Dr Emilio Martinez-Pañeda receives the 2024 SRUK/CERU Emerging Talent award

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  • Fundación Banco Santander has sponsored nine editions of the SRUK/CERU Emerging Talent award. Today, the winner of the eighth edition has received his award: Prof. Emilio Martínez-Pañeda, from the University of Oxford.
  • Prof. Martínez-Pañeda was awarded the 2024 SRUK/CERU Emerging Talent award for his groundbreaking contributions to the field of mechanics of materials, with applications in hydrogen transport, corrosion control, and renewable energies.
  • The Society of Spanish Researchers in the UK (SRUK/CERU) and Fundación Banco Santander keep their joint mission of supporting young Spanish researchers with an outstanding scientific career in the United Kingdom, which in turn promotes new collaborations between academic institutions and enterprises both from Spain and the UK.

London, 5th September 2024. The Society of Spanish Researchers in the United Kingdom (SRUK/CERU) and the Banco Santander Foundation have awarded the SRUK/CERU Emerging Talent Award 2024 to Prof. Emilio Martínez-Pañeda (University of Oxford) for his groundbreaking contributions to the field of mechanics of materials. Prof. Martínez-Pañeda’s research has led to significant advancements in predicting hydrogen embrittlement, modeling corrosion, and developing all-solid-state batteries, with his work already being applied in industries ranging from offshore wind energy to nuclear power.

The Scientific Committee, composed of internationally recognised researchers and chaired by Prof. M. Carmen Galán, from University of Bristol, evaluated 12 highly competitive nominations. In the words of Prof. Galán, “Emilio is an outstanding researcher in the fields of Materials Science and Computational Modelling, his scientific contributions and service to the community set him apart from his peers and make him a worthy winner of this prestigious recognition”.

Prof. Emilio Martínez-Pañeda (University of Oxford), winner of the 2024 SRUK/CERU Emerging Talent Award
Prof. Emilio Martínez-Pañeda (University of Oxford), winner of the 2024 SRUK/CERU Emerging Talent Award

Prof. Martínez-Pañeda’s research interest is focused on understanding and predicting how materials behave under extreme conditions. His team (https://mechmat.web.ox.ac.uk/) employs advanced computer simulations to make structures safer and more durable, particularly in harsh environments. Discoveries in Prof. Martínez-Pañeda’s lab are helping to develop better ways to store and transport hydrogen safely, extend the life of wind turbines, and create more efficient batteries. These innovations could have far-reaching impacts on renewable energy, transportation, and many other industries. His extraordinary contributions to the field have been recognized with prestigious accolades, including the UK’s Royal Academy of Engineering Young Engineer of the Year award and Imperial’s President Medal for Excellence in Research. Prof. Martínez-Pañeda has also secured over £5 million in research funding, including an ERC Starting Grant from the European Commission and a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship. Regarding this latest award, Prof. Martínez-Pañeda highlighted that “I feel very honoured and humbled to receive this award,  the list of previous awardees is very impressive and Spain is very well represented in the UK scientific community. I am also very grateful to SRUK/CERU for their excellent initiatives, I look forward to being more involved with SRUK/CERU and other Spanish researchers working in the UK”.

According to Mr Borja Baselga, director of the Banco Santander Foundation “We are pleased to collaborate once again on this project that helps strengthen scientific collaborations between the United Kingdom and the European Union, promoting the development of policies that support R&D&I and giving visibility to the research of Spanish scientists in the United Kingdom, both in the scientific community and in the general population”. This ninth edition of the SRUK/CERU Emerging Talent Award reinforces SRUK/CERU and the Banco Santander Foundation’s commitment to keep forging connections between Spain and the UK while funding and supporting the innovative projects that outstanding Spanish researchers are carrying out in the UK.

Dr. Javier Pardo-Díaz, president of SRUK/CERU, highlighted that, president of SRUK/CERU, highlighted that “We are immensely proud to honor Prof. Emilio Martínez-Pañeda with the 2024 SRUK/CERU Emerging Talent Award. This recognition not only celebrates Prof. Martínez-Pañeda’s remarkable achievements in the mechanics of materials but also aligns perfectly with SRUK/CERU’s mission to promote excellence in research and foster collaborations between Spanish and UK institutions. His pioneering work in hydrogen transport, corrosion control, and renewable energy reflects the kind of innovative spirit that SRUK/CERU, with the support of Fundación Banco Santander, seeks to support and amplify. By highlighting and celebrating the exceptional talent within our community, we aim to strengthen the scientific ties between Spain and the UK and inspire future generations of researchers. Prof. Martínez-Pañeda’s contributions are a testament to the high caliber of Spanish research in the UK, and we look forward to the continued impact of his groundbreaking work.

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