Dr. Paula T. Hammond has broken a historic barrier at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), becoming the first woman to lead its School of Engineering while bringing decades of pioneering research in nanotechnology, drug delivery and cancer treatment to one of the world’s most prestigious engineering institutions.
Her appointment, effective January 2026, marks a milestone in the representation of women in engineering leadership and places an accomplished scientist at the forefront of research and education shaping future technologies.
Hammond’s journey is remarkable: she entered MIT at just 16 and returned decades later as a professor, research pioneer and senior administrator before rising to become dean. Her career brings together scientific discovery, academic leadership and a commitment to expanding opportunities for future generations of researchers.
From Detroit to MIT
Hammond grew up in Detroit, Michigan, in a family that valued education and science. Her father was a biochemist who directed Detroit’s health laboratories, while her mother founded a nursing school at Wayne County Community College.
Her interest in chemistry deepened in high school, where a teacher introduced her to the possibilities of combining molecules to create new materials. She completed high school a year early and entered MIT at 16.
Hammond earned her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from MIT in 1984. She later worked as a process engineer at Motorola before completing a master’s degree at the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1988. She returned to MIT for her doctorate, graduating in 1993, and undertook postdoctoral research at Harvard University before joining MIT’s faculty in 1995.
Her progression from undergraduate student to dean reflects decades of scientific research, teaching and leadership.
Engineering new possibilities in medicine
A central question drives Hammond’s research: how can materials be designed to deliver medicine more precisely and effectively inside the human body?
Her laboratory studies polymers and nanomaterials—materials engineered at extremely small scales for specialised applications. One of her major contributions is the development of layer-by-layer assembly, a technique that builds ultrathin materials by stacking layers of charged molecules. This approach allows researchers to control material properties for applications including drug delivery and biomedical engineering.
Her team has explored nanoparticles designed to carry therapeutic agents to tumours, with particular attention to ovarian cancer and approaches that combine drug delivery with the body’s immune response.
More precise delivery systems could help medicines reach their intended targets while limiting damage to healthy tissue. However, the safety and effectiveness of individual treatments must be established through appropriate testing and clinical evidence.
Hammond’s work also extends to wound healing, bone regeneration and energy technologies. She co-founded LayerBio, a biotechnology company developing drug-delivery products for medical applications.
Her research demonstrates how chemical engineering and materials science can contribute to challenges that extend well beyond the laboratory.
Breaking barriers in academic leadership
Hammond’s appointment as dean followed several leadership milestones at MIT. In 2015, she became the first woman and the first Black scholar to head the university’s Department of Chemical Engineering, serving until 2023. She subsequently held senior university roles, including vice provost for faculty and executive vice provost.
In these positions, she worked on faculty recruitment, retention, mentoring and professional development. Her responsibilities extended beyond her own research to the broader conditions that enable scientists and engineers to thrive.
Hammond has spoken about the isolation she experienced as a Black woman in a field dominated by white men. Her rise to the deanship therefore carries significance beyond individual achievement, highlighting progress in opening leadership opportunities in engineering.
As dean, she has the opportunity to influence the education of future engineers, the direction of research programmes and the institutional environment in which new discoveries emerge.
Recognition and influence
Hammond’s scientific achievements have earned election to three major US scientific bodies: the National Academy of Medicine in 2016, the National Academy of Engineering in 2017 and the National Academy of Sciences in 2019.
In 2025, she received the US National Medal of Technology and Innovation, recognising her contributions to technological advancement. Her work has also attracted attention for its potential applications in medicine and materials science.
Beyond awards, Hammond has emphasised mentorship and collaboration, helping colleagues and emerging researchers develop their ideas and pursue ambitious projects.
A legacy still taking shape
Hammond’s career brings together scientific discovery, perseverance and a commitment to expanding opportunities in engineering. From entering MIT at 16 to leading its School of Engineering, she has moved through roles that place her at the intersection of research, education and institutional leadership.
Her impact will be measured both by the discoveries her research helps advance and by the opportunities she creates for future generations of scientists and engineers.
Her appointment is a historic milestone, but it also carries a wider responsibility: to guide a leading engineering school while helping shape a future in which talent, innovation and leadership can flourish across a broader range of backgrounds.
