Outi Keinänen, assistant professor of chemistry and Talented Twelve honoree.
Photography: Jennifer Alsabrook-TurnerAssistant professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Chemistry Outi Keinänen was selected to be a part of Chemical and Engineering News’ 2024 class of the Talented Twelve.
Recognized for tackling global problems through their work in chemistry, C&EN’s Talented Twelve highlights a dozen early career researchers who are dedicating their time and expertise to create a better tomorrow.
Keinänen and her laboratory are utilizing radiochemistry to advance knowledge of micro- and nanoplastic pollution, specifically studying the bioaccumulation of micro- and nanoplastics in mammalian systems.
“Micro- and nanoplastics are persistent and ubiquitous pollutants in a variety of different environments, and they have contaminated everything from the air we breathe to our food and water supply,” Keinänen said. “However, the human health effects caused by micro- and nanoplastics remain largely unknown.”
Since becoming a faculty member at UAB in 2023, Keinäenen says UAB has been a very welcoming environment to start her independent academic career.
“The atmosphere throughout the campus is friendly and inclusive, and it has been easy to focus on my research here,” Keinänen said. “UAB has a lot of resources for junior faculty that I’m very grateful for, and I deeply value their support for students and postdocs because the well-being of my mentees is very important to me.”
Chosen from nearly 500 nominations, C&EN’s Talented Twelve showcases a broad depth of research being done by dedicated chemists across the globe.
Published by the American Chemical Society since 1923, C&EN serves as a premier source of chemistry news with journalists based internationally highlighting breaking news coverage and industry-centric features.