Irene Carswell Peden earned her doctoral degree in electrical engineering in 1962. Her dissertation research, conducted in the Stanford Microwave Lab, focused on measurement techniques for microwave periodic circuits. She was the first woman to earn a PhD in electrical engineering from Stanford University.

Peden was a trailblazer in geophysical subsurface remote sensing, radio science, and electromagnetic wave scattering and propagation. She also helped to create pathways to success for women in engineering at a time when no clear or easy road existed. Alongside her teaching and research, she was a leader in improving engineering education and a passionate advocate for women in engineering throughout her life.

Born on September 25,1925, Peden passed away on August 22, 2025, just weeks before her 100th birthday.

Read more about Peden's remarkable life in this memorial tribute compiled by the National Academy of Engineering.