His research has focused on the interface between organic and polymer chemistry, with emphasis on the design, synthesis, and application of well-defined macromolecular structures in biotechnology, microelectronics, and surface science.

Hawker holds more than 45 U.S. patents,[1] and he has co-authored over 300 papers in the areas of nanotechnology, materials science, and chemistry.

[6] He worked with Professor Alan R. Battersby at Cambridge University on his post-graduate studies achieving his PhD in bio-organic chemistry.

[7] Hawker then moved to the United States to pursue post-graduate work at Cornell University in 1988.

[14] In 2015, Hawker was named as an American Association for the Advancement of Science fellow for "revolutionising materials research through the development of powerful synthetic methods and strategies for molecularly engineering functional macromolecules, inspiring scientists across multiple disciplines.