Craig J. Hawker

Craig J. Hawker is a Professor of Materials and Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB), serving as Director of the California Nanosystems Institute (CNSI), the Dow Materials Institute, and the Materials Research Lab (MRL). He holds the Alan and Ruth Heeger Chair in Interdisciplinary Science and is the Clarke Professor within CNSI. His research focuses on macromolecular synthesis, polymer self-assembly, and 3D printing, aiming to create advanced materials with tailored properties.

Education:

• Bachelor's in Chemistry, University of Queensland, Australia (1981–1985)
• PhD in Chemistry, University of Cambridge, UK (1985–1989), under Prof. Sir A. R. Battersby
• Postdoctoral work at Cornell University with Prof. J.M.J. Fréchet (1989–1990)

Research Interests:

Dr. Hawker’s work integrates fundamental polymer science with applications in nanotechnology and additive manufacturing. Key areas include:

• Controlled radical polymerization methods (e.g., ATRP, RAFT)
• Dynamic covalent networks for recyclable materials
• 3D-printable hydrogels and peptide-based systems
• Block copolymer self-assembly for nanoscale structures

Recent Trends in Publications:

His recent work emphasizes high-throughput polymer library synthesis, machine learning-driven phase prediction, and functional hydrogels for biomedical applications. Articles highlight advancements in 3D-printed dynamic materials and scalable polymerization techniques.

Labs & Collaborations:

He leads the Hawker Group at UCSB’s MRL, collaborating with industry partners like IBM and institutions globally. His lab focuses on interdisciplinary materials design, bridging organic chemistry and engineering applications.