Craig Hawker

Biography

Craig Hawker is an internationally leading researcher in the field of materials synthesis and polymer chemistry with a focus on the preparation and application of functional copolymers and macromolecular architectures. His work in biomaterials ranges from the development of crosslinked polymer therapeutics (Veltassa – Relypsa and Veverimer – Tricida) to the development of functional nanoparticles for human clinical trials in the detection and diagnosis of cardiovascular disease and the discovery and commercialization of Olaplex for personal care. He is the UCSB Director of the California Nanosystems Institute and holds the Alan and Ruth Heeger Chair in Interdisciplinary Science. The success of his interdisciplinary research has been recognized with numerous international awards and named lectureships and fellowship of the Royal Society, National Academy of Inventors and American Academy of Arts and Science.

Research

Synthetic Polymer Chemistry, Nanotechnology--Materials science that integrates fundamental studies with the development of nanostructured materials for advanced properties and functions in microelectronics and biotechnology. Diversity, professional development and the mentoring of the next generation of STEM researchers, educators and policy makers.

Selected Publications

Dolinski, N.D.; Page, Z.A.; Callaway, E.B.; Eisenreich, F.; Garcia, R.V.; Chavez, R.; Bothman, D.P.; Hecht, S.; Zok, F.W.; Hawker, C.J., “Solution Mask Liquid Lithography (SMaLL) for One-Step, Multimaterial 3D Printing”, Adv. Mater. 2018, 30, Article Number: 1800364, DOI: 10.1002/adma.201800364.

Niu, J.; Lunn, D.J.; Pusuluri, A.; Yoo, J.I.; O'Malley, M.A.; Mitragotri, S.; Soh, H.T.; Hawker, C.J., “Engineering live cell surfaces with functional polymers via cytocompatible controlled radical polymerization”, Nat. Chem., 2017, 9, 537-545.

Gutekunst, W.R.; Hawker, C.J., “A General Approach to Sequence-Controlled Polymers Using Macrocyclic Ring Opening Metathesis Polymerization”, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2015, 137, 8038-8041.

Treat, N.J.; Sprafke, H.; Kramer, J.W.; Clark, P.G.; Barton, B.E.; de Alaniz, J.R.; Fors, B.P.; Hawker, C.J. “Metal-Free Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization”, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2014, 136, 16096-16101.

Fors, B.P.; Hawker, C.J. “Control of a Living Radical Polymerization of Methacrylates by Light”, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed., 2012, 51, 8850–8853.

Hunt, J.N.; Feldman, K.E.; Lynd, N.A.; Deek, J.; Campos, L.M.; Spruell, J.M.; Hernandez, B.M.; Kramer, E.J.; Hawker, C.J. “Tunable, High Modulus Hydrogels Driven by Ionic Coacervation”, Adv. Mater., 2011, 23, 2327-2331.

Tang, C.; Lennon, E.M.; Fredrickson, G.H.; Kramer, E.J.; Hawker, C.J. “Evolution of Block Copolymer Lithography to Highly Ordered Square Arrays”, Science, 2008, 322, 429–432.

Wu, P.; Feldman, A.K.; Nugent, A.K.; Hawker, C.J.; Scheel, A.; Voit, B.; Pyun, J.; Fréchet, J.M.J.; Sharpless, K.B.; Fokin, V.V. “Efficiency and Fidelity in a Click-Chemistry Route to Triazole Dendrimers by the Copper(I)-Catalyzed Ligation of Azides and Alkynes”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2004, 43, 3928-3932.

Benoit, D.; Chaplinski, V.; Braslau, R.; Hawker, C.J. “Development of a Universal Alkoxyamine for "Living" Free Radical Polymerizations”, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1999, 121, 3904-3906.

Hawker C.J.; Frechet, J.M.J. "Preparation of Polymers with Controlled Molecular Architecture: A New Convergent Approach to Dendritic Macromolecules", J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1990, 112, 7638-7643.