Ivana Gasulla Mestre, a professor at the Campus Gandia of the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), is one of the four winners of the 5th FRACE Awards for Young Female Scientific Talent, presented by the Royal Academy of Sciences of Spain Foundation in collaboration with Mastercard. The UPV researcher received the award in the Applications of Science to Technology category.
The prestigious honor was presented on Tuesday, February 11, during the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, at a ceremony presided over by Queen Letizia.
Now in its fifth edition, this 2,500-euro award aims to support and strengthen the careers of exceptionally talented female scientists aged 45 or younger.
“For me, this award is not just a recognition of my work, but above all, a testament to the dedication and effort of my colleagues at the Photonics Research Labs, with the support of the iTEAM Institute and the UPV spin-off iPronics Programmable Photonics. It also serves as a motivation to continue advancing my research in photonics, a field crucial for future technological innovation, particularly in areas such as next-generation mobile communications and the data center and server infrastructures that power artificial intelligence,” says Ivana Gasulla.
A Meaningful Award on a Special Day
Ivana Gasulla expressed her deep excitement at receiving this award on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. She also emphasized the importance of inspiring and encouraging young girls to pursue careers in science. “We must not underestimate the importance of integrating female talent into STEAM fields, as diverse perspectives and approaches are essential for tackling society’s challenges in a more creative and holistic way. It is crucial to encourage young women to pursue scientific education and to provide them with inspiring role models—women who are passionate about research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.”
Four Winners Selected from 394 Candidates
Alongside Ivana Gasulla, who received an award, FRACE has honored three additional winners across various categories. In the Biology, Geology, and Related Sciences category, the prize was awarded to Ainhoa Magrach González. In the Physics, Chemistry, and Related Sciences category, the recipient was María Escudero Escribano. Finally, in the Mathematics and Related Sciences category, FRACE recognized the outstanding work of Ana Primo Ramos.
A total of 394 female researchers were eligible for these awards, with 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.
About Ivana Gasulla Mestre
Ivana Gasulla Mestre is a researcher in the Photonics Research Labs (PRL) group of the iTEAM Research Institute and a professor at Campus Gandia of the UPV. Her research primarily focuses on microwave and optical signal processing, as well as innovative multicore and few-mode optical fiber architectures. She has published over 150 papers in international journals, including prestigious ones like Nature Communications and Nature Photonics. She was awarded a prestigious European Research Council Consolidator Grants. She is currently the Deputy Director of Economics at the iTEAM Research Institute and serves as Senior Editor for the IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, among other roles. She was recently named one of the 100 most influential figures in photonics globally on The Photonics100 2025 list and recognized as one of the top scientists in the world.
As an entrepreneur, she is the co-founder of the UPV spin-off iPronics Programmable Photonics, which was recognized by Nature in 2020 as one of the 32 best spin-offs to watch worldwide.
Throughout February, we are organizing numerous activities at both Campus Gandia and the UPV as part of the February 11 initiative, aimed at highlighting the contributions of women in the STEAM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics).. All with a single goal: to create female role models who can inspire the pursuit of these fields as professional careers. One of these initiatives is “The World Needs More Women Like You,” in which Ivana has participated.
Photos and video: Royal House
Source: Luis Zurano Conches / Office of Communications