Angela Belcher

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Angela M. Belcher
CitizenshipUnited States
EducationUniversity of California, Santa Barbara (B.S. 1991, Ph.D. 1997)
Known forViral assembly of nanotechnology
AwardsMacArthur Fellowship (2004)
Beckman Young Investigators Award (2000)[1]
National Medal of Science (2024)
Scientific career
FieldsBiological engineering
materials science
InstitutionsMIT
ThesisSpatial and temporal resolution of interfaces, phase transitions and isolation of three families of proteins in calcium carbonate based biocomposite materials (1997)
Doctoral advisorGalen D. Stucky

Angela M. Belcher is a

the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, and a 2004 MacArthur Fellow. In 2019, she was named head of the Department of Biological Engineering at MIT.[3] She was elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 2022.[4]

Early life and education

Belcher grew up in San Antonio, Texas. She attended the

Ph.D. in chemistry in 1997.[5]

Career

After studying abalone shells, she worked with several colleagues at MIT and engineered a virus, known as the

Evelyn L. Hu of (at the time) University of California, Santa Barbara.[9] Their vision relied upon the use of nanostructured inorganic materials, fabricated and shaped by biological molecules to create novel materials and processes for a variety of industries. She also founded and serves on the Advisory Committee of Siluria Technologies, which develops catalytic methods for converting natural gas into products such as ethylene, gasoline, and diesel fuel.[10]

In 2009 Belcher and her team demonstrated the feasibility of using genetically modified viruses to build both anode and cathode of a

hybrid cars, as well as powering a range of electronic devices. The batteries could be manufactured using a cheap and environmentally friendly process, as the synthesis can be done near room temperature, using no harmful solvents or toxic materials.[11][12] In October 2009, President Barack Obama visited Belcher's lab at MIT.[13]

In 2014 Belcher and her group demonstrated the potential for M13 phages to detect cancer. They developed a nanoprobe that uses M13 virus-stabilized SWNTs (single walled carbon nanotubes) to visualize deep, disseminated tumors in vivo. Using this process, they were able to identify submillimeter tumors.[14]

A

TR100 as one of the top 100 innovators in the world under the age of 35.[17] In 2013, Belcher was awarded the Lemelson-MIT Prize.[18]

She has been elected to the Academy of Arts & Sciences and the National Academy of Inventors. Belcher was also elected as a member of the National Academy of Engineering in 2018 for the development of novel genetic evolution methods for the generation of new materials and devices.[19][20][21] In 2022, Belcher was appointed to the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology.[22]

In 2024, Belcher was awarded the National Medal of Science.[23][24]

References

  1. ^ "Angela M. Belcher". Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  2. ^ DMSE - Faculty - Angela Belcher. Archived November 14, 2006, at the Wayback Machine Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
  3. ^ "Angela Belcher named head of the Department of Biological Engineering". MIT News. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
  4. ^ "2022 NAS Election".
  5. ^ Belcher, Angela (June 2003). "The College of Creative Studies - Distinguished Alumni - Angela Belcher, Ph.D. (From her commencement speech, June 2003)". University of California, Santa Barbara. Archived from the original on 2008-02-26.
  6. S2CID 39176392
    .
  7. S2CID 5105315
    .
  8. S2CID 32017913
    .
  9. ^ and sits on its Board About Cambrios. Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Cambrios Technologies Corp.
  10. ^ Siluria Technologies Inc. "Siluria Technologies | Building with Natural Gas | Abundant fuels and chemicals without a single drop of oil". www.siluria.com. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
  11. Science Daily
    . April 3, 2009.
  12. S2CID 32017913
    .
  13. ^ "A President's Urgent Call–from MIT". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  14. PMID 25214538
    .
  15. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican1206-50a. Archived from the original
    on April 28, 2007.
  16. ^ Minkel, J.R. (November 12, 2006). "Scientific American 50: Research Leader of the Year". Scientific American.
  17. Technology Review
    . 2002. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
  18. ^ "Dr. Angela Belcher | Lemelson-MIT Program". lemelson.mit.edu. Archived from the original on 2019-12-12. Retrieved 2017-05-11.
  19. ^ "Four MIT faculty named 2015 fellows of the National Academy of Inventors". MIT News. Retrieved 2017-05-11.
  20. ^ "American Academy of Arts and Sciences 2012 Fellows" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-12-31.
  21. ^ "National Academy of Engineering Elects 83 Members and 16 Foreign Members". NAE Website. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
  22. ^ "Armed Services Committees Leadership Announces Chair and Vice Chair Selections for National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology | United States Senate Committee on Armed Services". www.armed-services.senate.gov. 2022-12-30. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  23. ^ "MIT affiliates awarded 2024 National Medals of Science, Technology". MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 2025-01-04. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  24. ^ "National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology Commissioner Receives National Medal of Science". Biotech. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
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