Our colleague Dr. Nerea Sebastián has been awarded the Samsung Prize for Mid Career Award by the International Liquid Crystal Society in recognition of her contributions to the physics of liquid crystals. The award recognises the contribution of mid-career researchers to advancements in science and technology in the field of liquid crystals, with particular emphasis on a cumulative body of research that has significantly impacted the field. Dr. Sebastián received the prize at the 30th International Liquid Crystal Conference held in Quebec City.
Her research focuses on novel polar liquid crystals, including phase and property characterization, fabrication of custom polarization structures, electro-optics, nonlinear optical properties, and mechano-electric effects. This work contributes to a deeper understanding of structure–property relationships and enables new approaches to controlling functional liquid crystalline systems. The recognition highlights her sustained scientific excellence and the impact of her research trajectory on both fundamental and applied liquid crystal science.