Dr. Mahfuza Ali

Meet Dr. Ali. Dr. Ali is a Corporate Scientist in 3M’s Film & Materials Science Division, having achieved the highest ranking among scientific roles at the company. She is a world-renowned technology leader and has been invited to speak across the globe.

She invented and developed a novel Quaternary Ammonium Materials Technology Platform that has generated several highly successful commercialized products for 3M, including antistatic polarizer films used for laptops and TVs, ink-receptive films used for printing durable, brighter images, antimicrobial coatings, and paint blocking masking tapes.

Dr. Ali joined 3M after graduating with a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Kentucky and a fellowship at the University of Colorado in Boulder. She has co-authored over 60 patents that cover a large variety of commercialized products in multiple markets and across business units. Dr. Ali has received many prestigious national awards and honors, including being inducted into the 3M Carlton Society in 2020. The Carlton Society is reserved for the top scientists at 3M, based on scientific prowess, real life applications, and a commitment to mentoring. She was also recently selected as North America’s top Industrial Chemist for 2020 by the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific community.

In addition to her day-to-day work in the lab, Dr. Ali enjoys teaching science classes to high school students in 3M’s Science Training Encouragement Program and offering enrichment science classes at a local elementary school in Minnesota. She has served on the board of directors of the Schubert Club organization and as a volunteer council member of the Salon Se Leve Musical Organization. Dr. Ali has been invited to judge the national Distinguished Young Women of America program and continues to mentor many young scientists worldwide.