Impossibles: Your Stories of Scientific Advancement

Zarrar Nashman is a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania Health System and Harvard Medical School and an MD candidate at Drexel University College of Medicine. He gave us an insight into his team’s remarkable efforts to restore lost function from traumatic brain injuries through innovative techniques.

Dr. Sakshi Kabra Malpani is a researcher and writer at a non-profit organization, Save the Water, in Washington, USA. Sakshi spoke to us about her incredible work developing novel uses for solid wastes that better benefit the environment.

Sydney Floryanzia is a PhD student at the University of Washington, United States. She talked us through her extraordinary work in helping to develop new therapies for difficult to treat brain diseases such as strokes, infections and Alzheimer’s.

Oliwia Majchrzak is a PhD candidate at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. She spoke to us about her revolutionary work on cancer nanomedicines.

Dr. Ruby Sharma is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, in the United States. She spoke to us about how she’s using a range of peptides to study type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Rae Freestone is an award-winning laboratory technician at Cambridge Consultants, UK. She spoke to us about her incredible journey as a woman in STEM and her work to develop a revolutionary emergency ventilator for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amber Cook is a PhD student at Mississippi State University, USA. She took us through her incredible work to understand the tissue-level mechanics that regulate the pattern of brain folding.

We spoke to Nisan Irem Cetingök, an undergraduate at Middle East Technical University, Turkey. She shared with us her work in treating type 1 diabetes.

Jessica Freire Feitor is a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard University, United States. She spoke to us about her work to discover new biomarkers for intestinal diseases and the importance of reducing animal screening.

Maria Vivero-Lopez is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. She talked to us about her work to revolutionize contact lenses using advanced biomaterials to help improve vision and treat ocular pathologies. 

Taylor Szasz-Green is a Ph.D. student at Mississippi State University. She explained how she is using computational biology to study the historically endangered American alligator and how, sometimes, taking a break is key to success.

Vincent Ming-Hsien Chiang is an assistant professor at the National Defence Medical Centre, Taiwan. He spoke to us about his research to combat multidrug-resistant bacteria.

Viorica Patrulea is a lecturer at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. She spoke to us about her research on tissue regeneration and protection against multidrug-resistant bacteria. 

David Jacome is an educator at SUNY Brockport, New York. He spoke to us about his work to diversify the STEM community by recruiting more female and minority students to pursue a career in physics.

Carla V. Fuenteslópez is a DPhil candidate at the University of Oxford, England. She talked to us about her transformative work in tissue engineering and her aim to create a personalized testing platform for patients with traumatic injuries.

Dr. Ankit Tanwar is a Staff Scientist at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York. He took us through his work to understand new immunoregulatory pathways and to develop novel cell therapy for cancer patients.

Jonas Goebel is a PhD student at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, and a recipient of the Alfred R. Bader Award for Student Innovation 2023. He took us through his work to address pressing societal issues using the limitless potential within the field of chemistry.

Shivaani Gandhi is a PhD candidate at Princeton University, United States, and a recipient of the Alfred R. Bader Award for Student Innovation 2023. She spoke to us about her work to develop and apply new tools to gain a deeper understanding of organic reactions.

Atheer Awad is a Lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire. She spoke to us about how she’s revolutionizing medicine for patients with special needs.

Ling Xin Yong is a PhD graduate from the University of Nottingham, England. She took us through her work in the development of antimicrobial material suitable for 3D printing of medical devices.

Philipp Maurischat is a bio-geoscientist at Germany's Leibniz University in Hannover. He talked to us about his recent interest in nature-based solutions to remove impurities from streams and rivers.

Shriya Grover is a PhD student at the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi, India. She talked to us about developments in the use of electroactive bacteria which could help to generate power for the future.

Alissa Christina Matus is a PhD candidate at the University of California, Irvine. She spoke with us about the importance of her research in reducing global climate emissions and the value of mentorship as a scholar.

Wasim Khan is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Illinois, Chicago. He talked to us about the inspiration behind his ground-breaking work in liver cancer.

Nafisa Jadavi is a neuroscientist currently serving as an Assistant Professor at Midwestern University-Glendale, AZ. She spoke to us about the importance of the maternal diet on the brain function of offspring.

Juliano Morimoto is a lecturer in Zoology at the University of Aberdeen in the UK. He shared with us how multi-disciplinary understanding can aid the protection of various species from climate change.

Holly Fruehwald is a material scientist at Ontario Tech University. She tells us about the importance of developing new materials for affordable green energy technology.

Pedro Jimenez Antenucci is a Chemistry PhD student at the University of Pennsylvania. He talked to us about the importance of developing the next generation of HNacNac ligands in the field of green chemistry during his undergraduate studies prior to graduate school.

Micaella Jorge is a research scientist focused on diagnostic development. She tells us how she is currently working on a diagnostic device that could differentiate between bacterial and viral infections, and the positive impact it could have in the future.

The International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition is an academic contest in synthetic biology, bringing together aspiring scientists from across the world. Since 2012, the Technische Universität Darmstadt has entered teams and in 2021 the iGEM team consisted of 30 students. Eight of these participated in the Next Great Impossible.

Meike Ramon is a cognitive neuroscientist and neuropsychologist whose work focuses on face processing and includes both fundamental and applied research. She tells us why she’s so passionate about her work and how she’s aiming to transform the role of facial recognition in policing and the legal system.

Jamil Mahmud is a PhD student researching the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). His ambition is to revolutionize the current anti-HCMV treatment and develop one that prevents HCMV infection and diseases associated with the virus itself.

Mauro Mato is a PhD student at the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ). He told us about his work and aspirations for greater sustainability in organic synthesis and organometallic chemistry.

Rui Zhang is a chemist working on his PhD in organic synthesis at the University of Chicago. He told us about the importance of a good advisor and seeing every result as a learning opportunity.

Isabelle Leibler is a joint PhD student with Professors Abigail G. Doyle and Robert R. Knowles researching at Princeton University. She told us more about her work on photocatalytic C(sp3)-H functionalization, and how her athlete’s mindset helps her in the lab.

Rachel Knapp is a PhD student researching organic synthesis in the Garg Laboratory at UCLA. She gave us an insight into her creative methods and what drives her to keep pushing for new solutions in a well-established field.

Manuela Alavaren Samaco is a biologist and plant pathologist focused on making an impact on global food security. She tells us why she is so passionate about this area of research and about the people who’ve motivated her in her scientific career.

Dr. Giuseppe Emanuele Lio is a material scientist and research fellow at the National Institute of Optics and European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy in Florence, Italy. He told us about working with lasers in his quest for new nano-devices.

Microbiologist Brianna Manning is working to find new methods of treating Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. She explains why phages could be a solution, and who inspires her to keep striving for answers. 

Molecular biologist Kabidul Azam is looking to the natural world to find treatments for diabetes. He told us about his research and why problems in the lab are not necessarily all bad news.

Microbiologist and trained veterinarian Dr. Irem Omurtag Korkmaz is researching natural antibiotic alternatives in the animal industry. She explains how multidisciplinary collaboration has helped broaden her scientific understanding.

Dr. Antonio Ferraro is a material scientist working to develop heat-generating nanostructures to treat cancers. He explains how creative thinking has helped him succeed as a researcher.

Biomedical scientist Braden Tierney is working to translate human microbiome data into disease predictors - he explains how failure has shaped him into a better scientist.

Macarena Martín Mayor is studying for a doctorate in marine science at the University of South Florida, USA. She tells us about her research into ocean CO2 levels, and the people and inspirations that keep her motivate

Organic chemist Dr. Johnny Wah Lee is on a quest to advance the discovery of novel organic molecules. He explains why sharing his passion with the next generation of researchers has been the most rewarding part of his career.

Kanchana Ayyar is a molecular biologist working to transform the diagnostic approach to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). She explains how guidance from mentors is the key to finding success.

Naman Rao is a dentist-scientist originally from India, now working in Boston to improve early diagnosis of malignant oral disorders. He discusses how simplicity is key when developing research for a global context.

Natalia Manousi is an analytical chemist in Greece researching new ways to reduce the environmental impact of her field. She explains what this involves and why it’s so important.

Cell biologist Emily Sey is researching the immune response to life-threatening fungal infections – she describes how big picture thinking helps her take every setback and success in her stride.

Pardis Sabeti is a professor of computational biology, working to predict and track future infectious disease outbreaks. She explains how sharing data will help us win the war on infectious disease.

WhiteFeather Hunter is a Canadian researcher pursuing a PhD at The University of Western Australia. She told us about her work on menstrual blood products and what ‘women in STEM’ really means to her. 

Yang Gan is a material chemist, studying methods to improve sapphire utilization in LED manufacturing – he tells us how curiosity is the key to scientific innovation.

María Isabel Amorín is a MSc student at the University of Edinburgh and the creator of CrustaTec, a project that aims to solve two of Guatemala’s biggest environmental problems in one go. 

Amritpal Singh Chaddha is a geochemist in India studying how rock varnish formation can unravel the mysteries of past climates.

Dr. Ayse Turak followed the curiosity cultivated by her parents all the way to her current project: helping satellite communications break through the clouds. 

Dr. Barbara Guinn is looking to find ways for a faster diagnosis of endometriosis. She tells us about the women who inspire her to pursue her work and why it’s so important.

At the University of Regina in Canada, Christian Nwosu is striving towards cheap and abundant hydrogen fuel – he tells us all about his methods and what inspires him.  

Having recently completed his PhD, Dr. Fahad Shafiq is on a mission to boost crop productivity and feed our growing global population – here he tells us about his inspiration.

Professor Frederick West tells us how a discussion with a PhD student informed his current work on antiviral drugs to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Gabriel dos Passos Gomes is involved in cutting-edge work using artificial intelligence to improve chemical reactions – he tells us how he’s inspired by the people around him.

Dr. Julian West is a chemist focused on the field of organic synthesis. He reminds us to always be on the lookout for inspiration from other people and other disciplines of research.

Dr. Kevin Lam, Associate Professor at the University of Greenwich, tells us about his journey within electrosynthesis: from its beginnings as a niche discipline to the burgeoning field it is today. 

Kshitij RB Singh is a biochemist specializing in nanobiotechnology. He’s currently working on fabricating plant material-based biosensors for the detection and diagnosis of lifestyle diseases. He gives us an insight into the details of his innovative work. 

Award-winning professor Lei Tao talks about his work on de novo polymer design and his proudest career moments so far. 

Michael Crocker tells us about his prize-winning work at Vanderbilt University and his constant desire to keep learning.

Michael Thomas tells us about his research to replace synthetic fertilizers with sustainable alternatives to help solve the problem of rising global food demand.

A researcher based in Canada, Professor Dr. Mila Emerald has a distinguished background in nanotechnology and drug development – she told us how she got where she is today.

Miranda Imeri founded the Kosovo Wildlife Society and is the first person in the country to achieve an MSc as a wildlife engineer. She aims to protect large carnivores including the critically endangered lynx as she continues her Ph.D. research.

Working in the field of photovoltaics, PhD candidate Ramis Arbi tells us about the challenges of breaking free from fossil fuels. 

Samantha Apps tells us about her work on exploring new ways to produce ammonia and the importance of perseverance.

Samantha Green tells us about her work on dual catalysis at the Scripps Research Institute and the need to pursue crazy ideas.

Dr. Samuel Perry’s work has the potential to reduce both carbon emissions and fossil fuel use at the same time – he told us how ‘talking to everyone’ keeps him motivated.

Research scientist Shafi Ullah Khan is using AI to improve breast cancer treatment – he told us how his having ‘crazy ideas’ supported motivates him to keep going.