Heather Maynard

Heather D. Maynard is the Dr. Myung Ki Hong Professor in Polymer Science at UCLA. She is also the Associate Director of Technology & Development at the California NanoSystems Institute (CSNI) at UCLA

Maynard makes major contributions to the area of protein-polymer conjugates, which are important therapeutics for a variety of diseases. She develops new synthetic methods to synthesize the materials, invents new polymers to improve properties such as stability, and demonstrates preclinical efficacy of her conjugates with an eye towards translation for human health. Maynard also works in the area of smart materials for precision medicine: materials that respond to disease states in the body. Her current focus is on delivery of drugs to treat diabetes.

Maynard’s research and teaching have been recognized by numerous awards, most recently the American Chemical Society Arthur Cope Scholar Award, Macrogroup UK Medal for Outstanding Achievement, Hanson-Dow Award for Excellence in Teaching and the UCLA Student Development Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award. Maynard is an American Chemical Society, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), Leverhulme, Kavli Frontiers, and Royal Society of Chemistry Fellow and was a member of the United States Defense Science Study Group.