Where Are They Now: A Check-In with Past 35 Under 35 Awardees

Since its inception in 2017, AIChE’s 35 Under 35 Award has recognized rising stars in chemical engineering who are shaping the profession and impacting society. Today, we’re catching up with four past honorees—Abhishek Kar, Danielle Mai, Sujit Datta, and Shelby Mills — who continue to blaze new trails and now give back to help sustain the next generation of awardees through the 35 Under 35 Award Endowment.

“A colleague told me that my leadership experience and skills helped set me apart from other candidates and helped secure my job. This is showcased by being a 35 Under 35 winner in the leadership category.” — Shelby Mills

Abhishek Kar (2020 Awardee), Global Marketing & Pricing Manager, Shell – Houston, TX

When Abhishek Kar received the award in 2020, he was driving innovation at Shell to develop clean, sustainable lubricant solutions. Today, he leads global strategy for base oil sourcing, overseeing capital projects totaling over $3 billion and spearheading new market entries.

Through his journey across product management, business development, and strategic marketing, Kar says he’s proud to have “re-invented” himself—not just as a technologist, but as a commercial leader committed to creating societal value. “35 Under 35 is a powerful validation of the work we do… It reinstated the belief in me that what I do matters.”

This year, Kar was recognized with the 2025 Early Career Alumni Award from Penn State, a milestone that reminded him of the challenges—and ultimately the rewards—of pursuing a PhD abroad. His advice to future honorees? “Have a vision and pursue it relentlessly… lead your way and be fearless and humble along the journey.”

Danielle Mai (2020 Awardee), Assistant Professor, Stanford University – Stanford, CA

Since 2020, Danielle Mai’s lab at Stanford has expanded its reach, collaborating across disciplines to engineer smart biomaterials for sustainability and biotechnology. From rare-earth element recovery to programmable polypeptides, her research exemplifies the bold thinking the profession needs.

But one of her proudest moments came this year: the graduation of her first PhD student. “I’m excited to see her and other lab members move into their new roles,” Mai shared.

To future honorees, she offers this encouragement: “Sometimes, it might feel like the world is throwing wrenches into everything. Rather than let wrenches get stuck, I hope chemical engineers are empowered to grab them and build solutions for the future.”

Sujit Datta (2020 Awardee), Professor of Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, and Biophysics, Caltech – Pasadena, CA

Now a professor at Caltech, Sujit Datta leads groundbreaking research on transport phenomena in soft and living systems—studying microbial movement, flow instabilities, and applications from energy to medicine.

What brings him the most pride? Watching his former students thrive: “I celebrated more when multiple of my former group members received the NSF CAREER award than I did when I received it myself!”

Reflecting on the impact of his 35 Under 35 Award, Datta said, “It served as a catalyst for both professional growth and personal development… It connected me with an invaluable network of fellow recipients and academic/industry leaders.”

His advice is equally insightful: “Prioritize where you spend your time and energy… focus on what brings the biggest impact—and the most joy.”

Shelby Mills (2023 Awardee), Senior Scientist, AbbVie – Worcester, MA

Just two years after her award, Shelby Mills transitioned from biotech to pharma, joining AbbVie’s Manufacturing Science and Technology team. She credits the 35 Under 35 Award—especially her recognition in the leadership category—as a key factor in helping her stand out as a job candidate.

A past recipient of the WIC Mentorship Award, Mills continues to invest in those around her: “I’m humbled that others value me enough to learn from my experiences. As I support them, they equally support and teach me in return.”

For Shelby, the award is more than a personal milestone—it’s a reminder that leadership can take many forms. She encourages future honorees to embrace their role as changemakers: “You're the future of ChemE, and defining the world around you. Dream big.”

Creating a Legacy of Excellence

From academia to industry, these former honorees demonstrate the depth and breadth of chemical engineering’s future. Each now support the 35 Under 35 Award Endowment, ensuring that tomorrow’s leaders will be recognized, supported, and inspired—just as they were.

As Kar put it, “We as chemical engineers live and breathe the goal of creating value for society. That work is never done—and that’s what makes it so meaningful.”

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