Dr. José A. Berrocal, Group Leader at the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ), has been named a 2025 Early Investigator Symposium Awardee by the American Chemical Society’s Division of Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering (PMSE). This award recognises emerging leaders in polymer science and engineering who have made significant early-career contributions with high-impact research and innovation.
As one of 24 academics to receive this distinction in 2025, Dr. Berrocal is the first ICIQ Group Leader ever to achieve this recognition. He joins an elite group of early-career researchers recognised for their innovative work, most of whom are well-established names in the field of polymer science in the United States and around the world.
Awardees are selected by PMSE organisers and an ad hoc selection committee, who evaluate nominees based on their professional accomplishments, the importance of these achievements to their field, and their overall impact on polymer science and engineering. The award aims to highlight individuals whose research is not only technically innovative but also transformative for the discipline.
As part of this recognition, Dr. Berrocal will present his research at the PMSE Early Investigator Symposium, held during the American Chemical Society’s Fall Meeting in Washington, DC, in August 2025. The symposium provides a platform for honourees to share their breakthroughs, engage with the broader PMSE community, and participate in a networking reception with keynote speakers and invited guests.
Established in 2017 and rebranded in 2022 to reflect a broader scope of early-career pathways, the PMSE Early Investigator Symposium highlights researchers who excel in innovation, independent productivity, teaching, and service, all of which position them as leaders in their field.
Dr. Berrocal’s research focuses on the design and synthesis of stimuli-responsive polymers—materials that adapt their properties in response to external stimuli such as heat, light, or mechanical force. By combining insights from organic and polymer chemistries, his work has led to innovative advancements in materials for energy storage and biocompatible applications.
“This recognition by PMSE is a great honour and an encouragement to push the boundaries of what polymeric materials can achieve,” said Dr. Berrocal. “Our goal is to develop fundamentally new and “fun” chemistry, but keeping our eyes open so that it can be applied in the design of smart systems that bring tangible benefits to society in terms of sustainability and health care.”
About Dr. José A. Berrocal
Dr. José A. Berrocal earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Rome “La Sapienza” in 2014, specialising in physical organic chemistry. He pursued postdoctoral research at Eindhoven University of Technology and later at the University of Groningen, gaining expertise in supramolecular chemistry and materials, and light-driven molecular systems. In 2019, he began his independent career at the Adolphe Merkle Institute (AMI) at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. His research integrates organic, supramolecular, and polymer chemistries to design and understand stimuli-responsive materials, with a focus on sustainable and environmental applications.
About PMSE Early Investigator Symposium
The PMSE Early Investigator Symposium features invited presentations from honourees who are advancing the field of polymeric materials science and engineering. Awardees are invited to present their work during the ACS Spring National Meeting, followed by a networking reception with keynote speakers and members of the PMSE community. For more information about the PMSE Early Investigator Symposium, visit: https://pmsedivision.org/early-investigator-symposium/
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