Mathematician Jezabel Curbelo, whose academic career has garnered national and international recognition, has received the 2025 National Research Prize for Young Scientists. This award, presented by the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities, highlights her contributions in the fields of geophysics and fluid dynamics.
The jury commended her "outstanding trajectory in applied mathematics to geophysics and fluid dynamics, with pioneering contributions in turbulent transport, thermal convection, and planetary dynamics." This prize adds to a list of previous accolades, including the Vicent Caselles Prize (2015), the Spanish Society of Applied Mathematics (SeMA) Antonio Valle Prize (2020), the L’Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science (2021), and the Jacques Louis Lions Award (2026).
Curbelo began her research career at ICMAT with a summer scholarship while pursuing her Degree in Mathematics at the University of La Laguna (Tenerife). In 2014, she defended her doctoral thesis at ICMAT, supervised by Ana María Mancho. She later joined the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya in 2019 on a Ramón y Cajal contract, where she currently holds a professorship.
Her research focuses on the mathematical study of the movement, mixing, and behavior of geophysical fluids such as the ocean and atmosphere. Curbelo employs tools like Lagrangian particle tracking methods to better understand transport and mixing in these systems, with applications in the context of climate change and planetary dynamics.
Beyond her scientific work, Curbelo enjoys exploring local architecture and gastronomy during her travels. She also has a strong passion for theater, cinema, and dancing, activities that help her disconnect and clear her mind.
