Dr. Sergio Barranco, ICIQ Alumnus and former PhD student in Prof. Pérez-Temprano’s research group, has been selected as one of the five winners of the 2026 IUPAC-Solvay International Award for Young Chemists.
The award, jointly presented by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) and Solvay recognises outstanding PhD research in the chemical sciences. Each year, recent PhD graduates are invited to describe their doctoral research in a 1,000-word essay, with the winners selected by an international committee.
Barranco was recognized for his doctoral research entitled “Harnessing the Mechanistic Potential of Reaction Intermediates in Cp*CoIII-Catalyzed C–H Functionalization Reactions”, in which he investigated the mechanistic aspects of cobalt-catalysed C–H functionalisation reactions.
The scientist obtained his BSc in Chemistry from the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM) before joining the Pérez-Temprano research group at ICIQ, where he completed his MSc and PhD. He defended his PhD in 2025. During his doctoral studies, he also spent four months at the University of California, Berkeley, working under the supervision of Prof. John F. Hartwig and further developing his expertise in mechanistic organometallic chemistry and catalysis.
Reflecting on the recognition, Barranco emphasises the collaborative nature of his doctoral research:
“I am deeply honoured to receive this award. Having my PhD research recognised internationally is incredibly rewarding and reflects several years of curiosity, challenges and continuous learning. I would like to particularly highlight all the support from my supervisor, colleagues, technicians and scientific staff, as well as to our collaborators who contributed their expertise, ideas and perspectives throughout the thesis. I feel very fortunate to have shared this journey with so many talented people, and I see this recognition as a celebration of their contribution too.”
The award adds to a successful year for Barranco, who was also awarded the SusChem “Premio Investiga” 2026, recognising his scientific work and research trajectory.
As a 2026 IUPAC–Solvay Award winner, Barranco will receive a USD 1,000 cash prize and travel support to attend the 2027 IUPAC Congress in Montreal, Canada, taking place from 9 to 16 July 2027. He will also be invited to present a poster at the Congress and submit a short critical review of his research for publication in Pure and Applied Chemistry. The awards will be formally presented during the Congress opening ceremony.
This international recognition celebrates Barranco’s doctoral research and the collaborative scientific environment in which it was developed.
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