Profile

María-Carmen Risueño is a Spanish biologist renowned for her pioneering contributions to plant cell biology and biotechnology. She received her degree in Biological Sciences from the Complutense University of Madrid and completed her doctoral thesis at the Cellular Biology Institute of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), under the leadership of Gonzalo Giménez-Martín, focusing on cytokinesis in plants. After postdoctoral stays at the University of Marseille-Luminy, CNRS/INSERM in Villejuif (France), and DKFZ in Heidelberg (Germany), she returned to CSIC, joining the Center for Biological Research (now CIB Margarita Salas), where she established her research line on the plant cell nucleus.

Dr. Risueño’s groundbreaking work has significantly advanced the understanding of nuclear architecture and dynamics during plant development. She was a pioneer in adapting advanced microscopy techniques to plant research, leading critical services in electron and confocal microscopy. Her laboratory became a hub for training researchers from diverse backgrounds, and her scientific work includes over 160 publications.

She was appointed as a member of the Academy of Sciences of Lisbon in 2015. She has also been a prominent figure in scientific societies, including founding and leading the Spanish Society for Cell Biology (SEBC) and contributing to the creation of the Spanish Network for Advanced Optical Microscopy (REMOA).

Beyond her research, Dr. Risueño is committed to mentoring emerging scientists and advancing knowledge in her field. Her interests encompass the promotion of science as a tool for social transformation and the encouragement of quality education. She continues to be an influential figure in plant science, contributing to both academic and cultural spheres.