkins, Columbia and the University of Chicago. Many times she worked without pay. The most she ever earned a year as an instructor was $200, one-tenth what male professors with similar academic credentials made.

Even though Mayer had a Ph.D. when few women could say the same, she was still subjected to a societal bias against women in the sciences. One of her high school teachers told her "girls don't need math or physics," wrote Jill Sideman in the introduction to "Maria Goeppert Mayer," by Joseph Ferry.

In addition, Mayer was married to Joe Mayer, a chemistry professor. While Joe Mayer was a paid faculty member at Hopkins, Columbia and Chicago, arcane university rules prevented spouses or relatives -- regardless of academic credentials -- from holding salaried faculty posts.

Rather than get bitter, Mayer took advantage of what opportunities were available. At least, she figured, being in a university setting let her teach and research. Doing what she enjoyed led her to develop and publish the nuclear shell structure theory, for which Mayer received the 1963 Nobel Prize in physics. She was the first woman to win it for theoretical science. "Winning the prize wasn't half as exciting as doing the work itself," she said.