Hoesktra Leadership Lecture 2026

Fall 2026 Hoekstra Leadership Seminar

Dr. Sergio Nanita

Research Fellow, Analytical Development

Incyte Corporation

Wilmington, DE

Presents:

“Lessons learned from my career journey - industry innovation, technical leadership, and service with purpose and impact”

Friday, Oct. 23, at 12:20 p.m.

Abbott Hall Room 138

Bio: Dr. Sergio Nanita is an analytical chemist with research emphasis in mass spectrometry and more than 20 years of industry experience. He is currently a Research Fellow at Incyte Corporation, where he provides analytical chemistry expertise for the development of new pharmaceutical products. Prior to Incyte, Sergio worked at DuPont for 15 years in scientific roles across multiple businesses, including DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences, DuPont Crop Protection, and DuPont Corporate Center for Analytical Sciences. Sergio was named one of the “Top 40 under 40” in the Power List of the Analytical Scientist magazine, in both 2014 and 2018. He was honored as a Fellow of the American Chemical Society (ACS) in 2020. Sergio has been a volunteer at ACS for many years, including service at the Committee on Ethics, and the Committee on International Activities which he led for three years as chair (2021-2023). He is currently a member of the ACS Committee on Economic and Professional Affairs (CEPA), councilor at the ACS Delaware Section, member at the ACS Committee on Corporation Associates, and chair of the ACS Industry Roundtable. He also serves as a member of the U.S. National Committee for IUPAC. Sergio was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, earned a BS in chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico and a PhD in analytical chemistry from Purdue University.

Abstract: What does a real science career look like from the inside? In this lecture, Dr. Sergio Nanita will trace his path – from a chemistry student to landing his first job, through 15 years as a researcher at DuPont, to his current roles as a Research Fellow at Incyte Corporation and volunteer leader at the American Chemical Society. The audience will hear the parts of a career that never appear on a resume: the true meaning of an undergraduate research opportunity, what it feels like when private sector mergers and acquisitions (M&A) reshape your career outlook overnight, and why the most rewarding doors are often ones you did not plan to open. Science will be in this seminar too, but told as a story of decisions, people, and turning points rather than results. The takeaway is practical. Evaluate every opportunity before you turn it down. Start building your network with the classmates sitting beside you. Find mentors and become one. Champion recognition for others and advocate for yourself. Expect change and be ready to grow with it. Whatever field you are heading into, Sergio believes these are habits that enhance a long, meaningful career – with purpose and impact.