2026 SACNAS Outstanding Research & Professional Mentor

Dr. Cecilia Zurita Lopez has been named the 2026 SACNAS Outstanding Research & Professional Mentor. She was confirmed by a panel of SACNAS members from a competitive award process, based on nomination materials prepared by her former student Juan Leal Doblado.

Dr. Zurita Lopez’s approach to educational outreach reflects a consistent belief that access to science must be actively constructed rather than passively offered.

The nomination highlighted her NSF-funded project developing virtual-reality laboratory training modules, which give students, particularly those from under-resourced backgrounds, a low-stakes, self-paced place to practice essential chemistry techniques. It also cited her earlier role as Associate Program Director for the HHMI Inclusive Excellence grant at Cal State LA, which drove changes in teaching practices across the college with a focus on equitable student outcomes.