Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society (ACS), unveiled its annual "Talented 12" list today. Sponsored by Thermo Fisher Scientific, this program, now in its sixth year, highlights early-career researchers in the chemical sciences who are fearlessly tackling difficult global problems. These intrepid innovators in chemistry will be featured in this week's issue of C&EN.
Using a rigorous review process, C&EN staff, Talented 12 alumni and members of the global chemistry community selected this year's Talented 12 from a highly competitive pool of more than 500 nominees. According to C&EN, paging through their profiles "will take you on a voyage to science's frontiers."
Below is the full list of 2020's Talented 12 class.
- Kevin Barnett, Pyran
Polymer pragmatist is creating economical biobased building blocks.
- Josep Cornella, Max Planck Institute for Kohlenforschung
Catalysis connoisseur is developing reagents that make chemistry faster and easier.
- Robert J. Gilliard Jr., University of Virginia
Main-group marvel is solving big problems with cheaper starting materials.
- Osvaldo Gutierrez, University of Maryland
Organic polymath is coaxing tricky metals into helping forge carbon-carbon bonds.
- Mireille Kamariza, Harvard University
Diagnostics designer is fashioning a faster, cheaper way to detect tuberculosis.
- Lingyin Li, Stanford University
Multidisciplinary maven is harnessing the immune system to fight cancer.
- Laura-Isobel McCall, University of Oklahoma
Molecular mapmaker is exploring the chemical signatures of parasites and their hosts.
- Lynn McGregor, Novartis
Drug discovery dynamo is using chemical biology to rewrite the rules of small molecules.
- Brett McGuire, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Interstellar explorer is expanding our molecular knowledge of space.
- Wendy Lee Queen, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne (EPFL)
Materials monarch is combining MOFs with polymers to create composites that clean up air and water.
- Jessica Ray, University of Washington
Water protector is developing ways to remove PFAS and other contaminants from this precious resource.
- Rudy Wojtecki, IBM
Nanopatterning virtuoso is building the electronics of the future.
"C&EN's Talented 12 has become synonymous with innovation, entrepreneurship, leadership and vision. The class of 2020 has all of these in spades," says Bibiana Campos Seijo, editor-in-chief and vice president of C&EN Media Group. "As the world faces one of the most difficult periods in recent history, it is reassuring to hear about and be inspired by these rising stars who are committed to solving the world's problems. They are creative. They are bold. The future is in good hands."
"We are proud to partner with the ACS and C&EN on this exciting program that celebrates the young scientists whose chemistry is making an impact on the world," says Raymond Mercier, president, Laboratory Chemicals, Thermo Fisher Scientific. "Our chemicals, reagents and materials help enable innovation in the laboratory and free up scientists to focus on life-changing discoveries. As the world leader in serving science, Thermo Fisher is committed to help the next generation of scientific talent bring chemistry to life."
The full 2020 C&EN feature is debuting Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, at 11 a.m. Eastern time at http://cenm.ag/t12. The Talented 12 will each give a snapshot of their life and research during a symposium on Aug. 25, 2020, as part of C&EN's Futures Festival, presented by ACS. This free event is a forward-looking forum featuring the people, ideas and discoveries that will shape the future of science. Register to save the date here: http://cenm.ag/futures2020.
