David Tirrell

David Tirrell is the Provost and Ross McCollum-William H. Corcoran Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), holding the Carl and Shirley Larson Provostial Chair since 2017.

• B.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1974
• M.S., University of Massachusetts, 1976
• Ph.D., University of Massachusetts, 1978
• D.h.c., Eindhoven Technical University

His research focuses on reinterpreting the genetic code using non-canonical amino acids for protein design, evolution, and proteome-wide analysis of cellular processes. This work spans synthetic biology, bioengineering, and chemical biology, enabling new approaches to biological imaging and living materials.

Recent publications highlight advancements in engineered bacterial films with tunable mechanical properties, 3D-printable cellular composites, and protein modifications for enhanced functionality. These studies demonstrate applications in drug design, tissue engineering, and dynamic material systems.