Cynthia A. Maryanoff was born in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania. She received a B.S. in chemistry from Drexel University (1972) and a Ph.D. from Princeton University (1976) working with Prof. Kurt M. Mislow. After conducting postdoctoral studies at Princeton University with Prof. Edward C. Taylor, she joined Smith, Kline & French as a drug discovery researcher. Dr. Maryanoff moved to Johnson & Johnson (J&J) in 1981 to work in drug process research, where she advanced to Global Head of Drug Evaluation Chemical & Pharmaceutical Development and the company’s highest scientific position of Distinguished Research Fellow. In 2013 she retired from J&J after 32 years of service. Her work progressed numerous new molecular entities from small-scale to large-scale chemical synthesis, advancing them to clinical studies in record time with a focus on toxicity profiles/final synthesis/green chemistry. More than 1000 processes were scaled to ton level without failure. She later led a group in the device sector of J&J, developing stable drugeluting stents. In 2013, she was appointed Distinguished Professor at the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute in Doylestown, PA. For more than 10 years, she and her husband, Bruce, have been supporters of the Hepatitis B Foundation, the Blumberg Institute (formerly Institute for Hepatitis and Virus Research), and the Biotechnology Center of Bucks County.

Dr. Maryanoff was elected to the Drexel Alumni 100 Club (2003), served on the Drexel College of Arts & Science (COAS) Advisory Board for 30 years, and now and participates on Drexel Board of Visitors (2019-present). She and her husband Bruce have funded the Freshman Summer Research Program in Chemistry at Drexel (2004-present).

She served on the American Chemical Society (ACS) Division of Organic Chemistry Executive Committee for 30 years, and received the Gassman Award for Distinguished Service (2018). She serves on the ACS Development Advisory Board (2011-2024), and she served on the ACS Governing Board for Publishing (2015-2023) and the Committee on International Activities (2013-2023). She received the Society of Chemical Industry Perkin Medal (2015); American Women in Science Award (2010); ACS Award for Business Development (2007); Earle B. Barnes Award for Leadership in Chemical Research Management (ACS National Award, 2005); University of Pennsylvania Women in Chemistry Award (2001); Garvan–Olin Medal (ACS National Award, 1999); Distinguished Chemistry Alumni Award (Drexel University, 1999), Philadelphia Organic Chemists’ Club Award (1999), and Philadelphia Section Award ( ACS, 1991). In January she and her husband will receive the 2023 Carol and Harry Mosher Silicon Valley Section 2023 ACS Section award. She is a Fellow of the ACS (2009, inaugural), AAAS (1992), and AIC (1986) and published 105 scientific papers, 7 books, and is inventor on 67 patents.

In 2015, she and her husband founded a company in Hawaii involved in growing, processing, roasting, and selling single-estate 100% Kona coffee from two coffee farms. She is now a resident of Hawaii.