frischknecht graduated from pomona college in claremont, california, with a bachelor of arts (b.a.) in physics and mathematics in 1992. later she received a phd degree in physics from the university of california, santa barbara. the title of her 1992 doctoral thesis is "stability of domains in phase-separating binary fluids in shear flow," and her phd advisor was james s. langer, who is currently a professor emeritus of physics at the university of california, santa barbara.