Craig Hawker Seminar (Singh Entrepreneurship Lecture)
Professor of Materials, Chemistry, and Biochemistry at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Craig Hawker, will deliver a department seminar titled, “From Therapeutics to Hair Care: Academic Innovation in the Marketplace” on Thursday, October 9th, at 1:25 p.m. in room B75 Amundson Hall. This is the the inaugural Singh Entrepreneurship Lecture.
Abstract
The translation of fundamental discoveries into transformative commercial products requires not only scientific creativity but also a business focused approach. In this presentation, I will highlight two case studies from my own career: the development of Olaplex, a revolutionary haircare technology that disrupted a global industry, and Veltassa, an FDA-approved therapeutic for the treatment of hyperkalemia. Both ventures illustrate the importance of bridging rigorous academic research with strategic entrepreneurial approaches and the challenges in navigating the path from laboratory concept to real-world impact. Drawing on these experiences, I will emphasize the value of entrepreneurial training for all graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.
Craig Hawker Biography
Professor Craig J. Hawker is Clarke Professor and holds the Alan and Ruth Heeger Chair of Interdisciplinary Science at the University of California, Santa Barbara where he directs the California NanoSystems Institute and the Dow Materials Institute. He came to UC Santa Barbara in 2004 after eleven years as a Research Staff Member at the IBM Almaden Research Center in San Jose, CA. Professor Hawker’s work has led to over 650 peer-reviewed papers and 100 patents with Professor Hawker helping to establish a range of start-up companies including Symyx, Intermolecular, Ilypsa, Relypsa and Olaplex. For his pioneering studies, Professor Hawker’s recent honors include the 2025 Herman F. Mark Polymer Chemistry Award, an Honorary Doctorate from the Technical University of Eindhoven in 2023, and the 2021 Kathryn C. Hach Award for Entrepreneurial Success from the American Chemical Society. Professor Hawker has been honored with election to the Royal Society as well as being named a member of the National Academy of Inventors, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Sciences.
