Paula T. Hammond

Paula Hammond is the Dean of the School of Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She previously served as the university's Executive Vice Provost from 2024 to January 2026 and Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering from 2015 to 2023. As a renowned nanomedicine expert, she cofounded LayerBio and serves on the scientific advisory board for Moderna Therapeutics, while holding board director positions at Alector Therapeutics, Sail Biomedicines, and the MIT Engine. Her exceptional scientific contributions earned her the prestigious National Medal of Technology and Innovation in January 2025, the 2025 Othmer Gold Medal, and election to the National Academy of Sciences. Her current research focus centers on developing advanced drug delivery systems, including targeted nanoparticles for ovarian cancer therapies and specialized polymer coatings for wound healing and tissue regeneration.