Dr. Frances Ligler
Department of Biomedical Engineering
College of Engineering
Frances Ligler earned two degrees from Oxford University, a Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Science. She joined Texas A&M in 2022 as a professor and the Eppright Chair of Biomedical Engineering. Throughout her career in academia, industry and government, Dr. Ligler has specialized in biochemistry, immunology, biosensors, microfluidics and regenerative medicine. She pioneered optical biosensor devices and demonstrated most of the major applications currently being commercialized, including the detection of biological warfare agents, drugs of abuse, environmental pollutants, clinical biomarkers, pathogens in clinical samples and food contaminants. Her transformational contributions have directly produced 37 US patents and associated foreign patents, over 450 publications, and 11 commercial products. She is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, an inductee of the U.S. National Inventors Hall of Fame and is an honorary member of the Hellenic Society for Nanotechnology in health sciences. In 2003, she was awarded the Presidential Rank of Distinguished Senior Professional by President Bush. In 2012, she was awarded the Presidential Rank of Meritorious Senior Professional by President Obama. She holds honorary doctorates from the Agricultural University of Athens and Furman University. In 2022 she received the prestigious Ramo Founders Award from the National Academy of Engineering.