[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.3.4″][et_pb_fullwidth_image src=”https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/chemistry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/06\/hero_emani.jpg” _builder_version=”4.3.4″][\/et_pb_fullwidth_image][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.3.4″ background_image=”https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/chemistry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/06\/bg_red-bars.png” parallax=”on” parallax_method=”off” custom_padding=”40px||40px|||” box_shadow_style=”preset2″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.3.4″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.3.4″][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/chemistry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/06\/Alumni-News.png” align=”right” _builder_version=”4.3.4″ custom_padding=”||0px|||” filter_invert=”84%”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.3.4″ custom_padding=”0px|||||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.3.4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.3.4″ header_font=”Open Sans|700|on|on|||||” header_text_color=”#999999″ header_font_size=”100px” header_2_font=”|600|on||||||” header_2_text_color=”#999″ header_text_shadow_style=”preset5″ header_text_shadow_color=”#ededed” header_2_text_shadow_style=”preset4″ header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0.06em” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length=”0.1em” header_2_text_shadow_color=”#eaeaea”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.3.4″ background_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.7)” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” border_width_all=”20px” border_color_all=”rgba(0,0,0,0)”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.3.4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.3.4″ text_text_color=”#3d3d3d”]<\/p>\n
S<\/span>ujata Emani likes to let her curiosity lead the way. That curiosity has molded her career in a trifecta of scientific pursuits in academia, industry and government.<\/p>\n Emani got her first taste for \u201cdoing science\u201d after her sophomore year when she reached out to Terry Rosenberry at the Mayo Clinic in Florida for a summer research position. Though all the official positions were filled, he asked if she\u2019d like to volunteer in his lab. She studied how the enzyme Acetylcholinesterase worked so that the lab could find better molecules to treat Alzheimer\u2019s symptoms. By the end of the summer, she was listed as a co-author on two of the lab\u2019s papers.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was an amazing coincidence and opportunity just from me being curious and making a connection,\u201d Emani said.<\/p>\n In her junior year, Emani decided to pursue Carnegie Mellon\u2019s joint honors bachelor\u2019s and master\u2019s in chemistry program while conducting research in Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences\u2019 Alan Waggoner\u2019s lab. Emani thrived on the interdisciplinary nature of the lab. As the chemist on the team, she organically synthesized fluorescent molecules that were used to target biological molecules. Her work contributed to a larger project that Waggoner was working on to create a prototype system that could be used by a Mars Rover to detect life.<\/p>\n “Science is an engine of innovation that drives our economy.”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n With a thirst for research, Emani pursued her Ph.D. in chemistry and biochemistry at the University of California, San Diego with Nobel Laureate Roger Chen. But after graduate school, Emani pivoted from academia entirely and in 2011 joined the then-startup company Cleveland Whiskey.<\/p>\n As research director, Emani co-invented a patent-pending technology to accelerate the aging process of bourbon whiskey. \u201cI got to understand what entrepreneurialism was and how chemistry is a fundamental part of innovation,\u201d Emani said of her experience. \u201cI was given this opportunity to do these heavy scientific processes to create a product that could build a company. The skills I needed weren\u2019t just in chemistry anymore but in marketing, customer research, product development and all these aspects I hadn\u2019t explored before.\u201d<\/p>\n After the successful launch of their product, Emani left Cleveland Whiskey. Eager to use the entrepreneurial and creative skills she had accrued, she tackled another interesting role.<\/p>\n While working on Cleveland Whiskey\u2019s patent-pending technology, Emani learned that many patent law attorneys are scientists. She joined the law firm Oblon as a technical advisor and helped inventors write, file and defend their patent applications. She developed a strong sense for how to bring creativity and strategy to doing science. \u201cI had to get to the core of why a scientist\u2019s invention was different, important, interesting or new,\u201d Emani said.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.3.4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.3.4″ text_text_color=”#3d3d3d”]<\/p>\n Through these experiences, Emani became a skilled scientific and technical strategist who enjoys not only doing science but advocating for others doing science, all of which has led her to current role as an AAAS Science and Technology Policy fellow. The program connects federal agencies with highly trained scientists who use their scientific expertise and analytical skills to enhance federal policies. Emani works closely with program managers at the U.S. Department of Energy Science Funding Offices to devise strategic solutions and processes for how to fund, store and accelerate the use of scientific data.<\/p>\n Being in academia and industry, Emani already had a sense of the importance of supporting and funding science, but from a policy perspective, she understands it even more now.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I\u2019ve learned as a fellow is that science is a part of the federal mission because it actually makes our lives richer. We know that basic science translates into cures, treatments and improvements to our health, how we make buildings more efficient and how we use and harness energy from the environment,\u201d Emani said. \u201cThese things move forward because of science funding, because we tell Congress as scientists why science is important.<\/p>\n \u201cScience is an engine of innovation that drives our economy,\u201d Emani says. And that understanding fuels her desire to continue pushing the boundaries of science forward in whatever ways she can.<\/p>\n \u2666 by Emily Payne<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.3.4″ header_3_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||2px|||”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/chemistry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/06\/sujata-emani_podcast.png” url=”https:\/\/www.buzzsprout.com\/280983\/1554562-sujata-emani” url_new_window=”on” _builder_version=”4.3.4″ custom_margin=”||46px|||” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#cccccc”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.3.4″ header_3_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||2px|||”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/chemistry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/07\/sujata-emani_podcast2.png” url=”https:\/\/www.stitcher.com\/podcast\/beltway-science” url_new_window=”on” _builder_version=”4.3.4″ border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#cccccc”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.3.4″ background_color=”rgba(90,140,89,0.64)” background_image=”https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/chemistry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/06\/bg_green-bars.png” parallax=”on” parallax_method=”off”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.3.4″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.3.4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.3.4″ header_font=”|700||on|||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font_size=”60px” header_text_shadow_style=”preset1″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.3.4″][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.3.4″][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/Wmq2XevMqWU” _builder_version=”4.3.4″ hover_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_video][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/chemistry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/06\/reeder.jpg” alt=”Ashley Reeder (’14)” title_text=”Ashley Reeder (’14)” _builder_version=”4.3.4″ custom_margin=”||-3px|||”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.3.4″]<\/p>\n Ashley Reeder (’14)<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/chemistry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/06\/maksymiuk.jpg” alt=”Ashley Reeder (’14)” title_text=”Ashley Reeder (’14)” _builder_version=”4.3.4″ custom_margin=”||-3px|||”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.3.4″]<\/p>\n Christina Maksymiuk (’08)<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.3.4″ type=”2_5″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.3.4″ text_text_color=”#e0e0e0″ background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.73)” border_width_all=”20px” border_color_all=”rgba(0,0,0,0)”]<\/p>\n In the fall semester, a number of alumni returned to campus to give lectures, giving students a look at what careers and opportunities are available to those who graduate with degrees in chemistry.<\/p>\n George Diabes<\/strong> (2009), director and value chain leader at The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson<\/p>\n Claire Dingwell<\/strong> (2017), Ph.D. candidate in chemistry at the University of Minnesota<\/p>\n Sujata Emani<\/strong> (2005), AAAS Science and Technology Fellow at the U.S. Department of Energy<\/p>\n Kevin Long<\/strong> (2016), third-year medical student at the University of Pittsburgh<\/p>\n Christina Maksymiuk<\/strong> (2008), senior project manager at Aetion<\/p>\n Ashley Reeder<\/strong> (2014), senior scientist at GSK<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″ background_color=”#e0e0e0″ custom_margin=”-1px|||||” custom_padding=”30px|0px|30px|0px|false|false” box_shadow_style=”preset6″][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”3.25″ 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button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_button button_url=”\/chemistry\/2020-issue\/” button_text=”Issue 2020: Table of Contents” button_alignment=”right” _builder_version=”4.3.4″ custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#4a8b40″ button_border_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” button_font=”||||||||” button_icon=”%%3%%” button_icon_color=”#4a8b40″ button_on_hover=”off” button_border_color_hover=”#4a8b40″ 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button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" On a Mission Sujata Emani is one of science’s biggest advocatesSujata Emani likes to let her curiosity lead the way. That curiosity has molded her career in a trifecta of scientific pursuits in academia, industry and government. Emani got her first taste for \u201cdoing science\u201d after her sophomore year when she reached out to Terry […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":733,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-739","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/chemistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/739","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/chemistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/chemistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/chemistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/chemistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=739"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/chemistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/739\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1097,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/chemistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/739\/revisions\/1097"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/chemistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/733"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/chemistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=739"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
Listen to a recent interview with Sujata Emani on the podcast Stems and Leaves<\/h3>\n
Check out Sujata Emani\u2019s own podcast Beltway Science, featuring scientists discussing public policy<\/h3>\n
Alumni Speakers<\/h1>\n