Women in Science award and bronze statue for innovative bioengineering professor

Professor Molly Stevens has won the FEBS/EMBO Women in Science Award in recognition of her outstanding scientific achievements.

Professor Stevens, of Imperial College London’s Departments of Materials and Bioengineering, receives the award for her innovative bioengineering approach that addresses key problems in regenerative medicine and biosensing.

I am humbled by this award, which is a fantastic recognition of all the work that my team of brilliant researchers does. Professor Molly Stevens Department of Materials

She leads the multidisciplinary Stevens Group, whose research has advanced the understanding of biomaterial surfaces. Their results have led to the invention of new biosensing approaches and enabled the development of point-of-care tests for tumours and viruses such as coronavirus, HIV and ebolavirus.

Professor Stevens said: “I am humbled by this award, which is a fantastic recognition of all the work that my team of brilliant researchers does. I'm continually inspired by them and by the potential for our science to change lives.”

The Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS)/European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) Women in Science Award annually recognises outstanding scientific achievements of a female life scientist who has worked in Europe in the last five years. The recipients are also inspiring role models for future generations of scientists.

Professor Molly Stevens is an extraordinary scientist at the forefront of the field of biosensing and regenerative medicine. Professor Alice Gast President, Imperial College London

In 2020 Professor Stevens addressed world leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos and discussed how mobile health technologies are democratising healthcare.

President of Imperial Professor Alice Gast, who nominated Professor Stevens for the award, said: “Professor Molly Stevens is an extraordinary scientist at the forefront of the field of biosensing and regenerative medicine. She uses a visionary cross-disciplinary approach rooted on a clear understanding of the biochemical interactions that define the bio-interfaces.”

Commenting on Professor Stevens’ mentoring activities, Professor Gast said: “She is an inspiring role model for women who follow her steps to achieve successful academic and scientific careers. Without a doubt she has opened doors for women following similar paths and has inspired and mentored many students and researchers in her lab through her many public engagements including keynote lectures at EMBO Workshops.”

Professor Stevens has received more than 30 awards and honours, including the Karen Burt Memorial Award of the Women’s Engineering Society, UK, and the Rosalind Franklin Medal and Prize of the Institute of Physics, UK. She is a Fellow of eight learned societies in the UK, including the Royal Society, and has been elected a Foreign Member of the National Academy of Engineering, USA. She conducts some of her research at the Francis Crick Institute as a result of her Imperial-Crick attachment.

The FEBS/EMBO Women in Science Award of €10,000 and a bronze statue will be presented to Professor Stevens at the 45th FEBS Congress in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on 5 July 2021. She will give a plenary lecture at the meeting, which might be held virtually.

This story was adapted from a press release by EMBO.

Photo: David Vintiner

See the press release of this article