Dr. Ana I. Benítez-Mateos

I am currently an Ambizione Group Leader at ETH Zürich, and in October 2025, I will begin as tenure-track Assistant Professor at TU Munich. I am originally from Spain, where I completed my PhD before moving to the UK for a postdoctoral position, which I later continued at the University of Bern. My research lies at the interface of Biology and Chemistry, with a focus on developing improved biocatalysts for the sustainable and cost-effective production of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals.  

Beyond the lab, I am passionate about science communication. During my PhD, I took part in outreach initiatives such as Pint of Science and Women in Science Day workshops for children. After relocating to Switzerland, I joined 500 Women Scientists (500WS) to help make science more accessible to the public and to advocate against inequality and bias in the scientific community. I am also the co-founder and co-organizer of NextGenBiocat, a symposium series that fosters collaboration and knowledge exchange among early-career researchers in the field of biocatalysis. Outside of science, I am a chocolate lover, and I enjoy hiking and traveling.