Frances Arnold worked as a taxi driver, cleaner and waitress, now she has a Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Chemist and engineer Frances Arnold worked for many years to gain some recognition in the world of science, and finally in 2018 she got the reward she deserved. Arnold spent whole days studying proteins and even grew them to carry out “directed evolution” with them, a process similar to how the first dogs were created, that is, he caused mutations to select the most interesting ones and thus create new molecules.

But her path to success was not easy, as she had to work as a waitress, taxi driver and even cleaned houses in order to get resources for her studies. That was the whole process in which she worked and that finally earned her a Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Meet Frances Arnold

Frances Arnold started in the world of science since she was very young, but it was not until she spent whole days studying proteins that she realized that she had a goal to achieve with them and she did, as she created an interesting mutation work and creation of molecules. During an interview, he expressed what his research was about.

Almost everyone uses the products of directed evolution. For example, when you wash clothes, there are enzymes (proteins that promote a chemical reaction) in the detergent and they are all made by directed evolution, optimized to work in a washing machine. And there are tons of other examples. Many drugs are produced by enzymes made with directed evolution. And these enzymes are also used to diagnose and treat diseases.

He received a Nobel Prize in Chemistry

His years of research were not only to publicize this process, but because the new molecules he created can solve the chemical problems of humanity, such as the manufacture of drugs without pollution or even produce renewable energy. For this reason, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2018.

At 64 he is an example that everything can be

The now 64-year-old professor of Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering and Biochemistry at the California Institute of Technology is a clear example that you should always work to achieve your dreams, no matter how long it takes you to reach them.

She was one of the few female taxi drivers. I was driving one of those big yellow cabs on the very narrow streets of Pittsburgh. I learned to orient myself and maneuver in difficult circumstances.

He had to try his luck at various jobs

The engineer worked as a waitress, taxi driver, cleaner and even in a pizzeria while doing different chemical studies to create new molecules. The days she covered in each job were exhausting, but her desire to become a great scientist was much greater. All of this paid off and was rewarded as he worked in different countries including South Korea, Brazil, and the Colorado Solar Energy Research Institute.

Life is long, you can have many different lives. You can learn many different things, you never know when they will serve you, so learn as much as you can and combine your knowledge in a new way. Adapt, be flexible and learn permanently.

Today Arnold is an experienced scientist with a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of California. In addition, he worked with the Science and Entertainment Exchange of the Academy of Sciences to get Hollywood screenwriters to accurately treat science topics. And, as if that were not enough, she is the creator of more than 40 US patents, founded a company to manufacture fuels from renewable resources and a company to research pesticide alternatives. Finally, this super woman speaks four languages: English, German, Italian and Spanish. She is, without a doubt, a clear example to follow.