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CAS Announces CAS Future Leaders of 2026

The CAS Future Leaders program, a distinguished initiative of the American Chemical Society (ACS), is designed to cultivate the leadership skills of promising young scientists. This year, CAS is thrilled to announce the selection of the Future Leaders of 2026, chosen from a competitive pool of international applicants. The selected individuals are at the forefront of research in critical areas including cheminformatics, synthetic biology, and materials science.

Program Overview

Taking place in Columbus, Ohio, the CAS Future Leaders program will empower participants with leadership training through workshops and professional development sessions. During the program scheduled for August, the scientists will learn from experienced industry leaders, engage in scientific discussions, and network with peers in an interactive format.

Peter Carlton, the director of the CAS Future Leaders program, expressed his pride in supporting young scientists seeking to enhance their leadership and communication abilities. "The strong interest in this year’s program highlights the importance scientists place on developing skills that amplify their impact in their fields," Carlton stated.

Meet the Future Leaders

The 2026 cohort of CAS Future Leaders includes talented individuals from various prestigious institutions:

• - Jeanette A. Adjei, University of California, Merced
• - Ashton Aleman, Stanford University
• - Jusung An, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• - Juliana Rodriguez Antonio, Southern Methodist University
• - Lucas Attia, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• - Alicia Battaglia, University of Toronto
• - Isabela Alves de Albuquerque Bessa, Universidade Federal Fluminense
• - Shinhyeong Choe, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
• - Marcel Roy Domalanta, North Dakota State University
• - Blaine Fiss, Dalhousie University
• - Adrián de la Fuente Ballesteros, Leuphana University
• - Anthony Griffin, University of Southern Mississippi
• - Ainoa Guinart Planellas, ETH Zürich
• - Tarisha Gupta, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar
• - Anjali Gurajapu, California Institute of Technology
• - Hannah Holmes, Stanford University
• - Scarlet Hopkins, Griffith University
• - Maggie Horst, University of California, San Francisco
• - Nishu Kanwa, Radboud University
• - Daniel Krajovic, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• - Kaitlin Landy, University of Chicago
• - Valeria Belén López Cervantes, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
• - Kenneth Lopez Perez, University of Florida
• - Guanyu Lu, Northwestern University
• - Andrés Merino-Restrepo, University of Alberta
• - Racchana Ramamurthy, McGill University
• - Alicia Robang, Weill Cornell Medicine
• - Humphrey Sam Samuel, Emory University
• - Nitesh Sanghai, University of Manitoba
• - Yohei Tanifuji, Keio University
• - Vishal Yadav, Pennsylvania State University

These exceptional participants will gain exclusive insights into the operations of CAS and how the organization transforms scientific knowledge into actionable intelligence for innovative organizations. They will have the platform to present their research during the ACS Fall 2026 conference in Chicago, Illinois, and will receive a three-year membership in the ACS.

Voices from the Future

Reflecting on the opportunity, Nitesh Sanghai from the University of Manitoba shared, "I am truly honored to join the CAS Future Leaders 2026 program with such an extraordinary group of scientists. This program is an incredible opportunity to forge valuable connections, grow as a leader, and enhance the curiosity-driven research that pushes science forward, creating a positive impact on people's lives."

In addition to the in-person participants, CAS extends its mission through virtual programs and professional support for other outstanding scientists via the CAS Future Leaders Top 100 initiative. Developing proficient and confident scientific leaders is central to CAS's mission of advancing scientific breakthroughs that enhance lives.

For more information on the CAS Future Leaders of 2026, please visit www.cas.org/about/futureleaders.

About CAS

CAS connects the world’s scientific knowledge to accelerate advancements that improve lives. We empower global innovators to effectively navigate today's complex data landscape and make confident decisions at every stage of the innovation process. As specialists in scientific knowledge management, our team creates the largest curated collection of authoritative scientific data in the world, providing essential information solutions, services, and expertise. Scientists, patent professionals, and business leaders trust CAS to unlock opportunities, manage risks, and access shared knowledge, enabling them to advance from inspiration to innovation more swiftly. CAS is a division of the American Chemical Society. Connect with us at cas.org.