ACS Executive Director and CEO Madeleine Jacobs will retire at the end of 2014. Full story.

Home > August 20, 2012 Issue

August 20, 2012 Cover
Volume 90, Issue 34

Scientists who are driven to start their own business and take the risks a start-up entails must think carefully about their technology, personal goals

Credit: Shutterstock/C&EN

» Full Article

August 20, 2012 Issue

Volume 90, Issue 34

August 20, 2012 Issue, Vol. 90 | Iss. 34

What Researchers Who Want To Be Entrepreneurs Need To Know

Scientists who are driven to start their own business and take the risks a start-up entails must think carefully about their technology, personal goals

By Susan R. Morrissey

(pp. 36-39)

Features

Business

Women In Industry

Chemical company boards gain a few women, but representation stagnates among top execs (pp. 16-18)

Government & Policy

National Institute Of General Medical Sciences Turns 50

One of NIH’s leading institutes continues to be a big supporter of basic science (pp. 20-23)

Cover Story: What Researchers Who Want To Be Entrepreneurs Need To Know

Helping Scientists Commercialize Inventions

Scientists Who Are Moving Their Technology Out Of The Lab Have Numerous Resources

(p.39)

Jun Axup

Kickstarter campaign gives grad student a taste of entrepreneurship

(p.40)

Matthew DeLisa

Entrepreneur turns bacterial daydream into successful start-up

(pp. 41-42)

Theodore Goodson III

Surprising findings and coworkers’ enthusiasm led to materials start-up

(p.42)

Michael Lefenfeld

Even at a young age, chemical engineer had a knack for translating creative ideas into commercial products

(p.43)

Patrick McCarthy

Researcher-turned-businessman puts to work his understanding of chemists as consumers

(p.44)

Karen McDonald

Plants provide start-up technology, graduate student Lucas Arzola helps with the entrepreneurial drive

(p.45)

Nicola Pohl

Her custom synthesis firm just moved to a new state, with an eye toward vaccines, therapeutics

(p.46)

Glenn Prestwich

After reluctantly venturing into the world of start-ups, synthetic chemist has seven successes under his belt

(p.47)

Fred Regnier

Hands-on approach drives chemistry professor’s entrepreneurial efforts

(p.48)

Donald Sadoway

Materials chemist says his economical battery technology could solve the grid-scale energy storage problem

(p.49)

Patrick Treado

Nearly two decades of dedication to developing high-tech imaging technology pays off as company continues to grow

(p.50)

John Warner

Green chemistry guru’s firm invents sustainable technologies

(p.51)

Christopher Wilmer & Omar Farha

Competition is the kick that gets these entrepreneurs going

(p.52)

News of the Week

Faster Route To Prostaglandins

Organic Synthesis: Shortened synthetic sequence could lead to less expensive drugs, novel analogs

(p.9)

Elan Separates R&D Unit

Pharmaceuticals: New firm will focus on neurodegenerative diseases

(p.10)

Notes On Nuclear Energy Regulation

Government: New head of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission gives her first press briefing

(p.10)

Former Foes To Collaborate On Agent Orange Site Remediation

Dioxin: U.S., Vietnam start cleanup of former military base near Da Nang

(p.11)

Polymers Hold Bacteria At Bay

Materials Science: Screening method uncovers new class of coatings that resist biofilm formation

(p.11)

A Cheaper-Than-Platinum Catalyst

Pollution Control: Oxide material outperforms platinum in converting NO to NO₂

(p.12)

Chinese Firm Offers To Invest In Advanced Battery Maker A123

Intellectual Property: Proposed deal for U.S. battery maker raises security concerns

(p.12)

Chemical Mergers Slow In First Half Of 2012

Mergers: Chemical firms hold on to cash rather than pursue large acquisitions

(p.13)

New System For Aerobic Oxidations

Catalysis: Bimetallic nanoclusters and catechol stand in for a metalloenzyme and its cofactor

(p.13)

Departments

Business

Fred Regnier

Hands-on approach drives chemistry professor’s entrepreneurial efforts

(p.48)

Glenn Prestwich

After reluctantly venturing into the world of start-ups, synthetic chemist has seven successes under his belt

(p.47)

Donald Sadoway

Materials chemist says his economical battery technology could solve the grid-scale energy storage problem

(p.49)

Patrick Treado

Nearly two decades of dedication to developing high-tech imaging technology pays off as company continues to grow

(p.50)

Christopher Wilmer & Omar Farha

Competition is the kick that gets these entrepreneurs going

(p.52)

Michael Lefenfeld

Even at a young age, chemical engineer had a knack for translating creative ideas into commercial products

(p.43)

Karen McDonald

Plants provide start-up technology, graduate student Lucas Arzola helps with the entrepreneurial drive

(p.45)

Patrick McCarthy

Researcher-turned-businessman puts to work his understanding of chemists as consumers

(p.44)

Women In Industry

Chemical company boards gain a few women, but representation stagnates among top execs

(pp. 16-18)

John Warner

Green chemistry guru’s firm invents sustainable technologies

(p.51)

Nicola Pohl

Her custom synthesis firm just moved to a new state, with an eye toward vaccines, therapeutics

(p.46)

Jun Axup

Kickstarter campaign gives grad student a taste of entrepreneurship

(p.40)

Matthew DeLisa

Entrepreneur turns bacterial daydream into successful start-up

(pp. 41-42)

Theodore Goodson III

Surprising findings and coworkers’ enthusiasm led to materials start-up

(p.42)

What Researchers Who Want To Be Entrepreneurs Need To Know

Scientists who are driven to start their own business and take the risks a start-up entails must think carefully about their technology, personal goals

(pp. 36-39)

Concentrates