CEB alumna Dr Ipshita Mandal-Johnson has been named as part of the Young Global Leaders Class of 2026.
Ipshita completed her PhD in 2017 in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (CEB) under the supervision of Prof Nigel Slater.
The Forum of Young Global Leaders brings together leaders from more than 120 countries across business, government, science, culture and civil society, with this year’s cohort including entrepreneurs, researchers, policymakers and artists working across global challenges including health, technology and sustainability.
Mandal-Johnson said she decided to accept the invitation this year out of “a sense of responsibility” to help accelerate knowledge-sharing and partnerships in emerging biotechnologies.
During her time at CEB between 2011 and 2017, she carried out research developing microcapillary membranes for biomolecule purification in collaboration with MedImmune and AstraZeneca. She also co-founded an annual forum – Global Biotech Revolution (GBR) – focused on supporting emerging biotech leaders and innovation.
Reflecting on the role CEB played in her journey, she said the department “had and still inspires as a global research platform of excellence in biotechnology and biomanufacturing”.
She added: "The department has played a key role in the journey through both my PhD research on developing microcapillary membranes for biomolecules purification in partnership with MedImmune, to the Slater group and broader department supporting the founding of Global Biotech Revolution. I am grateful over the last decade through the GBR GapSummits, Global Bio Fund, and the mentorship of Sir Gregory Winter to find great reasons to be back in Cambridge from time to time."
Ipshita also highlighted the support of Prof Nigel Slater, Prof Chris Lowe and the wider department in the early development of Global Biotech Revolution, which recently marked its 10-year anniversary.