David A. Tirrell

David A. Tirrell (born 1953) is an American chemist and the Ross McCollum-William H. Corcoran Professor and Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). A pioneer in the areas of polymer synthesis and protein biosynthesis, his research has a wide range of applications, including coatings, adhesion, lubrication, bioengineering and biomedical intervention. As of 2012 he became Director of the Beckman Institute at Caltech, succeeding Barbara Wold.

Dr. Tirrell earned a B.S. in Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1974. He received a Ph.D. in 1978 from the University of Massachusetts Amherst where his thesis advisor was Professor Otto Vogl. In 1978, he held a postdoctoral position at Kyoto University.

Dr. Tirrell was a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry at Carnegie-Mellon University from 1978-1984. He served as the Director of the Materials Research Laboratory at the University of Massachusetts Amherst from 1978-1998. He moved to Caltech in 1998 and served as chairman of the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Caltech from 1999 until 2009. He edited the Journal of Polymer Science from 1988-1999.

Tirrell applies principles from biology and chemistry to polymer synthesis. Recognizing that most synthetic polymers are mixtures, rather than pure substances, he developed pioneering techniques for the creation of precisely-defined polymers of uniform structure. Tirrell and his co-workers have formed crystals, liquid crystals and gels with predetermined, programmable molecular architectures and accompanying properties. His work in macromolecular synthesis underlies the development of "smart" materials, which respond to external cues like temperature, pH, chemical reagents, or light.

Tirrell has gone on to make important contributions to protein biosynthesis, effectively reprogramming the genetic code of biological cells to produce artificial, protein-like macromolecules. Specialized macromolecules may provide materials for use in surgery and regenerative medicine. Areas that he is exploring include the use of artificial amino acids in the preparation of proteins, the evolution of novel proteins, and analysis of cellular processes.

Dr. Tirrell is an elected member of all three branches of the United States National Academies: the National Academy of Science (2006), the National Academy of Engineering (2008), and the Institute of Medicine (2011). He is also an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a fellow of the American Chemical Society (2010).

He has received a number of awards, including:

• 2011, Member, Institute of Medicine
• 2010, Dickson Prize in Science, Carnegie Mellon University
• 2008, Member, National Academy of Engineering
• 2007, Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award (American Chemical Society)
• 2006, Member, National Academy of Sciences
• 2006, S. C. Lind Lecturer, East Tennessee Section, American Chemical Society
• 2004, G. N. Lewis Lecturer, University of California Berkeley
• 2001, ACS Award in Polymer Chemistry
• 2001, Honorary doctorate from the Technical University of Eindhoven
• 1997, Chancellor’s Medal of the University of Massachusetts
• 1996, Harrison Howe Award, Rochester Section, American Chemical Society
• 1991, Carl S. Marvel Creative Polymer Chemistry Award

• ^ O'Leary, Maureen (April 25, 2006). "72 New Members Chosen By Academy". News from the National Academies. 
• ^ Scahill, Jacqueline (February 15, 2008). "David Tirrell Elected to Membership in the National Academy of Engineering". About Caltech. Caltech. 
• ^ Fesenmaier, Kimm (October 26, 2011). "Caltech Professors Mark E. Davis and David A. Tirrell Elected to the Institute of Medicine". Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. Caltech. 
• "2010 ACS Fellows". Chemical & Engineering News. 88 (31): 60–62. August 2, 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2015. 
• Duffy, Jocelyn (2011). "Lecture Spotlight: Cells Become Factories for Dickson Prize Lecturer". The Piper (March). Carnegie Mellon University. Retrieved 29 June 2015. 
• "David Tirrell to Receive Dickson Prize in Science". Carnegie Mellon Press Releases. Carnegie Mellon University. March 10, 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2015. 
• "Arthur C. Cope Scholar Awards". ACS Chemistry for Life. Retrieved 29 June 2015. 
• "History of the S.C. Lind Lecture Series". East Tennessee ACS. Retrieved 29 June 2015. 
• "Annual Report 2004-2005" (PDF). The News Journal. 13 (2): 59. Retrieved 29 June 2015. 
• "ACS Award in Polymer Chemistry". ACS Chemistry for Life. Retrieved 29 June 2015. 
• "Honorary doctors". Technical University of Eindhoven. Retrieved 22 July 2015. 
• "UMass Amherst Convocation to Honor President William Bulger Sept. 26 in Campus Center Auditorium". University of Massachusetts Amherst. September 18, 1997. 
• "The Harrison Howe Award presented by the Rochester Section of the ACS". The Rochester Section ACS. Retrieved 29 June 2015. 
• "Polymer Division Awards". Division of Polymer Chemistry. American Chemical Society. Retrieved 29 June 2015.