Frances Ligler

Frances Ligler
Born(1951-06-11)June 11, 1951
NationalityAmerican
Education2018, Honorary Doctorate, Furman University

2014, Honorary Doctorate, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

2000, D.Sc. for Biosensor Technology, Oxford University

1977 D.Phil.. Biochemistry, Oxford University

1972 B.S. Biology-Chemistry, Furman University
Alma materFurman University, Oxford University
Known forOptical biosensors
Awards2022, American Chemical Society National Award in Analytical Chemistry

2020, National Academy of Engineering Simon Ramo Founders Award

2017, National Inventors Hall of Fame

2012, Presidential Rank of Meritorious Senior Professional, awarded by President Barack H. Obama

2005, National Academy of Engineering, Bioengineering Section, Councillor 2014–2020

2003, Presidential Rank of Distinguished Senior Professional, awarded by President George W. Bush

2003, Christopher Columbus Foundation Homeland Security Award (Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Field)

Elected Fellow: SPIE, AIMBE, AAAS, National Academy of Inventors
Scientific career
FieldsBiology, chemistry, biomedical engineering
InstitutionsDupont, Naval Research Laboratory, UNC Chapel Hill/North Carolina State University, Texas A&M University
Websitehttps://engineering.tamu.edu/biomedical/profiles/ligler-frances.html

Frances S. Ligler (born June 11, 1951) is a biochemist and bioengineer[1] who was a 2017 inductee of the National Inventors Hall of Fame.[2] Ligler's research dramatically improved the effectiveness of biosensors while at the same time reducing their size and increasing automation. Her work on biosensors made it easier to detect toxins and pathogens in food, water, or when airborne.

In a 2017 interview, Ligler summarized her work: "Optical biosensors is a whole field where biological molecules are being used for recognition and transduce an optical signal to a small device. My teams and I demonstrated the use of optical biosensors for detection of pathogens in food, infectious diseases in people, biological warfare agents, environmental pollutants, explosives and drugs of abuse — things that can kill you."[3] Ligler's interests include microfluidics, tissue on chips, optical analytical devices, biosensors and nanotechnology. Ligler holds 37 patents[4][5][6] and has authored over 400 scientific papers.[1]

Biography

Ligler received a B.S. from Furman University and a D.Phil. and D.Sc. from Oxford University.[7] In 1986, she joined the US Naval Research Laboratory, where she developed sensors to detect anthrax and botulinum toxin that were deployed during Operation Desert Storm.[2]

In 2013, she left the US Naval Research Laboratory to become the Lampe Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering in the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.[7] She received honorary doctorates from the Agricultural University of Athens, Greece in 2014[8] and from Furman University in 2018.[9] In 2022, she became Professor and Eppright Chair in Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M University.[10]

Awards and honors

  • 1992, Office of National Drug Control Policy Technology Transfer Award for Drug Enforcement[11]
  • 1993, Hillebrand Prize, Chemical Society of Washington, D.C.[12]
  • 1997, U.S. Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Scientific Achievement Award[13]
  • 2000, Fellow, SPIE[14]
  • 2000, Navy Superior Civilian Service Award[15]
  • 2003, Christopher Columbus Foundation Homeland Security Award (Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Field)[16]
  • 2003, Presidential Rank of Distinguished Senior Professional, awarded by President George W. Bush[17]
  • 2005, Elected Member, U.S. National Academy of Engineering[18]
  • 2006, Distinguished Furman Alumni of the 20th Century
  • 2009, Partnership for Public Service's Service to America Medals Finalist, Career Achievement[19]
  • 2012, Presidential Rank of Meritorious Senior Professional, awarded by President Barack H. Obama[20]
  • 2012, Elected Fellow, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering[21]
  • 2013, Elected Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science[22]
  • 2014, Honorary doctorate, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece[8]
  • 2016, Carl Kohrt Distinguished Alumni Award, Furman University[23]
  • 2016, Elected Fellow, National Academy of Inventors[24]
  • 2017, Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Analytical Chemistry, ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry[25]
  • 2017, Honorary Member, Hellenic Society for Nanotechnology in Health Sciences[26][27]
  • 2017, Inductee, National Inventors Hall of Fame[2]
  • 2018, Honorary doctorate, Furman University[9]
  • 2020, Simon Ramo Founders Award, National Academy of Engineering[28]
  • 2022, National Award in Analytical Chemistry, American Chemical Society [29]
  • 2023, Power List - Innovators and Trailblazers, the Analytical Scientist[30]
  • 2024, Power List - Instrumental Innovators, the Analytical Scientist[31]

References

  1. ^ a b Ligler, Frances S.; Macuare, Kimberly A. (2018). "The NAI Fellow Profile: An Interview with Dr. Frances Ligler". Technology & Innovation. 19 (3): 645–651. doi:10.21300/19.3.2018.645.
  2. ^ a b c "Inductee Detail | National Inventors Hall of Fame". National Inventors Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
  3. ^ Correspondent, Zaynab Khalifa. "Professor inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame". Technician. Retrieved 2018-04-25. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  4. ^ Iancu, Andrei. "USPTO Celebrates Women Innovators for World IP Day". Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  5. ^ "Dr. Frances S. Ligler". NAE Website. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  6. ^ "Patent Database Search Results: in/ligler". USPTO. Retrieved 2022-05-10.
  7. ^ a b "Congress Chair". World Congress on Biosensors. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  8. ^ a b "Ligler receives honorary doctorate from the Agricultural University of Athens | College of Engineering | NC State University". 2014-05-13. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  9. ^ a b "Furman bids farewell to class of 2018". Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  10. ^ "Visionary researcher joins biomedical engineering faculty".
  11. ^ "1993 NRL Review, Page 227" (PDF). DTIC. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 1, 2022. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  12. ^ cswpubcom (17 June 2018). "Hillebrand Prize Recipients by Year – Chemical Society of Washington". Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  13. ^ "1998 NRL Review, Page 208" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 13, 2020. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  14. ^ "Complete List | Fellows". spie.org. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
  15. ^ "2001 NRL Review, Page 219" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on June 1, 2022. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  16. ^ "Frances S. Ligler, D.Phil., D.Sc., 2003 Homeland Security Award". Columbus Fellowship Foundation. 2003-04-10. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
  17. ^ "Congressional Record Senate Articles". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
  18. ^ "Dr. Frances S. Ligler". NAE Website. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  19. ^ Tisch, Jonathan M. (2011). Citizen You: How Social Entrepreneurs Are Changing the World. Three Rivers Press. ISBN 978-0-307-58849-4.
  20. ^ "Presidential Rank Award 2012 Program Meritorious Executive and Meritorious Senior Professional Winners" (PDF). Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  21. ^ "Dr. Frances Ligler Elected to American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineer's College of Fellows". News. 2012-03-29. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  22. ^ "AAAS Fellows" (PDF). AAAS. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  23. ^ University, Furman (2016-03-23), Fran Ligler | 2016 Carl F. Kohrt Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient, retrieved 2020-10-27
  24. ^ "Faculty Inventors Recognized". NC State News. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  25. ^ "Analytical Division presents awards". Chemical & Engineering News. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  26. ^ "Fran Ligler Inducted into Hellenic Society for Nanotechnology". Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering. 2017-06-16. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  27. ^ "Honorary Members | HSnanoHS" (in Greek). Retrieved 2020-10-28.
  28. ^ "Simon Ramo Founders Award". NAE Website. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  29. ^ Notman, Nina (2022). "2022 ACS National Award winners--Part II". C&EN Global Enterprise. 100 (3): 32–35. doi:10.1021/cen-10003-awards2. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  30. ^ "The Power List 2023". The Analytical Scientist. 2023-09-10. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  31. ^ "The Power List 2024". The Analytical Scientist. 2024-08-17. Retrieved 2024-08-24.