Pune scientist Dr. Saumitra Athavale selectedfor the prestigious global 'Talent 12' list.

Pune scientist Dr. Saumitra Athavale selected

for the prestigious global 'Talent 12' list.

Pune, India: Dr. Soumitra Athavale, a young scientist from Pune, has been selected as the only Indian in the prestigious global “Talented 12” list announced by the American Chemical Society (ACS) through its official news magazine, Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN). The annual recognition honors 12 outstanding early-career scientists from across the world whose research is advancing chemistry and addressing major global challenges.

This year, approximately 540 nominations were received worldwide, from which only 12 scientists were selected. Dr. Athavale’s inclusion in this elite group marks a significant achievement for Indian science and highlights his contributions to cutting-edge chemical research.

The Talented 12 program recognizes young researchers who are making exceptional scientific advances and developing innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems. Each selected scientist is featured in a special issue of Chemical & Engineering News, a globally respected publication widely read across academia, industry, and the scientific community.

Dr. Athavale is an organic chemist and biocatalysis researcher and currently serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

His research group has pioneered the development of iron-based enzymes that enable new, efficient, and environmentally sustainable chemical reactions. Their work has the potential to replace expensive precious metals and environmentally harmful chemical processes currently used in pharmaceutical manufacturing, paving the way for greener, safer, and more cost-effective drug production.

Dr. Athavale completed his schooling at Abhinav English Medium School, Pune. He earned his M.S. degree in Chemistry and Biology from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune. He went on to receive his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) under the guidance of Professor Scott Denmark. For his postdoctoral research, he was selected to work in the laboratory of Nobel Laureate Professor Frances Arnold at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

Praising his former student, Professor Scott Denmark described Dr. Athavale as “a highly self-motivated and exceptionally creative scientist whose intelligence, originality, and experimental excellence enable him to tackle challenging scientific problems.” Meanwhile, Chemical & Engineering News recognized him as “a scientist developing the next generation of iron biocatalysts.”

Reacting to the honor, Dr. Athavale said:“My greatest motivation has always been the curiosity to answer fundamental questions in science. I look forward to continuing research that not only advances scientific knowledge but also develops technologies that can positively impact society.”

Dr. Athavale’s selection to the ACS Talented 12 represents a proud moment for India’s scientific community and is expected to inspire aspiring researchers across the country to pursue excellence in scientific innovation.

Ref: https://cen.acs.org/articles/104/web/2026/05/2026-talented-12-soumitra-athavale.html