Few industries are as dynamic and vital to human progress as science—and few would know this better than MMI Prep alum Dr. Tyler James Fulton.
Tyler’s interest in chemistry escalated to new heights at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. The undergraduate research he conducted under the guidance of Professor Michael Krout, PhD, zeroed in on crafting new chemical reactions to access complex molecules. This resulted in a first-author publication in the acclaimed Journal of Organic Chemistry, as well as a publication in Chem Educator that focused on identifying illicitly manufactured adulterants in over-the-counter health supplements. Tyler was also awarded a Division of Organic Research Fellowship and the American Chemical Society Susquehanna Valley Chapter Award, and served as President and Vice President of Bucknell’s student chapter of the American Chemical Society. In this space, he worked with the faculty at Bucknell to lead an interactive Halloween show that sought to nurture interest in the sciences within the community.
Next, Tyler went to the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) where he earned a PhD in Organic Chemistry while studying under Pennsylvania native, Yale grad, and renowned chemist Brian M. Stoltz, PhD. The research Tyler began as an undergrad expanded at Caltech to include developing new chemical reactions to foster complex molecule synthesis and synthesizing natural products with potential medicinal applications. This resulted in two book chapters and eight publications in peer-reviewed journals. During this time, Tyler also mentored local community college and high school students and participated in outreach for Caltech’s Diversity in Chemistry initiative.
Following the completion of his PhD, Tyler scored a postdoctoral appointment with Chemistry Nobel laureate Dr. Frances Arnold. The research he performed in this capacity—on engineering enzymes to degrade silicon-containing environmental pollutants—led to a high-profile publication in one of the world’s most revered journals, Science. Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News, Chemistry World, and Chemistry & Engineering News all took note and confirmed Tyler’s importance to contemporary chemistry.
Most recently, Tyler accepted a role as a Senior Scientist in Process Chemistry at the eminent biopharmaceutical company AbbVie in Chicago, where he’ll leverage his experience in enzyme engineering and organic chemistry to create new drug manufacturing routes. Even with his stunning track record, Tyler asserts that MMI Preparatory School sparked his passion for scientific discovery. We would say we’re just as indebted.