Houston's young professionals power has been confirmed.
Forbes magazine's third annual list of the best and brightest professionals under 30-years-old includes no less than five Houstonians. The list, which is broken down into 15 fields, includes only 30 young professionals in each of the categories overall, which range from entertainment to finance to art.
"These founders and funders, brand-builders and do-gooders embody the energy and innovations of the moment," Forbes wrote.
Four of the Houston winners have very close ties to Rice University. The five Houston young professionals on the list:
1) Allison Lami Sawyer, 29, is the co-founder of Rebellion Photonics and was named in the energy and industry category. Rebellion, a company created out of Rice University which won the Wall Street Journal's first "Startup of the Year" competition, developed "hyperspectral" video imaging technology which identifies otherwise undetectable gas leaks at chemical plants and pipelines.
2) Genevera Allen, 28, is an assistant professor of statistics at Rice University and was named in the science and healthcare category. The statistician and neuroscientist discovered a way to assemble brain scan data that provides information about how people think.
"She's applying the same techniques to genetics, the study of gut bacteria, and, perhaps, retailing," Forbes notes.
3) Jocelyn Brown, 25, is the senior program associate for Rice 360: Institute for Global Health Technologies and was also named in the science and healthcare category. Brown helped invent a life-saving ventilator for infants that costs a fraction of what the devices typically cost. According to Forbes, "a clinical trial indicated it could save 178,000 African newborns annually, and it is now being distributed to 38 African hospital."
4) Daniel Paul Hashim, 27, is the founder of Carbon Sponge Solutions and was named in the science and healthcare category. The Rice Ph.D. candidate uses nanotechnology to construct futuristic devices including one that uses carbon nanotubes to heal wounds. He founded Carbon Sponge Solutions around his carbon nanotube sponge capable of absorbing huge quantities of crude oil.
5) Josh Blackman, 29, is an assistant professor of law at South Texas College of Law and was named in the law category. The professor and writer — who is already well-known in his field — covers the Supreme Court, constitutional law and technology policy. He also operates FantasySCOTUS.net, the Internet's leading Supreme Court "fantasy league" and prediction market.
Allison Lami Sawyer, 29, is the co-founder of Rebellion Photonics.
