Young Scholar of the Month - Anıl Ağıral

1. Please talk about your background? (How did you choose your major? How did you decide to come to the USA?)
My passion for chemistry began in my early childhood and stemmed naturally from my interest in reading science books and designing my own experiments at home. I was formulating my own cleaning solutions, rocket fuels, insecticides and entertaining my friends with “magical” chemistry tricks! In fourth grade, I learned the full periodic table with elemental properties.

My interest developed throughout high school and culminated in majoring in Chemistry at Bilkent University in Ankara. I received my bachelor’s degree in 2003 and immediately commenced my graduate studies in Fritz Haber Institute in Berlin. I was drawn to the complexity and versatility of physical chemistry, particularly the interaction of molecules with nanostructured surfaces. In 2005, I took a fellowship to do my Ph.D. at University of Twente in the Netherlands, where I enjoyed excellent multi-disciplinary research environment. In 2009, a Japanese Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship took me to the Tokyo Institute of Technology to do fundamental energy research. The same year, I won the Rubicon Prize awarded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research to do solar energy research in Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, California. This was a perfect opportunity for me to work with leading scientists in the energy field and of course; to enjoy the sunny California! After finishing my postdoctoral work in Berkeley last year, I joined the Clorox Company in California as a Technology Development Scientist. 

2. Please summarize your research? What is the main contribution?
Prior to joining industrial research, my research interests were in the energy field, particularly green   gas conversion. In Japan, we discovered a new method to convert natural gas into transportable liquid fuels. Traditional processes generally use high temperature and our idea was to do as cold as possible. This is a counterintuitive way of thinking. We filed multiple patents and this work was awarded by both Japanese Petroleum Institute and Japanese Society of Applied Physics for its novelty.
In Berkeley, I turned my interest into the development of an artificial solar-fuel generation technology. The aim is to find a cost effective method to produce fuels using only sunlight, water and carbon dioxide as inputs, a fundamental challenge being studied by thousands of scientists all around the world. My contribution was to integrate the catalyst to light absorbing molecules using molecular wires and characterize the integrated system. We had great progress with my colleagues in Berkeley and my work was acknowledged by the American Chemical Society, with a Certificate of Merit Award.
My research in industry is in a different field. I work on developing new technologies to prevent hospital-acquired infections. These infections are caused by “super bugs”, increasingly common in hospitals and with growing resistance to antibiotics and virulence among those afflicted.

3.  What is the driving force behind your success at such a young age?
I had a great education in Turkey and my family supported me along the way. I was also lucky to connect with great mentors all around the world. They always encourage me to try harder to become successful. I am also very motivated by using the power of science to help people live better lives.

4. What would you like to achieve in the near future?
In the near future, I would like to continue developing new technologies to prevent hospital-acquired infections. These technologies will form the basis of new product launches that can be used in the hospitals.

5. What recommendations do you have for the young Turkish Scientists?
My first recommendation is to work with good mentors at any career stage. A mentor is someone who will share experiences and help young scientists make informed decisions, to achieve their full potential. In order to establish their reputations, I also recommend young scientists to publish a mix of short and long papers in the highest quality journals and try to visit the best laboratories in their area of expertise in collaboration and networking. Mapping your research projects in terms of timelines and deliverables are also very helpful to integrate your interests and outputs as well. And finally, preserve your cultural identity in America. Not only is preserving your heritage important to who you are, but also a chance for you to educate other people about different cultures.