Dr. María Vivero-López, a distinguished researcher at iMATUS within the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), has been awarded the prestigious “Member of the Year” prize by the Controlled Release Society (CRS), the world’s leading scientific society in drug delivery systems and nanomedicine. This accolade highlights her “outstanding active and sustained involvement” in the CRS, as well as her strong commitment to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion within the scientific community. The award ceremony took place during the Society’s Annual Meeting, currently being held in Philadelphia (USA).
Dr. Vivero-López, who defended her doctoral thesis in 2022 , has forged a prolific career within the CRS. Her influence has been evident through her active participation in various committees, thematic groups, and regional chapters. Notably, she has played crucial roles as Sponsorship Coordinator (2023-2024) and Social Media Lead (since 2024) for the Young Scientist Committee (CRS YSC). This committee, composed of early-career researchers, is dedicated to offering training workshops and creating new networking formats to meet the needs of emerging scientists.
The CRS’s recognition of her commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion stems from Dr. Vivero-López’s profound conviction that “science progresses when all voices are heard and valued, without economic or social limitations acting as a barrier.” With this principle, María has dedicated her efforts to creating inclusive spaces, facilitating access to knowledge and professional networks, especially for young researchers and underrepresented groups.
Currently, Dr. Vivero-López is concluding a postdoctoral stay at the University of Nottingham, thanks to a grant awarded by the Ramón Areces Foundation.