Dr. Karen de la Vega Hernández selected as CAS Future Leader 2025

27th March 2025 – CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society (ACS) specialising in scientific knowledge management, has named Dr. Karen de la Vega Hernández, a Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow in the research group of Prof. Suero, as one of distinguished participants in the 2025 CAS Future Leaders™ Programme. Dr. de la Vega is among 35 outstanding early-career scientists from 12 countries, whose groundbreaking research spans fields such as nanotechnology, computational chemistry, materials science, and drug discovery.

The selected scientists will gather at CAS headquarters in Columbus Ohio, for an in-person programme that includes leadership and career development workshops, scientific discussions, mentorship from industry leaders, and networking opportunities with fellow researchers from around the world. Furthermore, participants will receive an expense-paid trip to the ACS Fall 2025 Meeting in Washington, D.C., where they will present their research, engage in professional development courses, and benefit from other exclusive opportunities.

Dr. de la Vega’s current research focuses on the late-stage functionalization of drug molecules as part of the NAKED-C project, which aims to develop novel reagents for constructing chiral centres to advance drug discovery. Her work seeks to provide innovative methodologies that will pave the way for breakthroughs in drug design and synthesis. Reflecting on her selection for the program, Dr. de la Vega noted that the experience will allow her to refine her leadership skills, share her research with a global audience, and connect with like-minded scientists committed to driving scientific progress.

“The CAS Future Leaders Programme is a powerful catalyst for connection and innovation. It offers a unique environment that sparks creativity, inspires new ways of thinking, and fosters the kind of meaningful collaboration that shapes tomorrow’s breakthroughs. I’m eager to refine my leadership skills, share my research on a global stage, and engage with a vibrant community of exceptional scientists.”

Her selection for the 2025 CAS Future Leaders Programme highlights her exceptional contributions to scientific innovation and her potential for scientific leadership. This recognition underscores her commitment to advancing cutting-edge research and forging meaningful collaborations within the global scientific community.

About Dr. Karen de la Vega Hernández

Dr. Karen de la Vega Hernández is a Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow in the group of Prof Marcos G. Suero at the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ). She earned her PhD from Sorbonne University in Paris, specialising in organometallic and radical chemistry under the guidance of Dr. Alejandro Perez-Luna and Prof. Franck Ferreira. She later joined the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ) as a COFUND I2:ICIQ Impulsion Postdoctoral Fellow (H2020-MSCA GA. 801474; MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 CEX2019-000925-S), conducting research in supramolecular catalysis and physical organic chemistry with Prof. Pablo Ballester and Prof. Marcos G. Suero. Her fellowship included a research stay at the University of Cambridge, where she collaborated with Prof. Robert Phipps on cutting-edge advancements in photocatalysis and asymmetric synthesis.

Currently, as a Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at ICIQ, she focuses on late-stage functionalization of drug molecules, driving innovation in drug discovery.

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