Frances H. Arnold, Ph.D. CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE of TECHNOLOGY
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
SPECIAL SECTION | AWARDS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Frances H. Arnold, Ph.D. CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY For discovering and applying directed evolution; creating a paradigm shift in bioengineering; and for an inspiring career of accomplishments in research, mentoring, and tech transfer. rances H. Arnold, Ph.D., is the Dick and Barbara used by hundreds of researchers worldwide, all testing FDickinson Professor of Chemical Engineering, new applications of evolutionary design. Bioengineering, and Biochemistry at the California Dr. Arnold’s work with directed protein evolution has Institute of Technology. She pioneered enzyme evolu- been recognized through numerous awards, including tion methods or “directed evolution,” a foundational the 2017 Raymond and Beverly Sackler Prize in Conver- technology that now permeates many applications of gence Research, the 2016 Millennium Technology Prize, biotechnology in academic and industrial laboratories and the Eni Award in Renewable and Non-Conventional to optimize enzymes, antibodies and other proteins, Energy in 2013. She received the National Medal of metabolic pathways, and whole organisms. Dr. Arnold Technology and Innovation in 2013 and was inducted has demonstrated that biological systems are unique into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2014. Dr. substrates for engineering and design; as the products Arnold has been elected to membership in all three U.S. of evolution’s optimization, they are also uniquely National Academies — Sciences, Medicine, and Engi- suited to redesign by a similar algorithm. neering — the first woman to be so recognized. Along with Willem Stemmer, Ph.D. (who died in She is the director of Caltech’s Donna and Benjamin 2013), Dr. Arnold was awarded the 2011 Charles Stark M. Rosen Bioengineering Center and of the NIH Bio- Draper Prize from the National Academy of Engineer- technology Leadership Pre-doctoral Training Program ing for her work in engineering novel enzymes and at Caltech. Active in technology transfer, with a strong biocatalytic processes for pharmaceutical and chemical interest in sustainability and alternative energy, Dr. products. She and Dr. Stemmer are credited with being Arnold co-founded Gevo Inc. in 2005 to make fuels the architects of the field of directed protein evolution. and chemicals from renewable resources, and Provivi This breakthrough technology has become the Inc. in 2013 to develop nontoxic modes of agricultural method of choice for improving industrial enzymes pest control. Dr. Arnold holds 57 U.S. patents and is and creating new ones. Dr. Arnold’s work also inspired currently an advisor to genomics start-ups Arivale and invention and development of new evolution-based ap- Twist Bioscience. She is a member of the board of direc- proaches to biomolecular engineering. Her own recent tors of Illumina Inc. research focuses on creating new enzymes to enlarge She has trained and mentored many women the catalytic repertoire of the biological world and ex- engineers and scientists who have gone on to leader- pand the molecules and materials that can be produced ship positions. using synthetic biology. Dr. Arnold earned her B.S. in mechanical and The applications of directed evolution are as broad as aerospace engineering from Princeton University and biotechnology itself — medicine, chemicals, consumer her Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University products, environmental biotechnology, and biofuels, of California, Berkeley. She loves adventure travel and to mention a few. Applications of directed evolution are spent a sabbatical year exploring Africa, Australia, and growing, due in part to Dr. Arnold’s efforts to rapidly the U.K. with her husband and three young sons. She disseminate their methods and demonstrate them on often hikes in the mountains near Los Angeles. increasingly complex problems. These methods are now SWE CONFERENCE 2017 119 AWARDS | SPECIAL SECTION SUZANNE JENNICHES UPWARD MOBILITY AWARD ENDOWED BY NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION Denise C. Johnson CATERPILLAR INC. For stellar career achievements spurred by deep curiosity and talent; for compelling leadership at work and in the community; and for serving as a true champion of engineers and ideas. enise C. Johnson is a group president of Cat- drive progress in key areas of the community culture. Derpillar Inc. in Deerfield, Illinois, responsible As a past board member for The Center for Prevention for the resources industries portfolio that supports of Abuse, she has championed the building of safe customers using machinery in mining, construction, and peaceful communities. She served on the board of and quarry and aggregates applications, including the largest hospital system in downstate Illinois, OSF many of Caterpillar’s most iconic products. Her role Healthcare, and she currently serves on the board of includes management of the enterprise global mining The Mosaic Company, which brings together agricul- business, the enterprise technology strategy, enterprise ture and mining to keep pace with the world’s growing procurement, and the enterprise component design and food supply needs. Her active engagement with Mosaic manufacturing. Johnson’s team comprises 20,000-plus aligns well to her background and current executive employees across four divisions, including Innovation leadership position with Caterpillar — promoting and Technology Development, Global Supply Network, progress and exploring possibility. Surface Mining and Technology, and Material Han- She is a member of the National Mining Associa- dling and Underground. tion board of directors and served as the 2016 chair of After building deep expertise in operations and prod- MINExpo. Johnson also serves on the boards for the uct management at General Motors, Johnson joined National Association of Manufacturers and Junior Caterpillar in 2011 as general manager of specialty Achievement USA and is a member of the MIT Leaders products, where she had global responsibility for wear for Global Operations governing board. She also is part component products and facilities. A rapid series of of the President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business promotions followed. In 2012, Johnson was named vice in Africa (PAC-DBIA.) president of the Diversified Products Division; in 2013, A native of Portland, Michigan, Johnson graduated vice president of Integrated Manufacturing Operations; from Michigan State University in 1989 with a B.S. and in 2014, vice president of the Material Handling in mechanical engineering. She earned dual master’s and Underground Division, before being promoted to degrees in mechanical engineering and business her current position in 2016. administration from the Massachusetts Institute of Throughout her career, Johnson has displayed clarity Technology (MIT) in 1997 as a Fellow of the MIT Lead- of direction and the ability to communicate strategy ers for Global Operations program. that influences entire organizations. She is thoroughly Outside of work you can find Johnson enjoying ac- engaged in the development of the future pipeline of tivities such as swimming and yoga, and she is an avid leaders, including as executive sponsor of Caterpillar’s runner, competing in local races, many of which serve Women in Leadership initiative. as fundraisers for local nonprofits. She is also a proud Johnson is actively committed to a number of grandmother of five, with one more on the way. community-based organizations that are designed to 120 SWE CONFERENCE 2017 SPECIAL SECTION | AWARDS RODNEY D. CHIPP MEMORIAL AWARD Mark W. Albers EXXONMOBIL For mentoring women engineers; for advancing new internal groups to represent women’s interests; and for developing effective programs that advance women engineers while positively transforming the corporate culture. ark W. Albers, senior vice president for ExxonMo- dent, he saw how pressure to adapt to the industry’s Mbil, sits on the management committee for the persistently male-dominated culture was forcing many world’s largest publicly traded international oil and gas qualified women engineers out, and he helped advance company. In that role, he has spent the past decade pro- new groups that could amplify women’s voices and moting leadership opportunities for women throughout advance their interests. He helped 20 women execu- all ExxonMobil employee development channels. tives form the Upstream Women’s Leadership Team Albers’ detailed, comprehensive, and sound approach (WLT) with a goal of identifying and addressing major to diversity and inclusion (D&I) initiatives involves challenges impeding the company’s ability to recruit, ongoing stewardship and individual accountability. In retain, and advance women professionals. The WLT addition, focusing on early identification and develop- formed women’s interest networks (WINs) in each of ment of potential female management candidates has ExxonMobil’s five primary Upstream companies based profoundly altered ExxonMobil’s corporate culture, in the United States, and today 70 such groups operate while producing major gains for women. within ExxonMobil businesses worldwide. Today, women make up more than 30 percent of Albers joined ExxonMobil in 1979, performing ExxonMobil’s worldwide management and professional fieldwork in Texas and New Jersey. Since then, he population. In 2016, 43 percent of the company’s U.S. has steadily advanced through a series of technical, engineering hires were women — a rate far above managerial, and leadership posts. He served briefly as the percentage of women enrolled in engineering