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C&EN's Talented 12
Whether they’re searching for undiscovered reactivity in overlooked elements or novel ways to treat cancer, these enterprising chemists are solving some of science’s toughest problems
Welcome to C&EN’s annual Talented 12 issue, in which we highlight a dozen young rising stars who are using chemical know-how to change the world. These researchers are hunting for compounds in interstellar space and mapping the molecular signatures of parasite-ravaged hearts. They’re figuring out better ways to diagnose tuberculosis and dreaming up blueprints for building the next generation of computer chips.
We say this every year, but it’s true—narrowing our pool of outstanding nominees to just 12 is an increasingly daunting task. Yet, each year we’re thrilled to learn how these scientists stand on the cutting edge of chemistry.
Whether they’re searching for undiscovered reactivity in overlooked elements or novel ways to treat cancer, these enterprising chemists are solving some of science’s toughest problems
Welcome to C&EN’s annual Talented 12 issue, in which we highlight a dozen young rising stars who are using chemical know-how to change the world. These researchers are hunting for compounds in interstellar space and mapping the molecular signatures of parasite-ravaged hearts. They’re figuring out better ways to diagnose tuberculosis and dreaming up blueprints for building the next generation of computer chips.
We say this every year, but it’s true—narrowing our pool of outstanding nominees to just 12 is an increasingly daunting task. Yet, each year we’re thrilled to learn how these scientists stand on the cutting edge of chemistry.
Stats & Facts
Average
age
age
34
Number of
publications
publications
377
Number of
patents
patents
153*
*135 of which are from Rudy Wojtecki
We all spent a lot more time working from home this year. What best describes the Talented 12’s home offices?
| Home office? You mean this corner of my kitchen table? | 5 | ||||
| Messy! I know exactly what's in this giant pile of papers under my coffee mug. | 1 | ||||
| Tidy! There is a place for everything, and everything is in its place. | 2 | ||||
| Somewhere in between. I can live with a little clutter. | 4 |
Nearly all in-person meetings were canceled in 2020, so we asked our Talented 12 about their video-conferencing style. When they use Zoom, it is with:
| Video on: I love a virtual background. | 4 | ||||||
| Video off: I like a little mystery. | 1 | ||||||
| Video on: Check out my bookshelf. | 7 |
Virtual backgrounds:
- Osvaldo Gutierrez: Anything but a bookshelf
- Mireille Kamariza: A magnificent beach
- Brett McGuire: The “This is Fine” meme edited to show me in the burning house
- Wendy Lee Queen: For meetings with colleagues, Golden Gate bridge, because San Francisco is one of my favorite places; with the students, anything is game. It has become more of a competition to see who can come up with the best background.
Credit: C&EN/Shutterstock
We hear that pandemics cause stress eating. What are the Talented 12’s go-to office snacks?
Josep Cornella
A rib eye, delicious fish, or nice bottle of wine
Robert J. Gilliard, Jr.
Chai tea latte
Osvaldo Gutierrez
Potato chips with Valentina or Tapatío hot sauce!
Mireille Kamariza
Nuts and protein bars
Lingyin Li
Chocolate
Laura-Isobel McCall
Cheese, bread, and chocolate
Lynn McGregor
Peanuts with salt and pepper, Fritos, or Cheez-Its
Brett McGuire
Miss Vickie’s kettle chips
Wendy Lee Queen
Crunchy corn snacks, spicy hummus, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Jessica Ray
Fruit and vegetables
Rudy Wojtecki
M&M’s and sesame sticks
Reading list: Many scientists can point to a book that has had a big impact on their life or career. Some of our dynamic dozen gave us their picks.
Being the Boss: The 3 Imperatives for Becoming a Great Leader, Linda A. Hill and Kent Lineback —Mireille Kamariza
A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes, Stephen Hawking —Josep Cornella
Mastery, Robert Greene—Lingyin Li
Molecules That Changed the World, K. C. Nicolaou and T. Montagnon —Rudy Wojtecki
The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, Michael Pollan —Lynn McGregor
One Hundred Years of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez —Osvaldo Gutierrez
Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcolm Gladwell —Kevin Barnett
So You Want to Talk about Race, Ijeoma Oluo, and White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism, Robin DiAngelo —Jessica Ray
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life, Mark Manson —Wendy Lee Queen
The Way of Kings, Brandon Sanderson, and Hatchet, Gary Paulsen —Brett McGuire
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