Dr. Heidy Sierra Gil and Dr. Sylvia Rodríguez Abudo, professors at the University of Puerto Rico’s Mayagüez Campus (RUM), have been awarded the prestigious CAREER award from the National Science Foundation (NSF), recognizing their outstanding contributions in research and education. This award highlights their significant impact in their respective fields, with a total funding of over $1 million. Sierra Gil, an expert in Computer Engineering, received nearly $500,000 for her research in computational photonic optics, aimed at enhancing depth imaging technologies for living tissues, which is crucial for biomedical applications. Meanwhile, Rodríguez Abudo, a specialist in Materials Science and Engineering, was awarded approximately $515,000 for her project on scalar transport in coastal sediment interfaces, aimed at advancing knowledge in coastal engineering in Puerto Rico and encouraging interest in this field among future generations. Both are alumni of RUM and expressed their excitement about the recognition, emphasizing the importance of their work for the community and education on the island. Interim Rector Wilma Santiago Gabrielini praised their achievements as an inspirational example and a testament to the potential of women in academia, underscoring that their success serves as motivation for the entire university community and affirms the role of women in scientific research and education.
