Kunyange zvazvo vakawanda Oppenheimer akaudzwa kuti akanga agamuchirwa kupinda College Kristu, Cambridge. Akanyorera Ernest Rutherford kukumbira mvumo kushanda panguva Cavendish Laboratory. Bridgman akapa Oppenheimer pamwe kurumbidza, izvo akabvuma kuti Oppenheimer kuti clumsiness murabhoritari akaita pachena simba rake rakanga risiri experimental asi nani yokungotaura wefizikisi. Rutherford akanga unimpressed, asi Oppenheimer akaenda Cambridge netariro achiwana mumwe kupa. Iye pakupedzisira akabvuma kubudikidza J. J. Thomson pamusoro mamiriro kuti anofanira kupedza inokosha murabhoritari kosi. Akasimbiswa antagonistic ukama mudzidzisi wake, Patrick Blackett, uyo aiva makore mashomanana ake mukuru.
Kusagadzikana kwaOppenheimer