Isabelle Kohler

Meet Isabelle Kohler

Analytical science is everywhere – but why aren’t its leaders?

I advocate that we need to broaden how we define leadership in analytical science, and how we prepare young analytical scientists for it.

Today, professional development in our field remains largely centered on academia. Early-career scientists are still mostly trained to follow the academic path, often without exposure to the full spectrum of career options. This is a missed opportunity. We’ll all agree that talents thrive when aligned with the right environment. However, without guidance or training, many never discover where they can lead best. As the saying goes, if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid.

Science leadership is not limited to universities. Leaders in industry, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, non-profits, publishing, and science communication play a critical role in translating analytical science into societal value. They bring research to the public, turn ideas into products, influence policy, and tackle global challenges – in a broad range of applications.

To develop future leaders, we must equip young analytical scientists with the tools to navigate these broader landscapes. That means integrating career exploration and professional development into scientific training. It means mentoring beyond experiments and publications. And it means giving visibility to role models outside of academia.

In 2025, The Analytical Scientists turns the Power List on its head. In the last 10 years, the Power List editions have reflected our field’s narrow focus, as most names came from academic institutions – sometimes with a spin-off attached, but still rooted in academia. It’s time to turn this idea that success equals publications, grants, and professorships on its head, too.

We must show more.

By celebrating leaders from diverse sectors, we expand the definition of impact in analytical science. We inspire young talents to think beyond the academic box and to align their skills with real-world needs. Last but not least, we strengthen the role of analytical chemistry and science in society at large, especially at a time when scientific misinformation is on the rise.

Analytical science is everywhere. Its future leaders should be, too.

My call to action: we must support the next generations of analytical scientists not only in becoming brilliant researchers, but also bold communicators, innovators, strategists, CEOs, and change-makers who can amplify our impact across society. Let’s integrate comprehensive career development into doctoral programs, highlight diverse role models beyond academia, and redefine success beyond publications and professorships.