Ligler to receive honorary doctorate from Furman University

Dr. Frances Ligler, Lampe Distinguished Professor in the UNC/NC State Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, will be awarded an honorary doctorate from Furman University in Greenville, SC, at the university’s commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 5, 2018.

Ligler received a B.S. in biology and chemistry from Furman in 1972. She went on to earn a D. Phil. in biochemistry, and a higher doctorate, the D.Sc., for her contributions to the field of biosensors, both from Oxford University.

This will be the second honorary doctorate for Ligler, who was also honored by the Agricultural University of Athens, Greece in 2014 in recognition of her outstanding lifetime achievements in science.

Prior to joining the NC State faculty in 2013, Ligler worked at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC, from 1985-2013, where she served as the Navy’s Senior Scientist for Biosensors and Biomaterials. She is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the National Inventors Hall of Fame, a recipient of the Presidential Rank of Meritorious Senior Professional and Presidential Rank of Distinguished Senior Professional.

Ligler is a pioneer and world leader in the fields of biosensors and microfluidics. She has been recognized for her innovative application of emerging technologies in a variety of fields to make optical biosensors smaller, more versatile and more sophisticated.