Matthew L Becker

Hugo L. Blomquist Distinguished Professor of Chemistry

The Becker Laboratory for Functional Biomaterials is a multidisciplinary organic materials group working at the interface of chemistry, engineering and medicine.   We are developing families of degradable polymers with highly tunable physical and biological properties that are being applied to unmet needs in flexible electronics, soft tissue repair, neural, orthopedic and vascular tissue engineering.  We are also actively engaged in additive manufacturing and the development of custom inks that are enabling unique solutions to challenging design paradigms in biomaterials and drug delivery.

Appointments and Affiliations

  • Hugo L. Blomquist Distinguished Professor of Chemistry
  • Professor of Chemistry
  • Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science
  • Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Contact Information

  • Office Location: B120 Levine Science Res Center, 308 Research Drive, Durham, NC 27708
  • Email Address: matthew.l.becker@duke.edu
  • Websites:

Education

  • B.S. Northwest Missouri State University, 1998
  • M.A. Washington University in St. Louis, 2000
  • Ph.D. Washington University in St. Louis, 2003

Research Interests

Polymer chemistry; bioconjugate chemistry; molecular imaging and additive manufacturing; materials for bone, soft tissue, neural and vascular tissue engineering; drug and protein delivery; degradable materials for flexible electronics

Awards, Honors, and Distinctions

  • Fellow (NAI). National Academy of Inventors. 2022
  • Fellow. American Chemical Society. 2020
  • Carl S. Marvel Award in Creative Polymer Chemistry. Polymer Division of the American Chemical Society. 2019
  • Fellow. American Institute of Medical and Biomedical Engineering. 2018
  • Fellow. Royal Society of Chemistry. 2017
  • Biomacromolecules/ Macromolecules Young Investigator Award. American Chemical Society Publications. 2015

Courses Taught

  • NEUROSCI 494: Research Independent Study 2
  • NEUROSCI 493: Research Independent Study 1
  • MSEG 591: Independent Study
  • ME 555: Advanced Topics in Mechanical Engineering
  • ME 490: Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering
  • ME 392: Undergraduate Projects in Mechanical Engineering
  • CHEM 539: Polymer Chemistry
  • CHEM 494: Research Independent Study
  • CHEM 493: Research Independent Study
  • CHEM 394: Research Independent Study
  • CHEM 393: Research Independent Study
  • CHEM 110DL: Honors Chemistry: Core Concepts in Context
  • BME 792: Continuation of Graduate Independent Study
  • BME 791: Graduate Independent Study
  • BME 493: Projects in Biomedical Engineering (GE)

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