Aurelio Mateo-Alonso, Ikerbasque Research Professor at POLYMAT and at the University of the Basque Country,  has been appointed Corresponding Member of the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences, one of Spain's most prestigious scientific societies.

The appointment recognises his outstanding international career in the field of precision polymer synthesis, such as graphene nanoribbons and organic covalent networks, fields in which he has conducted cutting-edge research of interest in the field of molecular electronics. Right now, Aurelio Mateo-Alonso is an Ikerbasque Research Professor at POLYMAT and at the University of the Basque Country. He has published over 100 articles in high-profile international scientific journals, supervised approximately 50 pre-doctoral and post-doctoral researchers, and led numerous research projects funded at both national and European levels, including a prestigious ERC Consolidator Grant.

Since the Royal Academy of Sciences was founded in 1847, its mission has been to promote scientific research, disseminate knowledge and advise the Government on scientific policy. Throughout its history, its members have included distinguished figures, such as Santiago Ramón y Cajal, Severo Ochoa, Margarita Salas and José Echegaray.

The formal induction ceremony will take place in Madrid on 28 January as part of the reception ceremony for Corresponding Academicians, where Aurelio Mateo-Alonso will be presented with the academic medal.  

Professor Mateo-Alonso received his degree (1999) and his Master’s degree (2000) in Organic Chemistry from the Autonomous University of Madrid. He then went on to gain a PhD in Chemistry (2004) from Queen Mary College, University of London (UK). During 2004 and 2009, he worked at the University of Trieste (Italy) as a Postdoctoral Researcher. In 2009 he embarked on his independent research career as Group Leader at the Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (Germany). Since 2012 he has been leading the Molecular and Supramolecular Materials group at POLYMAT and at the University of the Basque Country. His research work has been recognised nationally and internationally with various awards including: the Young Researchers Award of the University of Trieste (Italy 2007); the Eugen-Graetz Award of the University of Freiburg (Germany 2009); the Young Researchers’ Award of the Royal Spanish Chemical Society-RSEQ (Spain 2011); the Young Researchers Award of the Nanocarbon Division of the American Electrochemical Society (USA 2012); and the RSEQ award for Research Excellence (2021).