Kenneth Dawson

Professor Kenneth Dawson is a Full Professor of Physical Chemistry and Director of the Centre for BioNano Interactions (CBNI) at University College Dublin's School of Chemistry. A pioneering figure in bionanoscience, he founded the concept of the 'protein corona,' which defines engineered nanoparticles' biological identity. His career spans leadership roles at UCD since 2007 and academic positions at institutions like the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Oxford.

Prof. Dawson's research focuses on:

• Nanoscale interactions between synthetic materials and biological systems
• Protein corona dynamics and its impact on nanoparticle targeting
• Quantitative modeling of nanoparticle uptake and trafficking
• Design of smart delivery systems via surface engineering
• Shape-dependent immunomodulation and epigenetic effects

His recent publications analyze:

• 2025: Nanoparticle shape-driven T cell receptor modifications
• 2023: Ultrasmall nanoparticle behavior in biological systems
• 2022: Epigenetic regulation via nanoscale spatial stress
• 2021: Magnetic nanoparticle recovery for intracellular trafficking studies

Scientific honors include Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2017), Cozzarelli Prize (2008), and IBM Supercomputing Awards (1991). He serves on editorial boards for Nature Research and ACS Applied Bio Materials.

As an educator, he has supervised multiple PhD students and coordinated modules in chemical thermodynamics. His grant portfolio includes EU-funded projects like HYBRID (2018-2022) and Bio-PADT (2023-2027), supporting interdisciplinary research in nanosafety and therapeutic applications.