Mae Jemison is an enginner and former NASA astronaut. She became the first African American woman to travel to space on the Endeavor shuttle in 1992. She was also  a former physician and general practitioner. Jemison served in the Peace Corps (1983), implemented guidelines for health and safety issues and was a researcher for a variety of vaccines with the Center for Disease.

Carolyn Parker was the first African-American woman known to have gained a postgraduate degree in physics, worked from 1943 to 1947 on the Dayton Project, the plutonium research and development arm of the Manhattan Project. She then became an assistant professor in physics at Fisk University. Parker earned two master's degrees, one in mathematics from the University of Michigan in 1941 and one in physics from MIT in 1951. 

Elijah McCoy was born in Colchester, Ontario, Canada. His parents fled to Canada via the Underground Railroad. At the age of 15, he was sent to Edinburgh, Scotland for his interest in mechanics to pursue an education in mechanical engineering. When he returned, he was unable to find work as an engineer despite his qualifications. McCoy was able to use his engineering background to solve some of the common engine overheating problems in the locomotive industry. McCoy created the "oil-drip cup" which changed the railroad industry forever.