Johnathan D. Culpepper received his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Iowa in 2021. He also earned a master's degree in civil and environmental engineering from the UI in 2017. Culpepper has worked with Corning Incorporated since 2022, starting as a materials development scientist. Culpepper has been named the Science Spectrum Trailblazer at the 2024 Black Engineer of the Year Technology Recognition Event. These awards are granted to individuals in the workforce on the recommendation of their employer.