MDRI Scientist Recognized as a Trailblazer

Varinia Bernales, a lead research scientist at the Materials Discovery Research Institute (MDRI), has been recognized as a “trailblazer” by Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN) for her work on developing new materials to remediate and protect the environment.

Bernales, Ph.D., is featured in C&EN’s 2024 Trailblazers issue, which this year celebrates chemists with Latin American roots. Published online on Sept. 23, C&EN, a weekly news magazine published by the American Chemical Society, spotlighted the stories as well as the science of Bernales and 17 other researchers selected from a field of more than 100 nominees for the honor.

Bernales considers the trailblazer designation a recognition by her peers not only of her work, perseverance, and passion but also of the community that welcomed her and enabled her to thrive.

“I’ve been lucky that the community in which I’ve worked has allowed me to grow,” Bernales said.

Bernales’ research at MDRI focuses on computational chemistry, which she uses to simulate molecules and materials to understand their behavior and properties. Her work also enables her to work on safely devising new materials to support a sustainable future.