<p>Many people have made an outstanding contribution to the field of microbiology in the first two decades of this century and selecting ten is a difficult task. In selecting ten eminent researchers I have attempted to cut across the various sub-branches of microbiology, taking in clinical, pharmaceutical, marine microbiology and so on. Others, given this task, may have come up with a different list; irrespective of that, I hope readers will appreciate, in the brief review that follows, why the following a worthy of inclusion.</p><span style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); text-align: justify; font-size: large; line-height: 1.3em; font-family: georgia, palatino;">Scott Sutton - Pharmaceutical Microbiology &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;</span><span style="text-align: justify; line-height: 1.3em; font-family: georgia, palatino; font-size: x-large; color: rgb(51, 153, 102);"><span style="font-family: " arial="">10</span></span><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.3em; font-family: helvetica;">Dr. Scott Sutton, who passed away in October 2015, was one of the founding fathers of pharmaceutical microbiology. Dr. Sutton was the founder of the Microbiology Network and Pharmaceutical Microbiological Forum, both of which promote microbiological understanding and education, particularly in the realm of contamination control. Dr. Sutton conducted some early research into antimicrobials and considered ways to neutralize the effects of antibiotics. Latterly he was involved in the definition of&amp;nbsp; what exactly are &amp;lsquo;objectionable microorganisms&amp;rsquo; in relation to non-sterile products and what to those charged with the release of such products need to be aware of.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; font-size: large; line-height: 1.3em;">Elizabeth Grice - Human Microbiome of the skin &amp;nbsp;<span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 102); font-family: " arial="">09</span><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.3em; font-family: helvetica;">The advancements in our understanding of the human microbiome represents one of the most exciting developments in microbiology and this understanding has advanced knowledge relating to disease and promises to deliver a new field of personalized medicines. Dr. Grice has become the leading exponent of the skin microbiome. In relatively recent research, Dr. Grice&amp;rsquo;s research group found that the skin microbiome is governed by an ancient branch of the immune 