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López honored as outstanding UW alum for ‘Creating a Healthier and More Just World’
January 29, 2025 - Carly Bowling
Gabriel López, distinguished professor and interim chair in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at The University of New Mexico, was recently honored as an outstanding alumnus of the University of Washington College of Engineering.
López is among just four recipients of the College’s 2025 Diamond Award, which honors outstanding UW alumni who have made substantial contributions to the field of engineering. A 1991 graduate of the program, López was honored in the category of Creating a Healthier and More Just World for his work developing biomedical technologies and educational programs that empower underserved communities.
He joined UNM in 1993 and became the founding director of its Center for Biomedical Engineering in 2005, leading the establishment of the state’s first biomedical engineering graduate program. López develops low-cost, accessible technologies to address health and environmental challenges, including paper-based microfluidics for rapid diagnostics in resource-limited settings. Working in collaboration with Native American communities, he is developing biosensors to detect heavy metal contamination in water near abandoned uranium mines in New Mexico and Arizona, blending technology with outreach to ensure safe water access while engaging students in science and engineering.
López has spearheaded educational initiatives that incorporate bioethics, inclusion and sustainability. His development of New Mexico’s first synthetic biology curriculum emphasizes the ethical and societal implications of engineering, aligning education with principles of justice and equity.
López has served on the faculty of Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering, as founding director of the National Science Foundation’s Research Triangle Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (RT-MRSEC), as UNM’s vice president for research, and is a member of the National Academy of Inventors. In 2024, he was awarded one of the inaugural NSF Trailblazer Engineering Impact Awards, recognized as one of six honorees for his wildfire-related research.
With more than 40 patents, nearly 250 publications, and a lasting commitment to community-driven engineering, he exemplifies the transformative power of science to create a healthier, more equitable world. His work continues to inspire and impact communities locally, nationally and globally.
