Ivana Gasulla has received the award from the Royal Academy of Sciences of Spain Foundation and Mastercard.
The researcher is one of the 100 most influential figures in the field of photonics worldwide, according to The Photonics100 list for 2025.
Ivana Gasulla Mestre, a researcher from the Photonics Research Labs (PRL) group at the Institute of Telecommunications and Multimedia Applications (iTEAM) of the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), has been one of the four awardees of the 5th edition of the FRACE Awards for Young Female Scientific Talent, granted by the Royal Academy of Sciences of Spain Foundation and Mastercard. Specifically, Ivana has received the award in the Applications of Science to Technology category.
“For me, this award is not only a recognition of my work but, above all, a reflection of the dedication and effort of my colleagues at the Photonics Research Labs, supported by the iTEAM Institute, as well as the UPV spin-off iPronics Programmable Photonics. It also serves as motivation to continue my research in photonics, a field of vital importance for future technological innovation, especially in areas such as next-generation mobile communications and the data center and server infrastructures that support artificial intelligence,” highlighted Ivana Gasulla.
An Award on a Special Day
Ivana Gasulla also expressed that receiving this award on the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science is particularly moving for her. She emphasized the importance of continuing to promote scientific vocations among young girls. “We cannot underestimate the importance of including female talent in STEAM fields, as greater diversity of perspectives and approaches is essential for addressing society’s challenges in a more creative and comprehensive way. It is crucial that we continue to encourage scientific education among young women and provide them with role models of women who are passionately dedicated to research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.”
Four Awardees Among 394 Candidates
In addition to Ivana Gasulla’s award, FRACE has granted three others in different categories: in Biology, Geology, and Related Sciences, the award went to Ainhoa Magrach González; in Physics, Chemistry, and Related Sciences, the winner was María Escudero Escribano; and in Mathematics and Related Sciences, FRACE recognized the work of Ana Primo Ramos.
A total of 394 researchers competed for these awards: 191 in Biology, Geology, and Related Sciences; 102 in Applications of Science to Technology; 77 in Physics, Chemistry, and Related Sciences; and 24 in Mathematics and Related Sciences.