:Paula T. Hammond

{{Infobox scientist

| name = Paula T. Hammond

| image = Paula Hammond in 2023.jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|09|03}}

| birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, United States

| nationality = American

| fields = Biomaterials, Drug Delivery, Cancer immunology

| workplaces = Massachusetts Institute of Technology

| alma_mater = Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology

| thesis_title = The Synthesis, Characterization and Optical Properties of Novel Diacetylene-Containing Aromatic Liquid Crystalline Polymers

| thesis_url = http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/109630

| thesis_year = 1993

| doctoral_advisor = Michael Rubner

| academic_advisors = George M. Whitesides

| doctoral_students = Jodie Lutkenhaus
LaShanda Korley

| notable_students =

| known_for =

| awards = Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (2021), Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences (2019), Fellow of the National Academy of Engineering (2017), Fellow of the National Academy of Medicine (2016), Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (2016), Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2013)

| website = https://hammondlab.mit.edu/

}}

Paula Therese Hammond (born September 3, 1963) is an Institute Professor{{Cite news|url=https://news.mit.edu/2021/paula-hammond-arup-chakraborty-institute-0506|title=Paula Hammond and Arup Chakraborty named Institute Professors|work=MIT News|access-date=2024-03-28}} and the Vice Provost for Faculty{{Cite news|url=https://orgchart.mit.edu/letters/paula-hammond-appointed-vice-provost-faculty|title=Paula Hammond appointed vice provost for faculty|work=MIT Organizational Chart|access-date=2024-03-28}} at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In 2015, she became the first woman and person of color appointed as head of the Chemical Engineering department.{{Cite news|url=https://news.mit.edu/2015/paula-hammond-named-head-department-chemical-engineering-0713|title=Paula Hammond named head of Department of Chemical Engineering|work=MIT News|access-date=2017-05-11}} Her laboratory designs polymers and nanoparticles for drug delivery and energy-related applications including batteries and fuel cells.

Hammond has been the recipient of numerous awards and is a member of the National Academy of Medicine (2016),{{Cite web|url=https://nam.edu/member/?member_id=Mj8UGs14SJKCdpbnkCuKoA%3D%3D|title=National Academy of Medicine Member Page|work=www.nam.edu|access-date=2021-06-10}} the National Academy of Engineering (2017, “for contributions to self-assembly of polyelectrolytes, colloids, and block copolymers at surfaces and interfaces for energy and healthcare applications”),{{Cite web|url=https://www.nae.edu/165606/Dr-Paula-T-Hammond|title=National Academy of Engineering Member Page|work=www.nae.edu|access-date=2021-06-10}} the National Academy of Sciences (2019),{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasonline.org/member-directory/members/20013465.html|title=National Academy of Sciences Member Page|work=www.nasonline.org|access-date=2021-06-10}} and the National Academy of Inventors (2021).{{cite web |title=NAI 2021 Class of Fellows |url=https://academyofinventors.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Fellows-List-2021.pdf |access-date=2021-12-07}}

She is an intramural faculty member of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and an associate editor of ACS Nano.{{Cite web|title=Editorial Board|url=https://pubs.acs.org/page/ancac3/editors.html|access-date=2020-08-16|website=pubs.acs.org|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=The Koch Institute: Paula T. Hammond|url=https://ki.mit.edu/people/faculty/hammond|access-date=2020-08-16|website=ki.mit.edu}}

Early life and education

{{external media | width = 210px | float = right | headerimage=210px | video1 = [https://www.sciencehistory.org/historical-profile/paula-hammond “I learned to not be intimidated by the problem”], Science History Institute }}

Hammond was born in 1963 in Detroit, Michigan{{cite journal| doi = 10.1002/1521-4095(20020116)14:2<95::AID-ADMA95>3.0.CO;2-X| title = In Profile: Paula Hammond, Professor of Chemical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology| year = 2002| journal = Advanced Materials| volume = 14| issue = 2| pages = 95| doi-access = free| bibcode = 2002AdM....14...95.}} as Paula Therese Goodwin to parents Jesse Francis and Della Mae Goodwin (née McGraw). Her father has a PhD in Biochemistry and her mother has a master's degree in nursing.{{cite web |title=Paula Hammond | work=Science History Institute | date=29 June 2016 |url=https://www.sciencehistory.org/historical-profile/paula-hammond |accessdate=March 21, 2018 }}

Goodwin graduated a year prior to her expected date at the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Bloomfield, Michigan in 1980.{{Cite web|title=Paula T. Hammond '84, PhD '93 {{!}} MIT Infinite History|url=https://infinitehistory.mit.edu/video/paula-t-hammond-84-phd-93|access-date=2020-08-16|website=infinitehistory.mit.edu}} After her graduation, Goodwin went on to study and earn a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1984. She then worked for Motorola for two years as a process engineer, packaging integrated circuits. She returned to academia and obtained a Master of Science in chemical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1988, while working at Georgia Tech Research Institute as a research engineer.{{cite web|url=https://cen.acs.org/people/profiles/Career-Ladder-Paula-Hammond/99/i6|title=Career Ladder: Paula Hammond|publisher=Chemical & Engineering News|date= February 22, 2021|access-date=2021-02-25}} Hammond's master's thesis was on conducting elastomers for robotic tactile sensors.{{Cite thesis|title=Development of a conductive elastomeric matrix for robotic tactile sensors|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/19115234|date=1988|language=English|first=Paula T|last=Hammond|oclc=19115234}}

In 1988, she returned to MIT to earn a PhD in chemical engineering. At MIT, she worked under the supervision of Michael F. Rubner, where her PhD thesis research focused on synthesizing polymers with mechanochromic properties. After completing her PhD in 1993, Hammond pursued postdoctoral research with George M. Whitesides in the chemistry department at Harvard University via an NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship.

Research and career

In 1995, Hammond was appointed to Massachusetts Institute of Technology as an assistant professor. Hammond's research focuses on understanding how secondary interactions guide material assembly at surfaces and in-solution to design polymers and nanoparticles for applications in drug delivery; wound healing; and energy and fuel cells.{{Cite news|url=https://www.sciencehistory.org/historical-profile/paula-hammond|title=Paula Hammond|date=2016-06-29|work=Science History Institute|access-date=2018-08-18|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Paula Hammond on women in science: Life will always be busy; start a company anyway|url=https://cen.acs.org/materials/polymers/Paula-Hammond-on-women-in-science-Life-will-always-be-busy-start-a-company-anyway/98/i9|access-date=2020-08-16|website=Chemical & Engineering News|language=en}} Her work involves Layer by layer (LbL) assembly, which generates thin films of alternating positively and negatively charged molecules for biomedical applications.{{Cite journal|last=Bourzac|first=Katherine|date=2015-12-11|title=A Conversation with Paula Hammond|journal=ACS Central Science|language=EN|volume=1|issue=9|pages=466–467|doi=10.1021/acscentsci.5b00375|issn=2374-7943|pmc=4827460|pmid=27163008}} Additionally, her lab uses nanoparticle carriers for targeted drug, gene, and siRNA delivery for cancer treatment as well as artificial polypeptides and polymeric nucleic acids to interact with biology and build novel drug systems.

=Medical applications=

Hammond has developed "stealth polymers" to disguise cancer chemotherapeutics in nanoparticles for better entry into tumors.{{Cite news|url=https://news.mit.edu/2014/faculty-highlight-paula-hammond|title=Faculty highlight: Paula Hammond|work=MIT News|access-date=2018-08-18}} She also develops approaches to transport RNA into cells to selectively increase{{Cite news|url=https://news.mit.edu/2017/bio-inspired-approach-rna-delivery-0920|title=Bio-inspired approach to RNA delivery|work=MIT News|access-date=2018-08-18}} or decrease the expression of specific genes.{{Cite news|url=https://phys.org/news/2013-03-medicine-nanoscale-approaches-drug-delivery.html|title=Practicing medicine at the nanoscale: New approaches to drug delivery offer hope for new, more targeted treatments|access-date=2018-08-18}}

Hammond co-founded MIT's [https://isn.mit.edu/ Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies] (ISN), a partnership between MIT, the Army, and industry partners to develop nanotechnology that improves soldier "protection and survivability."{{Cite web|url=http://isnweb.mit.edu/mission.html|title=Institute For Soldier Nanotechnologies – Mission|website=isnweb.mit.edu|access-date=2018-08-18}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.science.org/content/article/paula-t-hammond-lab|title=The Paula T. Hammond Lab|date=2014-12-02|work=Science {{!}} AAAS|access-date=2018-08-18|language=en}} Through ISN, Hammond designed a spray that increases the rate of blood clotting to prevent blood loss.

Hammond developed LayerForm™️ technology to build drug delivery films with alternating drug and polymer layers. In 2013, she co-founded a biotechnology company, LayerBio Inc. to commercialize LayerForm™️ for regenerative medicine applications in glaucoma, wound healing, and tendon repair.{{Cite web|url=https://www.layerbio.com/layerform/|title=LayerForm|website=LayerBio|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-18}}

Hammond is a member of multiple scientific advisory boards, including Moderna Therapeutics, Inc. and Camden Partners LLC. She is also a member of the board for Alector, a biotech company focusing on immuno-neurology, and Focal Medical and Senda Biosciences.{{Cite web |title=Alector Announces the Appointment of Paula Hammond, Ph.D., to the Board of Directors {{!}} Alector |url=https://investors.alector.com/news-releases/news-release-details/alector-announces-appointment-paula-hammond-phd-board-directors/ |access-date=2022-03-02 |website=investors.alector.com |language=en}} Additionally, Hammond serves on non-profit boards such as MIT Engine and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund.{{Cite web |title=Paula Hammond {{!}} Koch Institute |url=https://ki.mit.edu/people/faculty/paula-hammond |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=ki.mit.edu}}{{Cite web |title=BWF Board |url=https://www.bwfund.org/about/board/ |access-date=2022-03-02 |website=Burroughs Wellcome Fund |language=en-US}}

=Energy and fuel cells=

Hammond also works on the development of polymers for use in batteries thin films of carbon microtubules for applications in batteries, solar cells, and fuel cells.{{Cite news|url=https://www.technologyreview.com/s/425876/harnessing-the-power-of-polymers/|title=Harnessing the Power of Polymers|last=Trafton|first=Anne|work=MIT Technology Review|access-date=2018-08-18|language=en}} She presented research on virus-based batteries to Barack Obama in 2009.

Honors and recognitions

Hammond has received multiple honors and awards throughout her career. As a graduate student in 1992, she was awarded a Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowship from the National Academy of Sciences.{{cite web | url=https://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/fordfellowships/pga_171939 | title=Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowships }} Her postdoc was supported by an NSF postdoctoral fellowship in chemistry, awarded in 1994. Since joining the faculty at MIT, Hammond has amassed several plaudits, with early career highlights including an Environmental Protection Agency Early Career Research Award{{Cite web |title=Grantee Research Project Results Search {{!}} Research Project Database {{!}} Grantee Research Project {{!}} ORD {{!}} US EPA |url=https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/research.display/rpt/prog/rfa_id/191 |access-date=2020-08-16 |website=cfpub.epa.gov |language=en}} in 1996 and an NSF CAREER Award for Young Investigators{{Cite web |title=NSF Award Search: Award#9702752 – CAREER: Control Through Molecular Design in Engineering: Molecular Order and Function from Ionic Multilayers of Liquid Crystal Polymers |url=https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9702752&HistoricalAwards=false |access-date=2020-08-16 |website=www.nsf.gov}} in 1997. In 2013, Hammond was one of three African-American women to be elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She was elected to the National Academy of Medicine{{Cite news |title=Paula Hammond elected to the National Academy of Medicine |work=MIT News |url=https://news.mit.edu/2016/paula-hammond-elected-national-academy-medicine-1017 |access-date=2017-05-11}} and the National Academy of Engineering{{Cite news |title=Eight MIT faculty elected to the National Academy of Engineering |work=MIT News |url=https://news.mit.edu/2017/eight-faculty-mit-elected-national-academy-engineering-0210 |access-date=2017-05-11}} in rapid succession in 2016 and 2017, respectively, the National Academy of Sciences{{Cite news |title=Three from MIT elected to the National Academy of Sciences for 2019 |work=MIT News |url=https://news.mit.edu/2019/three-from-mit-boyden-hammond-regev-elected-national-academy-sciences-0501 |access-date=2019-06-18}} in 2019, and finally the National Academy of Inventors in 2021.

In 2021, Hammond was also selected to be a member of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) under President Biden.{{Cite web|date=2021-09-22|title=President Biden Announces Members of President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/09/22/president-biden-announces-members-of-presidents-council-of-advisors-on-science-and-technology/|access-date=2021-12-30|website=The White House|language=en-US}} In 2024, Hammond was awarded the Benjamin Franklin Medal in Chemistry for developing an innovative approach to create novel materials one molecular layer at a time and applying these materials to areas ranging from drug delivery to energy storage.{{Cite web |last=Franklin Institute |date=2024-01-30 |title=The Franklin Institute Celebrates 200 Years of Recognizing in Science and Technology with Announcement of 2024 Franklin Institute Awards Laureates {{!}} The Franklin Institute |url=https://fi.edu/en/franklin-institute-celebrates-200-years-recognizing-science-and-technology-announcement-2024-franklin-institute-awards-laureates |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=fi.edu |language=en}} In 2025, Hammond was a recipient of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation.{{cite web | author=The White House | title=President Biden Honors Nation's Leading Scientists, Technologists, and Innovators | website=The White House | date=3 January 2025 | url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2025/01/03/president-biden-honors-nations-leading-scientists-technologists-and-innovators/ | access-date=4 January 2025}}

Selected bibliography

{{Library resources box|by=yes|lcheading= Hammond, Paula T. (Paula Therese), 1963–}}

{{cite journal | doi = 10.1126/science.1122716 | title = Virus-Enabled Synthesis and Assembly of Nanowires for Lithium Ion Battery Electrodes | year = 2006 | last1 = Nam | first1 = K. T. | journal = Science | volume = 312 | issue = 5775 | pages = 885–8 | pmid = 16601154 | last2 = Kim | first2 = DW | last3 = Yoo | first3 = PJ | last4 = Chiang | first4 = CY | last5 = Meethong | first5 = N | last6 = Hammond | first6 = PT | last7 = Chiang | first7 = YM | last8 = Belcher | first8 = AM| bibcode = 2006Sci...312..885N | citeseerx = 10.1.1.395.4344 | s2cid = 5105315 }}
{{cite journal | doi = 10.1002/adma.200400760 | title = Form and Function in Multilayer Assembly: New Applications at the Nanoscale | year = 2004 | last1 = Hammond | first1 = P. T. | journal = Advanced Materials | volume = 16 | issue = 15 | pages = 1271–1293| bibcode = 2004AdM....16.1271H | s2cid = 135521187 }}
{{cite journal | doi =10.1016/S1359-0294(00)00022-4 | title =Recent explorations in electrostatic multilayer thin film assembly | year =1999 | last1 =Hammond | first1 =Paula T | journal =Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science | volume =4 | issue =6 | pages =430–442}}

References

External links

[https://www.aip.org/history-programs/niels-bohr-library/oral-histories/46733 Oral History interview transcript for Paula T. Hammond on 16 December 2020, American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library and Archives]
[http://web.mit.edu/hammond/lab/news.htm MIT – Hammond Research in the News]
[https://www.pbs.org/video/ted-talks-science-wonder-paula-hammond/ TED Talk]
[https://vimeo.com/60850635 Featured in Women in Chemistry: Lessons from Life and the Laboratory, a television program produced by WHYY and the Science History Institute]
[https://hammondlab.mit.edu/ Lab website]
[https://infinitehistory.mit.edu/video/paula-t-hammond-84-phd-93 MIT Infinite History video interview]
[https://dome.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.3/185514/39080024065366.pdf?sequence=1 Margaret MacVicar Memorial AMITA Oral History] also on MIT Dome

Category:1963 births

Category:Living people

Category:Scientists from Detroit

Category:MIT School of Engineering faculty

Category:Georgia Tech alumni

Category:MIT School of Engineering alumni

Category:Fellows of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering

Category:Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences

Category:Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors

Category:Members of the National Academy of Medicine

Category:Fellows of the American Physical Society

Category:20th-century American engineers