Livia S. Eberlin facts for kids
Livia Schiavinato Eberlin is a brilliant Brazilian analytical chemist. She won a special award called the MacArthur "Genius" Fellowship. She earned this award for her amazing research. She uses a tool called mass spectrometry to find cancerous tissue very quickly.
About Livia Eberlin
Livia Eberlin was born in Campinas, Brazil. Her father, Marcos Nogueira Eberlin, is also a well-known chemist. Livia earned her first degree in 2007 from the University of Campinas in Brazil. While studying, she did summer research at Purdue University in the United States. She later went on to earn her doctorate degree from Purdue in 2012. After more research at Stanford University, she became a professor at the University of Texas at Austin in 2015. In 2021, she joined Baylor College of Medicine as an Associate Professor.
Her Amazing Research
Livia Eberlin invented a special tool called the "MasSpec Pen," also known as "The Cancer Pen." This pen helps doctors find cancer during surgery. It works by touching the tissue with a tiny drop of water. This water collects tiny molecules from the tissue. Then, the pen sends these molecules to a mass spectrometer. This machine quickly tells doctors if the tissue is healthy or cancerous. This helps surgeons know exactly which parts to remove.
Livia also developed a way to find thyroid cancer. She uses a method called DESI-MS imaging. This method is much more accurate than older tests. It helps doctors get clearer results. Besides her work on cancer, Livia also helped create a way to quickly find counterfeit money. She cares a lot about having more women and diverse people in science. She often talks about how important it is for women to be leaders in academic fields.
Awards and Special Recognition
Livia Eberlin has received many important awards for her work.
- In 2015, she was named one of Forbes' "30 Under 30." This list highlights young, successful people.
- She won the Marion Milligan Mason Award in 2016. This award is given to promising young female chemists.
- In 2018, she received the MacArthur "Genius" Fellowship. This award gives talented people money to continue their important work. The foundation said she was chosen for her research that helps "differentiate more quickly and accurately diseased from healthy tissues during surgery." She was the first professor from UT Austin to win this award in this century.
- She also won the Moore Inventor Fellowship in 2018.
- In 2020, she received the Curt Brunnée Award.
- She has been named on the Power List by the Analytical Scientist multiple times.
- In 2024, she received the Norman Hackerman Award from the Welch Foundation.
