Safe bet for innovations

"With his innovative ideas he has changed the polymer world," says Jan van Hest, scientific director of TU/e's Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS). Together with Anja Palmans, his ICMS colleague and professor of Supramolecular Chemistry & Catalysis, Jan van Hest nominated Craig Hawker for a TU/e honorary doctorate. Both he and Palmans will take on the role of honorary supervisor. "In one way or another, he has contributed to every major development in polymer research over the past decades. From block copolymer lithography to new methods of polymer synthesis, such as controlled radical polymerization. The latter involves forming a long polymer from highly reactive building blocks. He is currently working with his colleagues on a revolutionary 3D printing technique that can produce objects with both rigid and flexible properties. With his inspiring conceptual thinking and his ability to bring different elements together to realize something he is guaranteed to develop innovations."

Exciting chemistry

"Everything he initiates expands," Palmans emphasizes. She points out another of Hawker's special talents. "Whereas most lectures in our field are, to put it mildly, not very exciting to listen to, Hawker brings his research to the table in a unique way. He knows how to make his work engaging. If polymers are made in ethanol, Hawker tests whether whiskey works as a substitute. It stamps the concept of radical polymerization into your memory."

Is this exemplary of his way of conveying knowledge? Hawker: "I always try to emphasize why chemistry is relevant. At the same time, I want people to understand that something that seems very complicated doesn't necessarily have to be. In essence, every chemical reaction is simple. There's no need to be afraid of chemistry, something complex can always be reduced to simple building blocks. My mother was always a good sounding board for me. As she had little formal education, copper-mediated alkyne–azide click chemistry was beyond her ken. But when I told her I was developing chemical compounds that work in all kinds of solvents, even whiskey, and that we were using it to create better drugs and new coatings, she understood the importance."

Research with a purpose

By demonstrating applications, you also make a chemical innovation more accessible to+ a wider audience, Hawker continues. "During my postdoc period, I learned that you can do fundamental research with a purpose: applied research. This view was life-changing for me as a researcher. I didn't realize until later that my niche lay at the intersection of fundamental and applied research. You attract people who are interested in the fundamental part, but also bring people in at the boundaries who can use your chemistry in their own application."

Hawker himself also likes to look for applications for the experimental work carried out in his lab. Applied research is difficult and anyone who manages to take concrete steps toward a product is to be commended, according to Van Hest. "Hawker has mentored dozens of startups and now has more than 80 patents to his name. He's an exceptional researcher and he knows how to commercialize knowledge. This combination of talents makes him very special."

While he has developed drugs based on cross-linked polymers within successful companies such as Relypsa, Intermolecular and Tricida, the general public is probably most familiar with Hawker's foray into the hair care industry. He is one of the inventors of Olaplex, a hair treatment that repairs bonds in hair – a natural polymer. Olaplex is now used by hairdressers worldwide to reduce hair damage caused by chemical and thermal treatments such as bleaching, coloring and styling. Hollywood stars call the hair products a technological breakthrough.

Hawker remains level-headed about it. "By listening to experts in the field of hair care and looking at hair damage in a chemical way, we concluded that repairing bonds and limiting hair damage was an unexplored field, ripe for innovation." That Olaplex became embroiled in a protracted battle with cosmetics giant L'Oreal over the latter's patent infringement after a failed takeover, Hawker attributes to "the costs of business." To which he adds that such a long court battle – which they won, by the way – also says something about the quality of the product they developed.

Teamwork

Back to research. When you are reaching beyond the boundaries of your research area, collaborations come naturally, Hawker explains. "You shouldn't underestimate the importance of teamwork. This is true not only on the soccer pitch, but also in academia. In my personal opinion, the research of the future is interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and team-based. This is how you keep each other sharp and benefit from differences in perspective. Collaborative research brings scientists together and makes research stronger; it's one of TU/e's strengths. Just like a top soccer player who wants to play for the best club, as a researcher you look for collaborations with ambitious world-class research groups. This is why we have been working with multiple TU/e researchers for years. Eindhoven’s polymer research is among the world's best."

Coinciding as it does with the celebration of the 15th anniversary of ICMS and the establishment of the new Interactive Polymer Materials (IPM) Research Center, made possible by the securing of a prestigious NWO Gravitation Grant, Palmans and Hest describe the awarding of this year's TU/e Honorary Doctorate to Hawker as "the right momentum." Van Hest: " Hawker was recently appointed chair of the Scientific Board of IPM, another in the long list of his connections with TU/e. Similarly, we drew a great deal of inspiration for ICMS from Hawker’s work over in Santa Barbara. He is a continuous factor for our institute, both in evaluating new projects and in, for example, educating young researchers who have been going back and forth for years."

As the interview comes to an end, Hawker has the final word. "All I'm trying to do is establish a creative environment for the students in my group. Students don't work for me, I feel that I work for them; I give support and try to provide them with the right infrastructure so they can focus on doing great research. I am happy to guide, to let them learn and grow. A supportive, personal note can make a difference. I try to be a coach, hopefully encouraging teamwork and teaching them not to be afraid of complicated or new things. Polymer science is a unique area if you want to do something of impact, and want to make a difference in the world by doing the research of the future. We face significant challenges, but have huge opportunities as well."

On Wednesday, June 7, Professor Craig Hawker will give a scientific lecture at TU/e from 15.00 to 16.00 hrs in Ceres 0.31. On Thursday, June 8, he will discuss research and entrepreneurship with PhD candidates, and later in the day, he will be awarded the TU/e Honorary Doctorate for 2023 by Rector Silvia Lenaerts. Details of the activities can be found on the TU/e Research Day website.