{{short description|American chemist}} {{Infobox scientist | name = David A. Tirrell | image = | image_size = | caption = | birth_date = 1953 <!-- {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1938|3|7}} --> | birth_place = Easton, Pennsylvania, U.S. | field = Chemical engineering | workplaces = Carnegie-Mellon University, University of Massachusetts, California Institute of Technology | doctoral_advisor = | doctoral_students = Kristi Kiick | known_for = | prizes = | spouse = | website = {{URL|https://tirrell-lab.caltech.edu/DavidTirrell}} | education = Massachusetts Institute of Technology (BS)<br> University of Massachusetts Amherst (PhD) }}
{{external media | width = 210px | float = right | headerimage= | video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyWd6chvnNA Reinterpreting the Genetic Code - 2010 Dickson Prize Lecture], Carnegie Mellon University }}
'''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).<ref name=CaltechProfessor>{{cite web|title=Professor David A. Tirrell|url=https://tirrell-lab.caltech.edu/DavidTirrell|website=Caltech|accessdate=29 June 2015|archive-date=5 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905043319/http://tirrell-lab.caltech.edu/DavidTirrell|url-status=dead}}</ref> From 2012 to 2018, Tirrell was the director of the Beckman Institute at Caltech.<ref name=Tirrell>{{cite web|title=Caltech Professor David Tirrell Named Director of the Beckman Institute|url=https://www.caltech.edu/article/307|website=About Caltech|accessdate=10 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150829113421/http://www.caltech.edu/article/307|archive-date=29 August 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> {{As of|2017}}, he serves as Caltech's Provost.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.caltech.edu/news/david-tirrell-named-caltech-provost-78865|title=David Tirrell Named Caltech Provost {{!}} Caltech|work=The California Institute of Technology|access-date=2018-08-02|language=en}}</ref>
==Early life and education== 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.<ref name=ChemicalEngineering>{{cite web|title=David A. Tirrell|url=http://www.che.caltech.edu/faculty/tirrell_d/index.html|website=Chemical Engineering|publisher=California Institute of Technology|accessdate=29 June 2015}}</ref>
== Career == Tirrell was a faculty member in the department of chemistry at Carnegie-Mellon University from 1978 to 1984. He served as the director of the materials research laboratory at the University of Massachusetts Amherst from 1978 to 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 to 1999.<ref name=Zewail>{{cite book|editor-last1=Zewail|editor-first1=Ahmed H.|title=Physical Biology: From Atoms to Medicine : From Atoms to Medicine|date=2008|publisher=Imperial College Press|location=London|isbn=978-1848162006|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gXsaSnqvqEwC&pg=PA185|page=185|accessdate=22 July 2015}}</ref>
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.<ref name=Timp>{{cite book|editor-last1=Timp|editor-first1=Gregory|title=Nanotechnology|date=1999|publisher=Springer New York|location=New York, NY|isbn=978-1-4612-0531-9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jln4BwAAQBAJ&pg=PA372}}</ref> Tirrell and his co-workers have formed crystals, liquid crystals and gels with predetermined, programmable molecular architectures and accompanying properties.<ref name=Hecht>{{cite book|last1=Tirrell|first1=David A.|last2=Tirrell|first2=June G.|last3=Mason|first3=Thomas L.|last4=Fournier|first4=Maurille J.|chapter=Engineered Proteins in Materials Research|title=Bioorganic chemistry : peptides and proteins|date=1998|location=New York|publisher=Oxford University Press|editor-last=Hecht|editor-first= S. M.|chapter-url=http://authors.library.caltech.edu/53743/1/161-Hecht-chapt.pdf}}</ref> His work in macromolecular synthesis underlies the development of "smart" materials, which respond to external cues like temperature, pH, chemical reagents, or light.<ref name=Duffy/><ref name=Langer>{{cite journal|last1=Langer|first1=Robert|last2=Tirrell|first2=David A.|title=Designing materials for biology and medicine|journal=Nature|date=1 April 2004|volume=428|issue=6982|pages=487–492|doi=10.1038/nature02388|pmid=15057821|bibcode=2004Natur.428..487L|s2cid=4361055|url=https://authors.library.caltech.edu/53361/4/nature02388-s3.doc}}<!--|accessdate=22 July 2015--></ref><ref name=Kato>{{cite journal|last1=Kato|first1=Takashi|title=Self-Assembly of Phase-Segregated Liquid Crystal Structures|journal=Science|date=March 29, 2002|volume=295|issue=5564|pages=2414–2418|url=http://www.mrl.ucsb.edu/~safinyaweb/PDFs/science_2002_viewpoint_kato.pdf|accessdate=22 July 2015|doi=10.1126/science.1070967|pmid=11923528|bibcode=2002Sci...295.2414K|s2cid=44587581}}</ref>
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.<ref name=CMUPR/> Specialized macromolecules may provide materials for use in surgery and regenerative medicine.<ref name=Langer/> 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.<ref name=Zewail165>{{cite book|editor-last1=Zewail|editor-first1=Ahmed H.|title=Physical Biology: From Atoms to Medicine : From Atoms to Medicine|date=2008|publisher=Imperial College Press|location=London|isbn=978-1848162006|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gXsaSnqvqEwC&pg=PA165|accessdate=22 July 2015|pages=165–187|chapter=Reinterpreting the Genetic Code: Implications for macromolecular design, evolution and analysis|author-last=Tirrell|author-first=David A.}}</ref>
He is one of very few American scientists to have been elected to all three branches of the United States National Academies: the National Academy of Sciences (2006),<ref name="NatSci" /> the National Academy of Engineering (2008),<ref name="Scahill" /> and the Institute of Medicine (2011).<ref name="IOM" /> He was elected a Member of the American Philosophical Society in 2019.
== Awards and honors== Tirrell is an elected member of all three branches of the United States National Academies: the National Academy of Sciences (2006),<ref name=NatSci/> the National Academy of Engineering (2008),<ref name=Scahill/> and the Institute of Medicine (2011).<ref name=IOM/> He is also an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences,<ref name=CaltechProfessor/> a fellow of the American Chemical Society (2010),<ref name=CEN2010>{{cite journal|title=2010 ACS Fellows|url=http://cen.acs.org/articles/88/i31/2010-ACS-Fellows.html|accessdate=29 June 2015|journal=Chemical & Engineering News|pages= 60–62|issue=31|volume=88|date=August 2, 2010}}</ref> and a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (2018).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/two-caltech-chemists-elected-national-academy-inventors-84634 |title=Two Caltech Chemists Elected to the National Academy of Inventors |date=December 11, 2018 |work=California Institute of Technology}}</ref>
He has received a number of awards, including: * 2011, Member, Institute of Medicine<ref name=IOM>{{cite web|last1=Fesenmaier|first1=Kimm|title=Caltech Professors Mark E. Davis and David A. Tirrell Elected to the Institute of Medicine|url=https://www.cce.caltech.edu/content/caltech-professors-mark-e-davis-and-david-tirrell-elected-institute-medicine|website=Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering|publisher=Caltech|date=October 26, 2011|access-date=July 22, 2015|archive-date=July 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722233614/https://www.cce.caltech.edu/content/caltech-professors-mark-e-davis-and-david-tirrell-elected-institute-medicine|url-status=dead}}</ref> * 2010, Dickson Prize in Science, Carnegie Mellon University<ref name=Duffy>{{cite news|last1=Duffy|first1=Jocelyn|title=Lecture Spotlight: Cells Become Factories for Dickson Prize Lecturer|url=http://www.cmu.edu/piper/piper/2011/march/dicksonprize.html|accessdate=29 June 2015|work=The Piper|issue=March|publisher=Carnegie Mellon University|date=2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923224452/http://www.cmu.edu/piper/piper/2011/march/dicksonprize.html|archive-date=23 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=CMUPR>{{cite news|title=David Tirrell to Receive Dickson Prize in Science|url=https://www.cmu.edu/mcs/news/pressreleases/2011/03_10_TirrellDickson.html|accessdate=29 June 2015|work=Carnegie Mellon Press Releases|publisher=Carnegie Mellon University|date=March 10, 2011}}</ref> * 2008, Member, National Academy of Engineering<ref name=Scahill>{{cite web|last1=Scahill|first1=Jacqueline|title=David Tirrell Elected to Membership in the National Academy of Engineering|url=https://www.caltech.edu/news/david-tirrell-elected-membership-national-academy-engineering-1388|website=About Caltech|publisher=Caltech|date=February 15, 2008}}</ref> * 2007, Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award (American Chemical Society)<ref name=Cope>{{cite web|title=Arthur C. Cope Scholar Awards|url=http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/funding-and-awards/awards/national/bytopic/arthur-cope-scholar-award.html|website=ACS Chemistry for Life|accessdate=29 June 2015}}</ref> * 2006, Member, National Academy of Sciences<ref name=NatSci>{{cite web|last1=O'Leary|first1=Maureen|title=72 New Members Chosen By Academy|url=http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=04252006|website=News from the National Academies|date=April 25, 2006}}</ref> * 2006, S. C. Lind Lecturer, East Tennessee Section, American Chemical Society<ref name=Lind>{{cite web|title=History of the S.C. Lind Lecture Series|url=https://www.chem.utk.edu/~acs/Lind%20Lecture.html|website=East Tennessee ACS|accessdate=29 June 2015|archive-date=2 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702095336/https://www.chem.utk.edu/~acs/Lind%20Lecture.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> * 2004, G. N. Lewis Lecturer, University of California Berkeley<ref name=AnnualReport>{{cite journal|title=Annual Report 2004-2005|journal=The News Journal|volume=13|issue=2|page=59|url=http://chemistry-archive.berkeley.edu/publications/journal/volume13/no2/vol13no2.pdf|accessdate=29 June 2015}}</ref> * 2001, ACS Award in Polymer Chemistry<ref name=Polymer>{{cite web|title=ACS Award in Polymer Chemistry|url=http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/funding-and-awards/awards/national/bytopic/acs-award-in-polymer-chemistry.html|website=ACS Chemistry for Life|accessdate=29 June 2015}}</ref> * 2001, honorary doctorate from the Technical University of Eindhoven<ref name=Eindhoven>{{cite web|title=Honorary doctors|url=http://www.tue.nl/en/university/about-the-university/awards/tue-awards/honorary-doctorates/honorary-doctors/|website=Technical University of Eindhoven|accessdate=22 July 2015|archive-date=23 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723001649/http://www.tue.nl/en/university/about-the-university/awards/tue-awards/honorary-doctorates/honorary-doctors/|url-status=dead}}</ref> * 1997, Chancellor's Medal of the University of Massachusetts<ref name=Chancellor>{{cite web|title=UMass Amherst Convocation to Honor President William Bulger Sept. 26 in Campus Center Auditorium|url=http://www.umass.edu/newsoffice/article/umass-amherst-convocation-honor-president-william-bulger-sept-26-campus-center-auditorium|website=University of Massachusetts Amherst|date=September 18, 1997|access-date=July 22, 2015|archive-date=July 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723005831/http://www.umass.edu/newsoffice/article/umass-amherst-convocation-honor-president-william-bulger-sept-26-campus-center-auditorium|url-status=dead}}</ref> * 1996, Harrison Howe Award, Rochester Section, American Chemical Society<ref name=Rochester>{{cite web|title=The Harrison Howe Award presented by the Rochester Section of the ACS|url=https://www.chem.rochester.edu/howe/past.php|website=The Rochester Section ACS|accessdate=29 June 2015}}</ref> * 1991, Carl S. Marvel Creative Polymer Chemistry Award<ref name=marvel>{{cite web|title=Polymer Division Awards|url=http://www.polyacs.org/AWARDS.html|website=Division of Polymer Chemistry|publisher=American Chemical Society|accessdate=29 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180520055319/http://www.polyacs.org/AWARDS.html|archive-date=20 May 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==External links== {{library resources box|by=yes|lcheading= Tirrell, David A., 1953- }} * http://tirrell-lab.caltech.edu/
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tirrell, David A.}} Category:Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences Category:Living people Category:21st-century American chemists Category:MIT School of Science alumni Category:University of Massachusetts Amherst alumni Category:California Institute of Technology faculty Category:Members of the United States National Academy of Engineering Category:Fellows of the American Chemical Society Category:1953 births Category:Members of the American Philosophical Society Category:Members of the National Academy of Medicine