Frances Ligler

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.

Frances Ligler
Born(1951-06-11)June 11, 1951
NationalityAmerican
Education2014, Honorary Doctorate, Agricultural University of Athens

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
Awards2017, 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 2014–2017; 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, engineering
Websitewww.bme.unc.edu/people/frances-ligler/

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 32 patents[4] 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.[5] 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 2012, she was named a fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.[6]

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.[5] She received an honorary doctorate from Furman University in 2018.[7]

Awards and honors

References
  1. 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. "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.
  4. Iancu, Andrei. "USPTO Celebrates Women Innovators for World IP Day". Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  5. "Congress Chair". World Congress on Biosensors. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  6. McKinney, Donna. "Dr. Frances Ligler Elected to American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineer's College of Fellows". Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  7. "Furman bids farewell to class of 2018". Retrieved 17 October 2018.
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