Dr María Cuartero, a researcher at Universidad Católica de Murcia (UCAM) and head of the UCAM-SENS research unit, has been named one of the Rising Stars in Measurement Science for 2024 by the international journal ACS Measurement Science of the American Chemical Society. This honour recognises young scientists from around the world whose research is making a difference in areas such as materials research, analytical chemistry and sensor technology, among other areas involving measurement processes.

Dr Cuartero has been recognised for her innovative foundational and applied research on ion detection in real samples, a crucial area in many fields of science and particularly in health monitoring. Her work, Approaching to Calibration-Free Ion Detection Based on Thin Layer Coulometry with Ultrathin Ion-Selective Membranes, has been published by the journal as an example of the most recent advances made by her research team. This paper introduces an innovative method to detect ions without prior calibration, which facilitates the development of portable sensors for health and environmental monitoring applications. The methodology developed involves integrating a sensor with a nanoconfined sample, which allows the visualisation of electrochemical information of the compound to be detected that is only accessible at the nano level. This improves analytical performance and, therefore, the results of the measurements. This concept was proven for the precise analysis of potassium concentration in samples of seawater, lakes and rivers from Murcia, Stockholm and other cities.

'Our methodology aims to simplify the use of the sensors we develop in the laboratory for anyone. So far, this work at ACS Measurement Science Au demonstrates the concept with environmental samples. But our intention is to extend it to the field of health,’ explained Dr Cuartero. Her research is key because it eliminates the need for calibrations, a tedious and costly process in many current measurement devices.

This acknowledgement follows other outstanding achievements in the last year, such as her inclusion in the prestigious Ranking of the World Scientist by Stanford University, highlighting the most influential scientists in the world; the award given by the Royal Spanish Society of Chemistry, naming her one of the four most promising researchers in Spain; and the Laurel de Murcia in Science and Research from the Press Association, the oldest award in the Region of Murcia that recognises the service to society of different people, institutions and companies.