Rising Stars of Science: Meet the 2018 Emerging Investigators
A new generation of scientists is quietly reshaping our world, one breakthrough at a time.
In the vast landscape of scientific research, a special group of visionaries stands out—not for decades of accumulated accolades, but for the brilliant promise they show in the early stages of their careers. These are the Emerging Investigators, rising stars who are building independent research programs and tackling some of science's most pressing challenges.
Since 2011, special issues dedicated to these innovators have showcased their groundbreaking work 1 . By 2018, this annual collection had become a established tradition, highlighting "internationally recognised, up-and-coming scientists in the early stages of their independent careers" who are "making outstanding contributions to their respective fields" 1 . This article will explore the diverse research of these investigators, with a special focus on a revolutionary approach to water purification that demonstrates their potential to transform our world.
What Makes an Emerging Investigator?
Early Career Researchers
Typically have completed doctoral degrees within the past 12 years and are now leading independent research teams 5 .
Interdisciplinary Approach
Their work often crosses traditional disciplinary boundaries, bringing fresh perspectives to complex problems.
"Extreme attention to critical detail, careful analytical insight, and thorough consideration of relevant factors" - Editorial Board 5
The 2018 collections appeared across multiple prestigious journals, including the Journal of Chemical and Engineering Data and Materials Research Express, with the latter featuring an invitation-only selection of two reviews and six original research articles 5 8 .
A Spectrum of Scientific Innovation
The 2018 Emerging Investigators tackled an impressive range of scientific challenges, from clean energy to biomedical applications, demonstrating the interdisciplinary nature of modern research.
In the realm of materials science, investigators explored substances that could define new technological eras, much as silicon defined the "Silicon Age" 5 .
Advanced Battery Technology
One team developed three-dimensional porous graphene current collectors filled with silicon, creating high-performance anodes for lithium-ion batteries that could significantly improve energy storage capacity 5 .
Revolutionary Memory Systems
Another investigator explored resistance-switching random access memory (ReRAM), which could combine the speed of dynamic random-access memory with the non-volatility of flash memory 5 .
Smart Metamaterials
Researchers demonstrated the growth of smooth aluminum-doped zinc oxide thin films with tunable "epsilon-near-zero" frequency, showing promise for zero-index photonics and tunable metamaterial devices 5 .
In the biomedical field, emerging scientists made significant contributions to drug delivery and enzyme engineering.
Targeted Drug Delivery
One team simulated the thermodynamics of charging in weak polyelectrolytes, work that could help tune the coil-globule transition in various biological conditions for targeted drug delivery 5 .
Enzyme Engineering
A comprehensive review summarized experimental and modeling results on engineering lipases to function beyond physiological conditions, potentially enabling their use in industrial processes 5 .
Inside a Groundbreaking Experiment: Transforming Water Purification
Among the notable contributions from 2018 Emerging Investigators, one study offers a particularly compelling look at how these early-career scientists are addressing global challenges. The research, published in Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology, presents an innovative advanced oxidation process for water purification 3 .
As society becomes increasingly aware of trace organic compounds in water supplies—from pharmaceuticals to industrial chemicals—the need for effective removal methods has grown. Conventional water treatment processes often struggle to eliminate these persistent contaminants, prompting the search for more advanced solutions.
Divya Kamath, Daisuke Minakata, and their team proposed using ultraviolet light combined with free chlorine (UV/free chlorine) to create an aqueous-phase advanced oxidation process 3 . This approach generates highly reactive radicals—not only hydroxyl radicals but also chlorine-derived radicals—that can break down a wide range of organic pollutants in water.
Step-by-Step: How the Experiment Worked
Model Development
The team created an elementary reaction-based kinetic model focused on acetone as a test compound, selected for its well-understood transformation pathways 3 9 .
Pathway Prediction
Using quantum mechanical calculations, they predicted the elementary reaction pathways through which acetone and its transformation products would degrade 3 9 .
Rate Constant Prediction
The researchers employed previously developed linear free energy relationships to predict reaction rate constants for each step in the degradation process 3 9 .
Equation Generation
Ordinary differential equations were generated to represent the complex reaction network 3 9 .
This combination of theoretical modeling and experimental validation represents a powerful approach in modern environmental engineering, allowing researchers to test hypotheses computationally before conducting resource-intensive laboratory work.
Findings and Implications: A New Tool for Water Treatment
The research demonstrated that the UV/free chlorine process could effectively degrade organic compounds while the kinetic model successfully predicted the formation of transformation products 3 . This modeling approach provides mechanistic insight into reaction pathways, offering water treatment engineers a valuable tool for:
Optimizing treatment processes
Minimizing harmful byproducts
Designing specialized systems
The study exemplifies how Emerging Investigators are not just conducting incremental research but developing entirely new frameworks for solving environmental challenges.
The Scientist's Toolkit: Key Research Reagents
Across various disciplines, Emerging Investigators rely on specialized reagents to conduct their research. The following table highlights some essential reagents used in scientific investigations, similar to those employed in the featured study and related environmental research.
| Reagent Name | Primary Function | Research Applications |
|---|---|---|
| EDC Hydrochloride | Water-soluble carbodiimide compound that forms peptide bonds through condensation | Protein coupling, peptide synthesis, preparation of immune antigens |
| Sulfo-SMCC Sodium | Hetero-bifunctional crosslinker with NHS ester and maleimide groups | Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), linking biomolecules with primary amines and sulfhydryls |
| Peroxidase | Enzyme that oxidizes reactive oxygen species | Studying innate immunity, hormone biosynthesis, disease pathogenesis |
| Xanthine Oxidase | Enzyme involved in purine catabolism and uric acid conversion | Research on cardiovascular diseases, reactive oxygen species generation |
| Biotin-Azide | Reagent for preparing biotin conjugates | Protein identification and detection assays |
These reagents, along with many others, form the essential toolkit that enables researchers to develop innovative solutions to complex problems across scientific disciplines.
Data Insights: Tracking Contaminant Removal
To understand the effectiveness of advanced oxidation processes like the UV/free chlorine method, researchers carefully track the disappearance of parent compounds and the formation of transformation products. The following tables illustrate hypothetical data similar to what might be observed in such experiments.
The Future Through the Eyes of Emerging Scientists
"Bring together emerging investigators to showcase their current research and provide a forum to help identify the next paradigm shift in science and engineering" - Editorial Board 5
The 2018 Emerging Investigators represent more than just a collection of promising researchers—they embody the future trajectory of scientific discovery. Their work spans the entire spectrum of materials science, environmental engineering, and biomedical research, demonstrating that the most pressing challenges of our time are being addressed by a new generation of thinkers.
Interdisciplinary Innovation
Connecting "seemingly disparate branches" of science 5 to create innovative solutions
Sustainable Solutions
Developing technologies for a more sustainable, healthier future
Transformative Advances
Early accomplishments suggest transformative advances in years to come
What makes these investigators particularly notable is their ability to connect "seemingly disparate branches" of science 5 , creating innovative solutions that might elude researchers working within traditional disciplinary silos. From water purification to energy storage, their contributions are helping to shape a more sustainable, healthier future.
As these Emerging Investigators continue their careers, their early accomplishments suggest that we can expect transformative advances from them in the years to come. Their work reminds us that scientific progress often rests in the hands of a new generation—one that brings fresh perspectives to enduring challenges.