The University of New Mexico

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Contact: Greg Johnston, 505.277.1816 or gregj@unm.edu

February 3, 2006

UNM Engineering Professor Named to National Top Hispanics' List

The editors of “Hispanic Engineer & Information Technology” magazine selected Gabriel P. López, professor of chemical and nuclear engineering and chemistry at the University of New Mexico, for the prestigious 100 Most Important Hispanics in Technology and Business list for 2006.

Honorees are chosen for this annual list because of their leadership and outstanding work in technology. The list includes many of the nation's highest achieving Hispanic executives, managers and researchers in industry, government and academia. These are women and men who have demonstrated leadership broadly in the workplace and in their communities.

“The School of Engineering is delighted and proud that Professor L ó pez has been chosen for this esteemed and well-deserved honor. We're certainly fortunate to have him on our faculty and contributing to relevant, critical research,” said Joseph Cecchi, dean, UNM School of Engineering.

L ó pez is the principal investigator at UNM on a major grant titled A Laboratory and Research Program to Explore and Exploit Complex Fluid Dynamics at Nanoscale Dimensions. His work involves using extremely small channels etched into silicone chips for taking a mixture of molecules and separating them into individual components. He also conducts research for nine additional grant-funded projects at UNM totaling more than $8 million.

As director of the Center for Biomedical Engineering at UNM, L ó pez is on the cutting edge of new biomedical diagnostic devices. “There is a greater need now for medical diagnostic technology and the early detection of diseases,” L ó pez said. I feel very fortunate to receive funding that allows my lab to work on a research problem of such immense importance with potential for far-reaching positive impact.”

A graduate of Peñasco High School in Northern New Mexico, L ó pez has taught and has conducted research since first arriving at UNM 13 years ago. He teaches fluid mechanics, heat transfer, mass transfer, biosensors and a bioengineering seminar.

“Our department is thrilled to have Gabriel's efforts as a researcher, inventor and mentor recognized nationally,” said Julia Fulghum, chair of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering. “He is known not only for his research accomplishments, but for the outstanding mentoring he provides to undergraduate and graduate students and junior faculty.”

A ceremony will be held Sept. 15 in Baltimore during Hispanic heritage month. The honorees will be featured in the upcoming issue of “Hispanic Engineer & Information Technology” magazine, which is distributed to engineering colleges and universities with high Hispanic enrollments.

 


The University of New Mexico is the state's largest university, serving more than 32,000 students. UNM is home to the state's only schools of law, medicine, pharmacy and architecture and operates New Mexico's only academic health center. UNM is noted for comprehensive undergraduate programs and research that benefits the state and the nation.

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