Robert Samuel Langer, Jr.

Robert Samuel Langer, Jr. is an Institute Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), affiliated with the Department of Chemical Engineering and Department of Biological Engineering. He is also a faculty member at the Harvard–MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology and the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research.

• Education:
  • BSc in Chemical Engineering, Cornell University
  • ScD in Chemical Engineering, MIT

Research Interests focus on biomedical engineering, controlled drug delivery, and tissue engineering, with groundbreaking work in polymer-based drug delivery systems, vascularized muscle tissue engineering, and implantable devices for diabetes treatment. His innovations include transdermal delivery systems, microneedle tattoo patches for medical records, and bioengineered synthetic polymers for regenerative medicine.

Scientific Awards include dual U.S. National Medals (Science and Technology & Innovation), the Kavli Prize (2024), Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences (2014), and the Wolf Prize in Chemistry (2013), among over 220 honors. He is the youngest triple member of all three U.S. National Academies.

Advising and Grants include mentoring over 200 doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows. His lab at MIT, the largest biomedical engineering lab globally, secures over $10 million annually in grants, supporting projects in diabetes, cancer, and regenerative medicine.

Labs and Teams include the Langer Lab at MIT, which collaborates with institutions like Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and the Royan Institute, driving innovations in nanomedicine and bioengineered implants.