Jack Gilbert, a microbial ecologist at Argonne National Laboratory near Darien, has been named as one of the “Brilliant 10” in Popular Science magazine’s annual list released Sept. 23. The Brilliant 10 are a group of 10 researchers under 40 who have made groundbreaking contributions to their fields.
“It is a great honor to be selected,” said Gilbert, of Naperville. “I love what I do, and it is so exciting to have the opportunity to meet and work with such an interesting array of people because of microbiology.”
Gilbert earned his Ph.D. from University of Nottingham, U.K. in 2002, and received his postdoctoral training in Canada at Queens University. If anyone can make bacteria sound interesting and exciting, it’s Gilbert.
“Your body has a hundred trillion bacterial cells,” said Gilbert, 38. “They interact with your immune system, your nervous system, they control your behavior; they can make you think different things at different times, change your appetite, and cause you to be responsive to a particular drug or not. What I do is try to map all that.”
Like a microbial cartographer, Gilbert said, he tries to figure out how those bacteria interact with your body, and how he can develop novel therapeutics to help improve health in humans and environmental systems.
“Bacteria is such a pervasive part of our lives,” Gilbert said. “We are either trying to kill them, or we are relying on them for our health.”
Peter Littlewood, director of Argonne National Laboratory, described Gilbert as a leader in Argonne’s life science initiatives, and said he is deserving of the Brilliant 10 recognition.
“Jack’s work continues to transform our knowledge of the microbial diversity of our planet, which in turn could revolutionize what we know about the evolving health of all living things,” Littlewood said. “His research is vital to Argonne’s ongoing efforts to understand how humans affect the world they live in, and vice-versa.”
Popular Science executive editor Jennifer Bogo said the Brilliant 10 honorees are making the world a better place.
“At Popular Science, we believe many of the world’s most challenging problems can be solved through brilliant science and engineering,” Bogo said. “Our 10 honorees are at the bleeding edge of their fields—and are already well on their way to making the world a better, safer, smarter place.”
When he is not working, the busy father of two enjoys hanging out with his family, camping, fishing and playing in a band.
“My kids have been part of my research for a number of years,” he said. “My eldest will say things like, ‘Oh daddy, not the bacteria again.'”