\u201cHis legacy is the joy of science.\" -Associate Professor Sonja Salmon <\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Salmon, who was one of the grad students working with Hudson during this time, credits him with giving her the space to make discoveries on her own, while still guiding her in the ways she needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe somehow always managed to give the right level of guidance and freedom at the same time,\u201d she says. \u201cI got to struggle enough that I felt like I learned, and part of the process of learning is to run into challenges and try to figure it out. It gave me a lot of self-confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Expanding research<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Hudson continued working with chitosan throughout his time at the college, becoming one of the world\u2019s leading experts and introducing the material to a new crop of scientists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWorking on projects with him and learning about this very interesting material that he is a world expert in has stayed with me,\u201d Salmon says. \u201cAlways in the back of my mind I wanted to get back to this polymer, and now I\u2019ve done that, and it\u2019s still fascinating.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hudson visited conferences all over the world, developed patents and eventually co-founded a company dedicated to bridging the gap between biomaterials and their medical applications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re using the chitosan to do gene therapy to the brain, and we\u2019re treating a side effect of Alzheimer's,\u201d Hudson says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The company, Karamedica, has also patented a way of decontaminating delicate biomaterials such as chitosan. Their process does not leave behind the residual toxic compounds which usually result from standard techniques. The company is also helping to make strides in sustainability. Because crustacean shells are a waste product from the shrimp and fishing industry, using chitosan as a biomaterial helps to create a circular economy and keep waste out of landfills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lasting Legacy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Alongside continuing his research and work with Karamedica, Hudson is enjoying his retirement. He often visits his daughter in Manhattan, and still travels the world attending conferences. He has left and continues to leave a lasting legacy on his students, colleagues and the college as a whole. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHis legacy is the joy of science,\u201d Salmon says. \u201cTo him science is a joyful thing that he loves to share with others. It doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019re a student, a colleague or a new friend he\u2019s made on his many travels. His joy of science sparks the curiosity to learn \u2014 that is his gift to us.\u201d<\/p>\n"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Professor Emeritus Sam Hudson is a world renowned expert in biomaterials, and instills curiosity and joy in those around him.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":48686,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"","ncst_show_custom_author":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-post-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"showAuthor\":true,\"showDate\":true,\"showFeaturedVideo\":false,\"displayCategoryID\":490,\"caption\":\"\"}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[490,512,479],"tags":[1143,1668,2327,504,505,1382],"class_list":["post-48676","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-our-people","category-research-and-innovation","category-tecs","tag-department-of-textile-engineering-chemistry-and-science","tag-faculty","tag-faculty-research","tag-research","tag-sustainability","tag-wilson-college-of-textiles"],"displayCategory":{"term_id":490,"name":"Our People","slug":"our-people","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":490,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":663,"filter":"raw"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"
NC State Professor Emeritus Leaves Legacy of Mentorship, Sustainability and Joy - Wilson College of Textiles<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n