Dr. Mark L. Hammond Promoted to Full Professor

Dr. Mark L. Hammond, dean of Campbell University’s College of Arts and Sciences has been promoted to full professor. Hammond, who was appointed dean in 2001, came to Campbell as an assistant professor of biology in 1992.
A talented scientist, Hammond developed a patent for rapid base sequencing in DNA and RNA while working on the Human Genome Initiative at Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, NM. In 1995, his patent received the Distinguished Patent Award out of several hundred others that were developed that year. His work at Los Alamos produced another patent dealing with DNA fragment sizing and sorting that is licensed currently by Fluidigm Corporation. Hammond’s work on DNA sequencing based on single molecule detection was published in the scientific journal, “Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers,” in 1991.
“There has to be something very special about an extraordinarily gifted young scientist who chooses to spend a career in the classroom, challenging and enlightening young minds,” said the former dean of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Walter S. Barge. “Although many career paths would be open to him, he has committed himself to teaching undergraduates and inspiring them to become involved in the exciting research opportunities in the decades ahead.”
Hammond was awarded a grant from the North Carolina Biotechnology Center for improvements in genetics and molecular biology. The money was used to purchase laboratory equipment that allowed the introduction of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technology into the genetics and molecular biology courses offered at Campbell. Hammond received Campbell’s Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence for 1993-94.
A native of Ashland, OH, Hammond received a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology and general science from Hiram College in 1985, graduating cum laude with departmental honors. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in biology from the University of South Carolina. He worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the Los Alamos Laboratory’s Life Sciences Division and Center for Human Genome Studies before joining the Campbell faculty in 1992. Hammond was made an associate professor and chairman of the department in 1996. His research has been published in several professional journals, including the “Journal of Biological Chemistry” and “Genes and Development.” In June he will be presenting a paper titled, “Something Viejo, Something Nuevo-Renovations, Technology, and the Foreign Languages,” at the Association of Small Computer Users in Education annual conference at Myrtle Beach, SC.

Bulletin 0051-3/03/05