Told He Had a Disorder at School. By 13 He Held a Molecular Biology Degree. Now at 15, He Engineers Enzymes That Eat Plastic

Key Points:

• Ian Emmanuel González Santos entered university at age nine despite an early diagnosis of attention deficit disorder and graduated at 13 as the youngest in the University of Guadalajara's history; he is now 15 and pursuing doctoral research in molecular biology focused on enzymes that break down PET plastic.
• His undergraduate degree combined chemistry, biology, and health sciences, completed in four years alongside an international master's degree, and he began his doctorate in January 2024, concentrating on water safety and environmental genetics in Mexico's largest lake.
• González Santos’s research targets PET plastic, a widely used but environmentally persistent material, by studying bacteria-produced enzymes that can depolymerize PET into reusable chemical building blocks, building on advances like the engineered FAST-PETase enzyme developed in 2022.
• Despite promising enzymatic recycling methods, the main challenge remains effective sorting and pretreatment of plastic waste, as mixed recycling streams hinder enzyme efficiency; industrial-scale applications face complex logistical and financial hurdles, with commercial plants still years away.
• The University of Guadalajara initially had no precedent for admitting such a young student, but faculty support and González Santos’s dedication led to his academic success, inspiring media attention and high expectations for his future contributions to science and humanity.