Three researchers receive the GEFN–ATI Sistemas 2024–2025 Awards for nuclear physics work co-supervised at ICCUB

The Specialised Group of Nuclear Physics (GEFN) of the Royal Spanish Society of Physics (RSEF), in collaboration with ATI Sistemas, has announced the recipients of the GEFN–ATI Sistemas Awards 2024–2025, which recognise academic and research excellence in Nuclear Physics among early-career researchers.

This year’s awards highlight a notable contribution from researchers of the Institute of Cosmos Sciences of the University of Barcelona (ICCUB), both through awarded works and thesis supervision.

Beatriz Romeo Zaragozano (UV) received the Best PhD Thesis Award in Theoretical Nuclear Physics for her doctoral work, which was co-supervised by ICCUB researcher Javier Menéndez. Daniel Castillo García, awarded the Best Master’s Thesis in Theoretical Nuclear Physics, did carry out his Master thesis and is currently pursuing his PhD at ICCUB under the supervision of Javier Menéndez, continuing his research training at the institute. In addition, Pablo Encarnación Villarroya received an Honourable Mention (Accésit) for Best Master’s Thesis in Theoretical Nuclear Physics for work co-supervised by ICCUB researcher Àngels Ramos.

The GEFN–ATI Sistemas Awards recognise excellence across three categories—Applications, Experimental, and Theoretical Nuclear Physics. Best PhD Thesis Awards were granted to Andrea Espinosa Rodríguez (Applications), Gustavo Adolfo Alcalá Escalona (Experimental), and Beatriz Romeo Zaragozano (Theoretical). Best Master’s Thesis Awards were awarded to Eva Zabala Sanz de Galdeano (Applications), Pablo González-Tarrío Vicente (Experimental), and Daniel Castillo García (Theoretical). Furthermore, Honourable Mentions (Accésits) were awarded to Irene Álvarez Castro, Max Pallàs Solís, and Jesús González Rosa for doctoral theses, and to Andrea Sanchis Moltó, Gabriel García de Lorenzo, and Pablo Encarnación Villarroya for Master’s theses.

The strong presence of ICCUB researchers as awardees and supervisors adds to the Best Master’s Thesis in Theoretical Nuclear Physics awarded to ICCUB researcher Dorian Frycz in the previous edition. All these recognitions reflect the institute’s continued commitment to excellence in theoretical nuclear physics and advanced research training.

Further details about the awards and the full list of recipients can be found on the GEFN website: https://gefn-rsef.github.io/premios