He succeed Struik who had been awarded a Rockefeller Fellowship. Very soon after taking up the appointment, working with a graduate student Samuel Goudsmit, Uhlenbeck made his most important scientific discovery when he discovered electron spin.
Siya magtagumpay Struik na iginawad ay isang Rockefeller Fellowship. Lalong madaling panahon pagkatapos ng pagkuha ng appointment, nagtatrabaho sa isang nagtapos na estudyante Samuel Goudsmit, Uhlenbeck ginawa ng kanyang pinaka-mahalagang pagkatuklas sa agham kapag siya ay natuklasan elektron magsulid.