Jusung An received his BS degree from Department of Chemistry at Hallym University of Korea in 2018. He is currently pursuing his PhD degree under the guidance of Prof. Jong Seung Kim at Korea University. His current research interests are in development of small-molecular fluorescent probes for optical imaging of aberrant proteinaceous biomarkers in Alzheimer’s disease and therapeutic platforms for neurodegenerative disease.
Eric V. Anslyn received his BS in Chemistry from the California State University Northridge in 1982. He performed his thesis studies under the direction of Robert Grubbs at the California Institute of Technology, receiving a PhD in 1987. Afterwards, he was an NSF postdoctoral fellow at Columbia University, working with the late Ronald Breslow. From there he started as an assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin in 1989. At UT Austin he rose through the ranks to currently hold the Welch Regents Chair of Chemistry, and is a University Distinguished Teaching Professor, as well as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor. His research is broadly in the areas of physical organic chemistry and supramolecular chemistry with a specialization on molecular sensing, mechanistic organic chemistry studies, and most recently soft materials and sequence-defined polymers. He is a co-author of the graduate-level textbook entitled Modern Physical Organic Chemistry.
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
The ability to employ the tools of physical organic chemistry to a wide variety of chemical endeavors.
What is the best part of your job?
Interpersonal relationships with all my students.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
Being a scientist is a fun and exciting job, so keep that passion and love throughout your career.
What do you do in your spare time?
Gardening, car racing, and cooking.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
…seen all my previous co-workers achieve satisfaction in their careers.
Michał Bartkowski is a researcher specializing in the application of carbon nanomaterials as nanocarriers for cancer therapy. He received his BSc in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from Dublin City University in 2019. Subsequently, he worked on a targeted drug delivery system project involving carbon nano-onions under the direction of Prof. Silvia Giordani. Michał is currently pursuing a PhD at the School of Chemistry at Dublin City University, investigating the ‘Engineering of Nanomaterials for Cancer Therapy (ENACT)’ under Prof. Giordani’s supervision. His research interests include the preparation and characterization of carbon nanomaterials, surface functionalization of nanomaterials, and the development of novel bioimaging and drug delivery systems utilizing carbon nanomaterials.
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
The use of carbon nanomaterials as drug carriers is a rapidly evolving area of research that has the potential to transform the way we treat diseases, and improve the quality of life for patients. The challenge of working with a problem that has yet to be solved is both daunting and inspiring. It provides an opportunity to push the boundaries of current knowledge and to develop innovative solutions that could have a significant impact. The prospect of exploring emerging technologies and developing novel solutions is both intellectually stimulating and rewarding.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
Practice optimizing your processes. By streamlining repetitive tasks, you can free up space for more engaging work. Additionally, optimization can lead to greater efficiency, consistency, and higher-quality results.
What do you do in your spare time?
As someone with ADHD, I often find myself driven by curiosity and starting new little projects that capture my interest, as they keep me energized and engaged. While I rarely finish everything I start, that’s not what drives me. As a researcher, I’m motivated by the pursuit of knowledge and understanding. These little projects enable my learning, and once I’ve gained the knowledge I seek, I move on to the next project.
What is the best part of your job?
Colleagues who are much more intelligent and experienced than I am—working with whom has provided me with a wealth of knowledge and expertise and expanded my understanding of my work, challenged me to grow both personally and professionally, and enriched my overall experience—are surrounding the best part of my job.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
By the time I’m 100, I would like to have made significant contributions to the fields that I’m passionate about. Throughout my career, I hope to have made a positive impact and left a lasting legacy in these areas. I aspire to have continued to learn, grow and develop my skills, and to have mentored and inspired others to pursue their own goals. Ultimately, I want to have led a fulfilling life where I’ve made a meaningful difference in the world, and left it a little better than I found it.
Amy Bowyer completed her BSc degree (Hons I, University Medal) in Chemistry and Biology at the University of Sydney in 2018. She is currently undertaking her PhD under the supervision of Prof. Elizabeth New. Her research interests include developing selective fluorescent probes for heavy metal ions, and cross-reactive sensing arrays for monitoring metal contamination in environmental water sources.
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
In my research, I develop fluorescent probes and sensing arrays for toxic metal detection. I’m excited about the potential to use these systems in real-world environmental monitoring applications as an alternative strategy to spectrometry-based techniques.
What is the best part of your job?
My favourite part about working in the New research group is the people. Everyone in the group is very enthusiastic and friendly: we have great, collaborative workplace.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
My advice would be to study widely early on to find the area of research that you are most passionate about, and also to say yes to any opportunities that are presented to you.
What do you do in your spare time?
My favourite things to do in my spare time are hiking around Sydney, reading and knitting.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
Travelled all around Australia to see the many beautiful landscapes first-hand.
Samuel Bradberry studied for his MChem between 2008 and 2012 at the University of Southampton, UK where his research projects focused on supramolecular chemistry and particularly anion transporter compounds under the supervision of Prof. Philip A. Gale. He then moved to Trinity College Dublin in 2012 with Prof. Thorri Gunnlaugsson to carry out doctoral and post-doctoral research in physical organic chemistry working on self-assembly and photophysical properties of lanthanide complexes as responsive probes in solution and materials. Since 2021, he has worked in industry specializing in scientific data analysis and data science tools for the biotechnology and life sciences sectors.
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
The power of lab automation and data science in accelerating the discovery process for so many different interest areas in biotechnology and pharmaceutical development.
What is the best part of your job?
Collaborating with colleagues who are experts in different scientific disciplines from molecular and computational biology to cell biology and bioinformatics to biochemistry and chemistry.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid of learning a new field. Don’t be afraid of a difficult path to finding a solution. Don’t be afraid to take a risk for the role you want. Intellectual risk and perseverance are integral parts of what pioneers discovery and invention.
What do you do in your spare time?
Learn languages.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
Learned to read fluently in as many languages as possible to be able to read my favourite international authors in their original form.
Stephen M. Butler completed his undergraduate (2015) and PhD (2020) studies with Prof. Jonathan Morris at UNSW Sydney, investigating the development of small-molecule probes for biologically relevant kinases and phosphatases. He is currently employed in a postdoctoral role working with Prof. Kate Jolliffe at the University of Sydney, investigating macrocycles for the detection of anions. He is the second of his name to work with Prof. Jolliffe, which at times is about as confusing as you could imagine!
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
I’m loving exploring the world of fluorescence and some of the responsive properties of different fluorophores. The many ways in which fluorescent probes can be used to visualize molecular-scale changes and demystify cellular processes continues to amaze me!
What is the best part of your job?
Teaching students and seeing them take on their projects and discover more. It’s fantastic being able to discuss new ideas and see them come up with things I would never have imagined.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
I’m not sure I’m qualified to answer this one! If my young nieces and nephews count as emerging scientists it would be to never stop asking “why?”.
What do you do in your spare time?
I enjoy absorbing science-fiction and fantasy to escape to different worlds, listening to film soundtracks, playing French horn (in a group, so I can’t hear myself too much), and exploring the hidden corners of Sydney’s parks and reserves.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
… travelled the length and breadth of Europe, solved a David Astle cryptic crossword unassisted, seen an otter in the wild, learned to swim, grown a giant vegetable, finished The Wheel of Time books, learned taxidermy, seen Jungle live (again)…
Dr David F. Caffrey completed his Moderatorship (B.A. Hons) in Medicinal Chemistry at Trinity College Dublin and PhD in Supramolecular Chemistry under the direction of Prof. Gunnlaugsson. His postgraduate research focused on the development of novel lanthanide-directed self-assemblies from dipicolinic acid derivatives, studying the impact of different ligand substitution strategies on the complex luminescent properties. Currently, he is working as Associate Director, MS&T Bioprocess Laboratory Lead at Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD).
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
I don’t work directly in research anymore but I still get to work on solving complex scientific problems in my day job so that always excites me.
What is the best part of your job?
The opportunity to support the professional growth and development of other scientists.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
Challenges and setbacks are unavoidable as a scientist when pursuing ambitious goals. Don’t let it get you down, learn from it.
What do you do in your spare time?
I have two young kids so don’t have any spare time.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have….
Retired.
Christopher J. Chang (right) is the Class of 1942 Chair Professor of Chemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, and Faculty Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Chris graduated with BS/MS degrees from Caltech in 1997 and worked with Prof. Harry Gray, spent a year as a Fulbright scholar with Dr Jean-Pierre Sauvage, earned his PhD from MIT in 2002 with his thesis advisor Prof. Dan Nocera, and then after postdoctoral studies with Prof. Steve Lippard, also at MIT, joined the Berkeley faculty in 2004. Research in the Chang laboratory focuses on the study of metals and redox-active molecules in biology and energy, focusing on the development of activity-based sensing and proteomics probes and catalysts and applying them to questions in neuroscience, metabolism, and sustainable synthesis.
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
Many activities in our lab are converging on the concept of single-atom signaling, where we are using imaging and proteomics probes to decipher how addition of a one-element unit, like a metal or oxygen atom, can regulate complex protein function.
What is the best part of your job?
Getting to work with talented and enthusiastic students and postdocs and helping them achieve their goals.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
Be optimistic, be determined, and be supported by people that are rooting for your success.
What do you do in your spare time?
During this COVID time, lots of walking and cooking (and eating!).
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
Continued health and happiness.
Young-Tae Chang was born in Busan, Korea, in 1968. He studied chemistry at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Korea and received his BS in 1991. After one and half years of army service in Korea, he started his graduate study at POSTECH and received a PhD in 1997 under the supervision of Prof. Sung-Kee Chung, working on the divergent synthesis of all possible regioisomers of myo-inositol phosphates. He did his postdoctoral work with Prof. Peter Schultz at UC Berkeley and The Scripps Research Institute. In 2000, he was appointed assistant professor at New York University and promoted to associate professor in 2005. He received the NSF Career award in 2005 and his research interests have been chemical genetics, molecular evolution, and artificial tongues. In September 2007, he moved to National University of Singapore and Singapore Bioimaging Consortium. He was a full professor of chemistry and leader of Medicinal Chemistry Program of NUS, and Lab Head of Bioimaging Probe Development at SBIC, Biopolis. In 2017, he came back to POSTECH, as a professor in the Department of Chemistry, and joined Center for Self-assembly and Complexity (CSC), Institute for Basic Science (IBS) as an Associate Director. He has published more than 400 scientific papers, 3 books and filed 60 patents so far.
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
Discriminating old vs. young cells and elucidation of the novel biomarkers of aging.
What is the best part of your job?
Academic freedom and working together with young students in the lab.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
Select the job or work which makes your heart beat in full steam!
What do you do in your spare time?
Testing the colorful sensors and probes for many things around.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
Many colourful babies, i.e. sensors and probes!
Zhijun Chen, born in October 1987 and received PhD degree in 2017 from the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Germany, working on near-infrared sensitive materials under the supervision of Prof. Hans-Juergen Butt. Returned to China in 2017 and kicked off an independent research career at Northeast Forestry University as a full professor. Main research interest is nature-inspired design of photosensitive biomass materials. The research is funded by Natural Science Foundation of China and National Key Research Program. In 2018, awarded “Young Elite Scientist” by the China Association for Science and Technology.
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
Now I am working on the smart sustainable materials for pollutant remediation, which could protect our mother earth and also help solve the energy crisis. I feel very excited about it.
What is the best part of your job?
The exploration of the unknown in science itself is very fascinating. Although you will face some challenges, the process of overcoming difficulties will make you grow and feel fulfilled.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
Don’t be affected by too much external pressure, just enjoy your work. Talk with professionals in and outside the academic circle and learn as much as possible from the experience of others.
What do you do in your spare time?
During my spare time, I will do some exercises such as jogging to keep fit. Because a healthy body is the guarantee of doing scientific research well.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
By the time I’m 100, I would like to have the ability to travel in space and explore the mysteries of the universe.
Ziyi Cheng received his PhD degree under the supervision of Professor Jaebum Choo from Department of Bionanotechnology, Hanyang University, Korea in 2019. Currently he is an associate professor at the Institute of Functional Materials and Molecular Imaging, Hainan Medical University. His research interests focus on surface-enhanced Raman scattering-based microfluidic devices and POCT.
Anthony W. Czarnik (born 1957) is an American chemist and inventor. He is best known for pioneering studies in the field of fluorescent chemosensors and co-founding Illumina, Inc., a biotechnology company in San Diego. Czarnik was also the founding editor of ACS Combinatorial Science. He currently serves as an adjunct visiting professor at the University of Nevada, Reno.
He attended the University of Wisconsin and received his BS in Biochemistry in 1977. He then studied with Nelson J. Leonard at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and earned an MS in Biochemistry in 1980 and a PhD in Chemistry in 1981 with a thesis, "Chemical studies on nucleic acid analogues". He then did postdoctoral fellowships with Ronald Breslow at Columbia University (1981–1983) as an NIH Postdoctoral Fellow.
In 1983 he joined the Chemistry Department at Ohio State University as assistant professor and was subsequently promoted to associate professor. He worked at Ohio State University until 1993, when he was offered a position as director of the BioOrganic chemistry group at Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
He was the founding editor of ACS Combinatorial Science (formerly Journal of Combinatorial Chemistry), an academic journal published by the American Chemical Society. In April 1998, he co-founded Illumina, Inc., a biotechnology company now traded on NASDAQ and specializing in sequencing, genotyping, and gene expression, with David Walt, John Stuelpnagel, Larry Bock, and Mark Chee. He served as Illumina’s chief scientific officer (CSO) until 2000.
In 2001, he was recruited by Sensors for Medicine and Science, Inc., where he served as chief scientific officer. Since 2003, he has co-founded a number of biotechnology companies, including Deuteria Pharmaceuticals LLC and Protia LLC.
He is a founder of RenoCares, a charity that provides support to alcohol and drug addicts convicted of misdemeanors in the form of financial aid for rehabilitation treatment, counseling, and psychological services. The organization is managed by the Community Foundation of Western Nevada. Since 2016, annual Czarnik Awards are given for exceptional work in the area of chemosensors at the International Conference on Molecular Sensors and Molecular Logic Gates (MSMLG). In 2007, he took part as an executive producer of Electric Heart: Don Ellis, a documentary about Don Ellis, an American jazz musician.
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
After all these years, a compound I invented is in Phase II clinical trials. It is based on slowing the rate of pioglitazone racemization by placing a deuterium at the chiral center. In this way, we’ve been able to separate the desirable activity from the undesirable side effects. Intellectually satisfying and likely useful.
What is the best part of your job?
Completing a research project that pleases my creative side.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
Never allow others to make you misrepresent your research results.
What do you do in your spare time?
Increasingly, I am contacting people who I’ve known during my career just to catch up with them. One real advantage of having had multiple jobs: you meet one or two real friends at each, and eventually you have a great cohort of friends.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
lol I won’t make it to 100. Don’t even want to. I’m close to having accomplished everything I’d hoped for in my life.
Hi, my name is Bruno D’Agostino, I was born in Milan, but I grew up in Catania (Sicily). I have a Masters degree in Organic and Bio-organic Chemistry and a Masters in Nanotechnology for Drug Delivery Systems, and I got my PhD in 2020. My research dealt with the formation of different Ln(iii) cyclen based complexes and self-assembly and their applications in several fields. This includes the use of such complexes in solution and on solid surfaces (such as thin films) in the monitoring of enzymatic reactions in real-time. Presently, I am working for a multinational corporation, improving efficiency and quality within the manufacturing field, and developing new technologies, and new strategies.
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
When I got the final molecule for the first time, I was really excited.
What is the best part of your job?
It is never boring, every day is a new challenge.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
Believe, even when everything looks dark, keep believing.
What do you do in your spare time?
I love sport and travel.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
I want to be reminded I’m good at what I do.
Musa Dirak got his BSc degree in Chemistry from Istanbul Technical University. During his undergraduate studies, he spent a year abroad as a visiting student in Wrocław University of Science and Technology. He is now a PhD student in the Kölemen group at Koç University. His interests include organic fluorophores, chemiluminescence, activatable photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy and aggregation-induced emissive molecules.
Cidália M. G. dos Santos was born in Tondela, a small town in the center-north of Portugal. She first joined Thorri’s Supramolecular Chemistry group as a visiting student in November 2000, while still an undergraduate student at the University of Coimbra. It was at this stage that her passion for lanthanide chemistry and anion sensing started to germinate. After finishing her undergraduate degree, she joined the Gunnlaugsson group in April 2003 as a postgraduate student. Her focus at the time was on the design, synthesis and photophysical evaluation of novel luminescent sensing devices. Having completed her PhD in 2008 she continued working within the research group as a post-doctoral researcher for several years. Thereafter, she moved with her family to the North East of England and for several years worked in the research group of Prof. David Parker FRS as a postdoctoral fellow.
Silvia Giordani is a Full Professor Chair of Nanomaterials and the Head of School of Chemical Sciences at Dublin City University. After receiving a “Laurea” in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology from the University of Milan (Italy) in 1999, she moved to the Center for Supramolecular Science at the University of Miami (USA) where she graduated with a Masters and a PhD in Chemistry. In 2003 she moved to Trinity College Dublin (TCD), Ireland, to work on an EU-funded Marie Curie project on “Template Grown Molecular Nanomaterials” as the young researcher. She successfully applied for the Marie Curie reintegration grant to work on a research project at the University of Trieste. In 2007 she received the prestigious President of Ireland Young Researcher Award and started her independent career as Research Assistant Professor at TCD. In September 2013 she funded the “Nano Carbon Materials” research laboratory at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT). In December 2016 she was appointed Associate Professor in Organic Chemistry at the University of Turin, Italy, and in October 2018 Professor Chair of Nanomaterials within the School of Chemical Sciences at Dublin City University. Her main research interests are in the design, synthesis, and characterization of a wide range of nanomaterials for applications in smart and responsive biorelated nanotechnologies. She is the author/co-author of approx. 140 manuscripts, reviews, and book chapters. She is the recipient of many international prizes and honours, including the L’Oreal UNESCO for Women in Science fellowship, the William Evans visiting fellowship from the University of Otago (New Zealand), and is a Visiting Scientist to the Bio-Nano Institute at Toyo University (Japan).
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
My aim is to design small, molecular, or nanosized, devices that can carry out a series of different functions within the context of smart and responsive medicine.
The starting point is a carbon nano-onion that is compatible with living biological systems. We attach one or more components to it in such a way that the resulting device can carry out a pre-programmed task. The different components can be added and removed in an interchangeable manner, which means that the same platform can be rapidly modified and refined depending on requirements. We are currently examining components that allow us to track and monitor the location of the device, and we are also exploring the possibilities for using this platform as a vehicle for targeted and controlled drug delivery within a biological system. Finally, we also hope to equip the device with components that will allow us to switch it on and off using different types of “remote control” (external stimuli).
What is the best part of your job?
Science simply offers unparalleled opportunities for creativity and imagination. I have always enjoyed immersing myself in new thoughts and concepts and on some level there is almost a magical beauty to the way in which a set of experimental data can suddenly come together and offer a clue or a solution to a long-standing problem. Every day is different, every day offers a new challenge, and I think I am very fortunate that I can do something together with our students, on a regular basis, that has never been done or seen before.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
Stay curious, ask questions, believe in yourself, and there is no substitute for hard work. Don’t be afraid to speak up; your voice is worth as much as anybody else’s.
What do you do in your spare time?
In my spare time I enjoy long walks in nature, swimming and gardening.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
delivered knowledge and new technology that can be of real benefit to the general public.
Thorri (Thorfinnur) Gunnlaugsson MRIA is a Professor of Chemistry in the School of Chemistry, Trinity College Dublin. His main research focus is on the synthesis and formation of novel functional self-assembly structures and materials, functional luminescent materials, chemosensors and imaging agents, etc. and the applications of such materials. Having established his research group in the School of Chemistry at TCD in 1998, he is the author of close to 300 publications that have attracted an h-index of 82. He has a strong background in mentoring PhD students (over 60 to date) and early career researchers, many of who now hold independent academic positions. His work has been recognised with several awards, including membership of the Royal Irish Academy in 2011 (MRIA), and a fellowship of the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland (FICI) in 2020. He is the recipient of the 2021 Molecular Sensors and Molecular Logic Gates (MSMLG) Czarnik Award, the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland (ICI) Annual Award for Chemistry 2014 and the 2006 Bob Hay Award from the Royal Society of Chemistry, Macrocycle and Supramolecular Chemistry Interest Group.
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
We are developing novel luminescent self-assembly structures and materials such as cages and polymers and exploring their host–guest chemistry in various ways.
What is the best part of your job?
Having the opportunity to work with people who inspire me and enrich our research work constantly!
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
To think positively and focus on the work they love to do!
What do you do in your spare time?
Spend time with my two children and friends.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
Retired…. My dad is turning 95 this year and is still working so that might be wishful thinking on my behalf!
Xiao-Peng He (Franck) is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and a senior member of the Chinese Society of Chemistry. He received his BSc in Applied Chemistry (2006) and PhD in Pharmaceutical Engineering (2011) from East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST). Sponsored by the French Embassy in China, He completed a co-tutored doctoral program at ENS Cachan (France) from July 2008 to February 2009. Then he carried out his postdoctoral research with Prof. Kaixian Chen (SIMM, CAS) at ECUST from 2011 to 2013. In 2018, he became a professor at the Feringa Nobel Prize Scientists Joint Research Center, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, ECUST, where his research interests span chemical glycobiology to fluorescent molecular probes for disease diagnostics and theranostics. Prof. He has co-authored over 200 peer-reviewed papers with a citation number of over 7700 (h-index 44) and is co-inventor of 10 Chinese patents. He was one of the 2020–2021 Most Cited Chinese Researchers (Shanghai Ranking, Elsevier), and was awarded the Thieme Chemistry Journal Award (2020), the Chinese Chemistry Society Prize for Young Scientists (2018) and the Chinese Chemistry Society Prize in Chemical Biology (2018). He serves as an associate editor for Frontiers in Chemistry (Supramolecular Section), Science Bulletin (Chemical Biology) and Chemical Research in Chinese Universities (Chemical Biology).
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
To unravel new biomolecular targets for disease diagnosis and therapy using chemical biological approaches.
What is the best part of your job?
Interdisciplinary cooperation.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
Think in a way that researchers in other research fields do.
What do you do in your spare time?
Watching basketball games.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
My own lab to do research.
Dr Tasuku Hirayama received his BS degree from Kyoto University in 2004. He also obtained his MS (2006) and PhD (2009) in chemical biology from Kyoto University under the direction of Prof. Yukio Yamamoto. He joined Prof. Christopher Chang’s group at University of California, Berkeley as a postdoctoral fellow. In 2010, he joined Prof. Hideko Nagasawa’s group in Gifu Pharmaceutical University as an assistant professor. He has been an associate professor in Gifu Pharmaceutical University since 2016. His research interests include development of unique chemical tools to understand biological functions of metal ions.
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
Our group has recently succeeded in the selective detection of heme, and I’m now excited about cellular imaging of heme in cells by the small-molecule probes.
What is the best part of your job?
Creating molecules that no one has ever made before and being able to witness the moment when they work in living cells is the most exciting part of my job.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
I think that I’m still one of the young scientists, but my advice to the younger generation is to cherish your curiosity.
What do you do in your spare time?
Camping with my family.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
I would like to have 100 PhD students graduating from my lab.
James Howard was born and raised in Spring Hill, Tennessee. James earned his BS degree in Chemistry from the University of Alabama. He is currently a 4th year PhD student in the Anslyn research group at the University of Texas at Austin. His current research is focused on high-throughput experimentation, automation, and chemistry-based computer programming.
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
I’m excited to improve my computer programming skills and diversify my skillset.
What is the best part of your job?
Teaching undergraduate students how to conduct research.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
Don’t get tunnel vision and think you can only do one thing! Your research and collaborations may take you from chromatography to writing code as mine did. Embrace these new paths.
What do you do in your spare time?
I enjoy baking, playing video games, and tinkering with hobby electronics.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
…a boat and retained the ability to water ski!
Tony D. James is a Professor at The University of Bath and Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. He received his BSc from the University of East Anglia (1986), PhD from the University of Victoria (1991), and was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Japan with Seiji Shinkai (1991–95). He was awarded a Royal Society University Research Fellowship at the University of Birmingham (1995–2000) before moving to the University of Bath in 2001. He has been a visiting professor at Tsukuba, Osaka, Kyushu and Sophia Universities, an AMADEus invited professor at the University of Bordeaux and is a guest Professor at East China University of Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Shandong Normal University, Nanjing University, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Changzhou University, Zhejiang University, Qufu Normal University, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Shanghai Normal University, Ewha Womans University, Henan Normal University and is a Hai-Tian (Sea-Sky) Scholar at Dalian University of Technology. He was awarded the Daiwa-Adrian Prize (2013), Inaugural CASE Prize (2015), MSMLG Czarnik Award (2018) Frontiers in Chemistry Diversity Award (2020) and Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award (2017–2022) and listed by Clarivate as a Highly Cited Researcher (2022). He has an h-index of 83 (ORCID 0000-0002-4095-2191).
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
I am always excited when fundamental research can lead to something with practical utility.
What is the best part of your job?
Acting as a mentor for the next generation of researchers.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
Work hard and play hard – but above all keep in mind that research should be fun.
What do you do in your spare time?
Walking and watching movies.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
Enough energy to sit on a beach with a cold beer.
Anal Jana is currently pursuing a PhD at the Department of Chemistry in Shiv Nadar University (SNU), Delhi NCR, India, under the supervision of Dr Animesh Samanta. His doctoral thesis focused on developing activity-based fluorescent probes to detect reactive carbonyl species (RCSs) in living cells and environmental matrices. Before joining SNU in 2017, he obtained his Master’s degree in Applied Chemistry from Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, and a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from University of Calcutta. His future research interest mainly lies in the conjunction of chemistry and biology and focused on monitoring the fate of the cellular microenvironment by the action of various xenobiotic species.
Paramesh Jangili received his PhD in 2016 from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad, India. He subsequently joined as a research professor in the research group of Prof. Dae-Kee-Kim, Ewha Womans University, South Korea and in 2017 he joined as a research professor in the research group of Prof. Jong Seung Kim, Korea University, South Korea. His research interests include preparation of organic molecules for drug delivery and imaging of important biomarkers in different diseases.
Shang Jia (left) received his BS in chemistry in 2014 from Peking University, China. He then completed his PhD in 2019 at the University of California, Berkeley in the laboratory of Prof. Chris Chang, developing fluorescent sensors for detection of intracellular Cu(i) and bioconjugation methods for labeling of histidine and methionine residues. Shang is currently a postdoctoral scholar with Prof. Ellen Sletten at UCLA, developing molecular probes for in vivo imaging.
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
The ability of using optical imaging to look at processes happening in cells and animals.
What is the best part of your job?
Working on projects that I’m interested in and being able to (slightly) expand the boundary of our knowledge in the process.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
If you like it, then go for it.
What do you do in your spare time?
Exploring software, especially those for embedded electronics.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
Health and an up-to-date mind with contemporary culture.
Jianfeng Jin received his PhD degree under the supervision of Professor Xu Gao from Department of Biochemistry, Harbin Medical University, China in 2013. Currently he is an associate professor at the Institute of Functional Materials and Molecular Imaging, Hainan Medical University. His research interests focus on molecular mechanism of cancer research.
Katrina (Kate) Jolliffe received her BSc (Hons) in 1993 and PhD in 1997 from the University of New South Wales. She then held positions at Twente University, The Netherlands; the University of Nottingham, UK and the Australian National University, before taking up an Australian Research Council QEII fellowship at The University of Sydney in 2002. In 2007 she became a senior lecturer at the same institution and was promoted to associate professor in 2008 and to full professor in 2009, and was head of school from 2013–2016. She currently holds the position of Payne-Scott Professor at The University of Sydney. She is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and has been awarded the Beckwith (2004), Biota (2006), A. J. Birch (2017), H. G. Smith (2018) and Margaret Shiel (2021) medals of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute. Her research interests are in the areas of supramolecular, peptide and organic chemistry, with a focus on the design and synthesis of functional molecules, such as molecular sensors capable of detecting anions in biological environments.
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
We’re currently working on developing a suite of fluorescent probes to sense different cell membrane phospholipids. If we can do this, it will help unravel a lot of biological questions, which is very exciting!
What is the best part of your job?
Working with other people. My favourite thing is to watch PhD students and early career researchers develop into outstanding scientists who are way smarter than I am!
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
Work on developing your time management skills so you work smarter, not longer, hours.
What do you do in your spare time?
Read trashy detective novels (and sometimes actual literature), preferably while lying on a beach. I also love to cook (and eat!), attempt to grow vegetables in my small Sydney courtyard and try to squeeze in some exercise to clear my mind – mostly involving Pilates, Yoga, swimming or some high intensity skipping.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
…been retired for quite a while so I can enjoy all the other things in life that aren’t work related.
Vinayak Juvekar is Research Professor at the Department of Energy Systems Research, Ajou University. He received his BS (2009) and MS (2011) degrees from Karnataka University, India. After finishing his PhD (2017) degree under the guidance of Prof. Young Dae Gong from Dongguk University, South Korea, he joined Prof. Hwan Myung Kim’s lab as postdoctoral fellow at Ajou University in 2017. His research interest is development of small-molecule fluorescent probes for biomedical applications.
Eda Kilic received her BSc degree from Istanbul Technical University, Department of Chemistry (2018). She is currently doing her MSc studies at Koç University, Department of Chemistry under the supervision of Dr Kölemen. She is mainly working on activatable fluorophores and photosensitizers for imaging and therapy.
Hwan Myung Kim is a Professor at the Department of Chemistry and Department of Energy Systems Research, Ajou University. He received his BS degree from Chungnam National University in 2001 and his MS (2003) and PhD (2008) degrees from Korea University under the guidance of Prof. Bong Rae Cho. He joined the faculty at Ajou University in September 2008. Since 2012, he has been a principal investigator of National Leading Research Laboratory. He has received the Young Organic Chemist Award (2013) from the Korean Chemical Society. His research interest is the development of organic nonlinear optical materials and two-photon probes for biological imaging and therapy. He resides in Suwon city in Korea with wife and two children (Si Woo and Si Won).
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
Diversity of molecular probes that can be used for basic research and biomedical applications.
What is the best part of your job?
Given freedom to design exciting projects.
What do you do in your spare time?
Exercising, walking, listening to music and enjoying wine.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
A house with a beautiful garden. Time to relax and have a cup of tea with my wife.
Jong Seung Kim received his PhD from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Texas Tech University in 1993. Currently he is a full professor in the Department of Chemistry at Korea University in Seoul. His main research interests are application of organic chemistry to drug delivery and diagnosis of various pathologies, including Alzheimer’s disease and malignant neoplasm and their super-resolution imaging. He has been selected as 1% HCR for last 8 years. His h-index records 105 (Google Scholar).
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
Presently, my focus is on developing new discoveries, which could be helpful to diagnose and therapy of many diseases that the world is mostly suffering in recent years. A number of diagnosing techniques and drugs were available to diagnose/treat certain diseases; however, they are still facing many impediments in their useful applications. We mainly focus on resolving those impediments. For a number of years in organic chemistry, we focused on organic systems that could be useful in successfully delivering many commercially available fluorophores (as diagnosing agents) and sensitizers/drugs (therapeutics) to the diseased tissues to eliminate them permanently. In addition, for the same purpose, we also focus on the useful developments based on nanosystems, including different nanoparticles, porous organic polymers (POPs), and covalent organic frameworks (COFs).
What is the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is teaching students and training them to learn many new experimental techniques. Also, build knowledge and create interest in them to passionate about research, which could be helpful to today’s society. In addition, making new useful discoveries and working collaboratively with many outstanding professional scientists.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
In my vision, young emerging scientists are sufficiently strong enough to reach their goals in the field of their research. If I had to give some advice, I would like to suggest they update themselves, find the important problems, and make the research goals what the world really wanted. Make many fruitful collaborations and get scientific advice from colleagues to successfully reach their big challenges.
What do you do in your spare time?
I always try to be up to date with learning new emerging technologies. From time to time, I used to play tennis and jogging around my apartment.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
I want to fulfill all my dreams in the field of my research area and have a peaceful life at an older age.
Jungryun Kim received her BS degree from the Department of Chemistry at the Sookmyung Women’s University of Korea in 2020. She is currently pursuing her PhD degree under the guidance of Prof. Jong Seung Kim at Korea University. Her current research interests are in development of a drug-delivery system with prodrug for drug resistance cancers, including breast cancers.
Dr Safacan Kolemen graduated from the Department of Chemistry at Bilkent University, Turkey in 2008, and then completed his MSc studies in 2010 at the same department. He received his PhD from the Institute of Material Science and Nanotechnology (UNAM) at Bilkent University in 2014 under the supervision of Prof. Engin Akkaya, where he worked on designing photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy of cancer. Then, he joined to Prof. Christopher Chang’s research group in the Department of Chemistry at University of California, Berkeley, USA, as a postdoctoral researcher, where he mainly worked on the design of fluorescent probes for live cell imaging.
Since September 2017, he has been working as a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry at Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey. His research lies in interdisciplinary approaches within the field of synthetic organic chemistry and chemical biology. He particularly focuses on development of small-molecule-based fluorescent/chemiluminescent probes for bioimaging, design of activatable photosensitizers for phototherapy applications as well as preparation of drug-delivery and theranostic (therapy + diagnosis) systems. He received “Outstanding Teaching Award” given at Koç University, Faculty of Sciences in 2018 and recently the prestigious “Outstanding Young Scientist-BAGEP 2021” award, which is given by the Science Academy of Turkey. Dr Kölemen is among the editorial advisory board members of ACS Bio&Med Chem Au journal.
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
Observing that our molecules are doing their job in tumors.
What is the best part of your job?
Every work day is different from the other.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
Never give up and be patient.
What do you do in your spare time?
Spending time with my dog (Rita).
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
a magnificent party to celebrate this big achievement.
Oxana Kotova is a researcher in the group of Professor T. Gunnlaugsson at the School of Chemistry, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. Her research focuses on lanthanide based supramolecular systems including those containing chiral centres for imaging and sensing applications. Oxana graduated with a Masters degree in chemistry and materials science as well as a PhD in inorganic chemistry from Lomonosov Moscow State University working on luminescent lanthanide complexes as electroluminescent materials for organic light emitting diodes.
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
At the moment I am most excited about characterisation of chiral Eu(ii) complexes with helical structures.
What is the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is the possibility to create and learn.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
My advice would be to keep exploring as the one who searches will always find.
What do you do in your spare time?
In my spare time I enjoy time with my family, exploring new places and reading.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
A clear mind and keep an interest in the natural world as it is full of research projects.
Toshiyuki Kowada received his PhD degree from Kyoto University in 2010 under the supervision of Prof. Kouichi Ohe. After one year of postdoctoral work with Prof. Kazuya Kikuchi at Immunology Frontier Research Center (IFReC) in Osaka, he became a specially appointed assistant professor. After postdoctoral study with Prof. Jianghong Rao at Stanford University (2014–2016), he was appointed as an assistant professor at Tohoku University. His research interests include the development of small-molecule-based functional probes for biological applications.
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
I am so excited when I look into a fluorescence microscope and see the fluorescent probe that I designed and synthesized shining brightly by detecting target substances in a cell.
What is the best part of your job?
The real thrill is that I can create the molecules I envision in my mind as a reality and polish them to be useful to the world.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
I’m still a young researcher, but I think it’s important to talk with other researchers around you, sometimes from different fields, in order to carve out your own path, instead of being immersed in your world.
What do you do in your spare time?
Recently, I’ve been playing exclusively with my little kids. I’m just amazed at their growth ability every day.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
I would like to travel with my wife to all the prefectures in Japan, visit the famous places, including the World Heritage Sites, and enjoy the local specialties.
Meng Li now is an associate professor at the North China Electric Power University. She obtained her BSc in 2011 (East China University of Science and Technology), and was a master combined with PhD student from 2011 to 2012 (with Prof. Weihong Zhu in China) and then worked with Prof. Tony D James for her PhD degree at University of Bath since October 2012 till July 2015. Her research interests comprise many aspects of supramolecular chemistry, environmental chemistry and materials chemistry, including molecular recognition and materials fabrication.
Ping Li received her PhD degree in 2008 from Shandong Normal University. In 1998, she joined the faculty at Shandong Normal University, where she is currently a professor of College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science. She is Taishan Distinguished Professor (2017), Millions of Talent Projects National candidates (2019) and the leader of the Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University. Her research interests include the synthesis and bioimaging applications of fluorescent probes for biologically active molecules.
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
I have been most excited about how to accurate detect biological molecules that regulate diseases.
What is the best part of your job?
When we figure out a quite exciting and original research subjects which other researchers haven’t thought of, I feel really great.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
Be diligent and think deeply, that’s what I suggest young emerging scientists to do.
What do you do in your spare time?
I love reading, watching American TV drama and traveling.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
I would like to still be alive with sober-mind, trying to write memoirs. At the same time, I would hope not to disturb young people.
Xiaoning Li is a PhD at the North China Electric Power University. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from Hebei University of Engineering in 2016 and majored in Water Supply and Drainage. From 2016 to now, her main research interests are in the development of synthesis and application of cellulose-based aggregation-induced emission luminogens.
Jongdoo Lim was born in Chonan, South Korea. He studied chemistry at Korea University where he obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He then earned his PhD in Chemistry at Texas A&M University under the supervision of Professor Eric Simanek, working on developing drug-delivery systems based on triazine dendrimers. His current projects in the Anslyn group at the University of Texas at Austin are to synthesize sequence-defined unnatural polymers via ribosome-mediated polymerization and develop rapid optical methods to determine enantiomeric excess (ee), diastereomeric excess (de), and reaction yield, using a variety of techniques such as CD (circular dichroism), UV, and dynamic molecular assembly.
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
Work collaboratively in a team, exchanging ideas and learning new technologies.
What is the best part of your job?
There is always an opportunity to learn something new.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
Learn broadly spending some time in other areas of research.
What do you do in your spare time?
I read books and play board games.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
…traveled around the world.
Heng Liu received his PhD degree from University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2014. Then, he started to work at Hubei University. During 2017–2018, he joined Prof. Ming Xian’s group as a visiting scholar at Washington State University. In 2019, he moved to Hainan Medical University as a full professor. His research interests included development of fluorescent probes and advanced molecular imaging agents.
Shin Mizukami received his PhD in 2002 from the University of Tokyo, where he worked in the laboratory of Professor Tetsuo Nagano. After his postdoctoral studies at the National Institute of Advanced Science and Technology (AIST) and Stanford University (Prof. Eric T. Kool lab), he was appointed as an Assistant Professor in the Graduate School of Engineering at Osaka University (Prof. Kazuya Kikuchi lab) in 2005. He was promoted to Associate Professor at Osaka University in 2009 and to Professor at Tohoku University in 2016. His research interests are in developing molecule-based technologies to solve unsolved problems in biology and medicine.
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
We have developed molecules that function in cells so far by intuition, but the molecular design has become more rational with the recent advances in computational science and informatics.
What is the best part of your job?
Since it is a boundary area of study between chemistry and biology, our research can receive professional evaluations and criticisms from both sides.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
Both broadening the base and raising the top of research are necessary because they are complementary and yield synergistic effects.
What do you do in your spare time?
Studying information technology skills, relaxing (watching YouTube and playing online games), and sometimes thinking about the future of our country.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
I would like to have an observable contribution to our country and human society beyond basic study.
Sarah Moor is a 5th year PhD student in the Anslyn research group at the University of Texas at Austin where she also obtained her BS in Chemistry as well as a Certificate in Computer Science in 2017. Her research has primarily focused on the development of high-throughput experimentation techniques and oligourethane-based sequencing platform for information technologies.
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
I am most excited to continue working at the interface of chemistry and computer science.
What is the best part of your job?
Getting to work with people who are passionate about their research.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
Graduate school is a great place to acquire additional skills (computer science, statistics, business skills, etc.) to help you in your future career so take advantage of what universities have to offer.
What do you do in your spare time?
I like to play video games and hang out with my dog.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
…seen every species of owl in North America.
Subrata Munan completed his Bachelors of Science in Chemistry (Honours) from Midnapore College, West Bengal, India. He received a Master’s degree in Chemistry from Vidyasagar University, West Bengal, in 2018. Currently, he is a doctoral student under the supervision of Dr Animesh Samanta in the School of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Shiv Nadar University, Delhi NCR. His research interests include designing and synthesizing new functional fluorescent probes and their biological activity towards reactive species inside the cellular microenvironment. During his bachelors’s and master’s degrees, he received a prestigious INSPIRE Scholarship (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research) from the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India. He loves to read scientific books and discusses with others for learning and teaching.
Elizabeth (Liz) J. New undertook her undergraduate and masters studies at the University of Sydney, working with Prof. Trevor Hambley on fluorescently tagged platinum complexes. She then completed her PhD in 2010 at the University of Durham (UK) with Prof. David Parker studying luminescent lanthanoid complexes for use as cellular probes. Liz was a Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley, where she worked with Prof. Chris Chang on fluorescent copper sensors. In 2012, she returned to the University of Sydney to establish her independent research career, holding an ARC DECRA fellowship (2012–2014) and Westpac Research Fellowship (2016–2019). Her research focusses on the development of small-molecule fluorescent sensors for biological and environmental applications. She is passionate about university teaching, and has also served on a number of national committees that aim to improve opportunities for future generations of scientists. Her awards for research and teaching including the 2019 Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year, 2018 Eureka 3M Emerging Leader Prize, and the 2016 RACI Chemistry Educator of the Year.
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
We’re starting to translate our work into clinical and environmental industrial applications, and it’s great to be working towards impacts outside research.
What is the best part of your job?
The people I work with – my talented and enthusiastic group members, and all of my collaborators who let us explore so many exciting new avenues.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
Spend time building networks: with your peers who will become your colleagues, and with more senior researchers who will become your mentors.
What do you do in your spare time?
At the moment, my spare time is consumed by two energetic young children! When I get a moment, I love reading biographies and playing the viola.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
Played a part in revolutionising the academic sector to ensure that researchers can flourish and innovate.
Yuvin Noh received her BS degree from the Department of Chemistry at the Sookmyung Women’s University of Korea in 2020. She then received her MS degree under the guidance of Prof. Jong Seung Kim at Korea University. Her current research interest is harnessing the activity-based fluorescent chemosensors to illuminate a novel biomarker toward pathologies, including senescence, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Animesh Samanta received his MSc in Chemistry at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras in 2007. He obtained his PhD in the interface of chemistry and biology under the supervision of Prof. Young-Tae Chang in 2012 at National University of Singapore (NUS). He continued his research career as a postdoctoral fellow at Singapore Bioimaging Consortium (SBIC) in Prof. Chang’s lab until 2015. Later he moved to National University of Singapore, Department of Biomedical Engineering, to develop his research skills in a microfluidic device for diagnosis. He came back to India with the prestigious Ramanujan Fellowship in 2016 and started an independent research career at CSIR – National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST). He is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry, Shiv Nadar University, Delhi NCR, since 2019. His research interests are creating molecular entities of fluorophores, discovering new optical phenomena, and exploring non-invasive optical imaging to study unknown phenomena in life at the molecular level leading to a better understanding of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
The research engages you in creating new knowledge and makes you think differently from the traditional concepts. The challenging research may give you unexpected results, opening new research areas that always excite me. These new findings of science offer you new windows and stretch your mind to search for new ideas and new possibilities.
What is the best part of your job?
Solving global challenges together as a family member of the scientific community and educating the students is the best part of my job.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
As science is an art of invention from the imagination, young emerging scientists should solve the emerging problems from the creative mind.
What do you do in your spare time?
I love to read inspirational quotes from books, the internet, and different apps and find the meaning of a happy life.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
In my 100s, I would like to have a few books that can guide living happily.
Adam C. Sedgwick is a Glasstone Research Fellow at the University of Oxford and Junior Research Fellow at Jesus College. He received his MChem in Drug Discovery (2014) and PhD in Organic Chemistry (2014) from the University of Bath. In 2018, he moved to Austin, Texas where he worked under the supervision of Prof. Jonathan L. Sessler (2018–2021). His research interests include chemical sensing, theranostics and macrocyclic chemistry. To date, he has co-authored over 70 peer-reviewed papers with over 3500 citations (h-index 26) and is co-inventor on 2 US patents.
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
Developing tumour-localising near-infrared platforms for chemical sensing and theranostic applications.
What is the best part of your job?
Interdisciplinary collaboration and building research networks.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
To enjoy research and follow your passions.
What do you do in your spare time?
Have beers with my friends.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
My own lab to do research.
Jinwoo Shin received his BS degree (Summa cum laude) from the Department of Chemistry at the Hallym University of Korea in 2015. He then received a PhD in organic chemistry from the Department of Chemistry at Korea University in 2021 (Supervisor: Professor Jong Seung Kim). He stayed in the group as a postdoctoral fellow before moving to Stanford University in 2023 (Supervisor: Professor Eric T. Kool). His research interests include multi-functional theranostic agents, advanced fluorescent imaging agents, and DNA repair systems.
Bo Tang is a professor of chemistry at Shandong Normal University. He received his PhD degree in 1994 from Nankai University. He began his independent career as a professor of chemistry at Shandong Normal University in 1994. He won National Fund for Outstanding Young Scientists in 2007, Chief scientist for 973 Program in 2012. He has contributed more than 300 journal articles, as well as 21 invited book chapters and reviews, and obtained 39 granted patents. His research interests include the synthesis of molecular and nano probes and their application in biological imaging, green chemical production, synthesis of fluorescent materials, and solar chemical conversion and storage.
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
Visualizing the dynamic modification of proteins.
What is the best part of your job?
Discussion about research subjects with my students is the best part of my job.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
Try to find an interesting and exciting subject and then to pursue it during your whole life.
What do you do in your spare time?
Play ping pong.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
Continued research and published papers.
Rui Wang received his PhD degree under the supervision of Professor Jaebum Choo from Department of Bionanotechnology, Hanyang University, Korea in February 2018. Then he joined Hainan Medical University in March 2018. Currently he is an associate professor at the Institute of Functional Materials and Molecular Imaging, Hainan Medical University. His research interests focus on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) imaging and functional bionanomaterials.
Zhenkai Wang is a PhD candidate at the Institute of Functional Materials and Molecular Imaging, Hainan Medical University. His main research direction is the design and application of small-molecule fluorescent probes for clinical medical detection.
Luling Wu obtained a PhD in 2021 supported by scholarships from the China Scholarship Council and the University of Bath under the supervision of Professor Tony D. James. He is a referee for peer-reviewed journals including JACS Au, Chemical Science and Chemical Reviews. His research focuses on fluorescent probes/prodrugs and imaging. His h-index is 17.
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
Making fluorescent probes commercially available and help to diagnose diseases.
What is the best part of your job?
I have the opportunities to collaborate with people who are experienced in different research fields.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
Paying attention to experimental details.
What do you do in your spare time?
Travelling and meeting friends.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
More time to spend with my family.
Yanlong Xing received her PhD degree from the Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin), Germany in 2017. After her postdoctoral research in the Leibniz Institute of Analytical Science (ISAS Berlin), she joined the Hainan Medical University as a professor in August 2018. Her current research interests focus on extracellular vesicle-based liquid biopsy, microfluidic technology and the development of functional nanomaterials for biosensors.
Fabiao Yu is now as a full professor in Key Laboratory of Hainan Functional Materials and Molecular Imaging, Hainan Medical University. He was awarded Hainan Hundred Talents and Hainan Leading Talents. He received his MS degree from Shandong Normal University in 2009. He then further received his PhD degree from Dalian University of Technology and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2013. After four years’ work at Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, he joined Hainan Medical University from 2018. His research interests focus on functional biomaterials, optical molecular imaging, and disease point-of-care testing.
What aspect of your research are you most excited about at the moment?
The most interested research field for me is optical molecular imaging, and I am now committed to transforming visual detection technology to clinical applications.
What is the best part of your job?
Design, synthesis and bio-application of organic small-molecular fluorescent probes.
What is your advice to young emerging scientists?
Faced with busy experiments, difficult writing and publishing papers, and fierce job competition, young scientists may be afraid of future career development. To become a successful scientist, the most important thing is to cultivate curiosity about science. The better way is to learn from the experience of others, rather than let yourself make all the mistakes.
What do you do in your spare time?
Read classical literature, appreciate Chinese opera and grow flowers.
By the time I’m 100 I would like to have…
First of all, I have to live to be 100 years old, and then I hope I can walk around freely, read literature and sunbathe.
Feifei Yu is an organic chemistry engineer in college of pharmacy, Hainan Medical University. She received her BS degree from Shandong Normal University in 2006 and worked as a chemistry teacher until 2018. Then she joined Hainan Medical University. Her research interests focus on organic synthesis of functional biomaterials and biological analysis.
Linlu Zhao received her PhD under the supervision of Prof. Junqiu Liu in the State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University in 2018. Currently she is an associate professor at the Institute of Functional Materials and Molecular Imaging, Hainan Medical University. Her main research interests include the study of detection and sensing of small-molecule fluorescent probes, and development of self-assembled nanomaterials.
