Three entrepreneurs linked to the Center for Innovation in Entrepreneurship and Artificial Intelligence (C3N-IA) at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) Science Park—Fateme Baneshi, Isabel Espejo Díaz, and Marta Lacuna Mohedano—have been selected for the second edition of the list of 90 female STEAM role models published by the Association of Science and Technology Parks of Spain (APTE).
This recognition highlights the contributions of female researchers and tech company founders who are transforming the socioeconomic landscape through R&D+i, while also aiming to inspire scientific and technical vocations among secondary school girls.
The list is part of the ninth edition of the "Science and Technology in Female" (Ciencia y Tecnología en femenino) program, an initiative promoted by APTE alongside 17 of its member parks. The program combines visibility exhibitions, technological challenge workshops, and outreach sessions aimed at educational centers. In this edition, the UC3M Science Park ecosystem—located in Leganés Tecnológico—reinforces its position as a hub attracting female talent in complex fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and engineering.
From the management of the UC3M Entrepreneurship and Innovation Support Service, Ana Acebrón emphasizes the need for role models that young women can look up to: "Giving visibility to the work of our female scientists is one of the most effective tools for breaking down gender gaps in engineering degrees and fostering inclusive leadership right from the classroom."
Three Young STEAM Role Models
Among the professionals recognized in this new list are Fateme Baneshi, Isabel Espejo Díaz, and Marta Lacuna Mohedano, whose career paths exemplify entrepreneurial drive within STEAM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics). Their projects range from advanced software solutions to the development of business models based on high-value-added scientific knowledge.
Fateme Baneshi (Iran, 1995) holds a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from UC3M, with a doctoral thesis focused on using multi-agent reinforcement learning to optimize aircraft trajectories and mitigate their climate impact. She also holds undergraduate and master's degrees in control engineering, as well as research experience at EPFL and UC3M. She is currently CTO of AI Methods, where she leads innovative projects such as VARIANT, HARMONY-MRV, ISSR-Aware, Contrail Aware, and KAIROS, applying artificial intelligence to aeronautical meteorology and climate intelligence. Her distinguished career includes seven scientific publications, eight international conference papers, and prestigious awards such as the 2023 Luis Azcárraga Aeronautical Innovation Award.
Isabel Espejo Díaz (Seville, 1994) holds a PhD in Biomedicine from Universitat Pompeu Fabra and is a biotechnologist specializing in genetics and bioinformatics. She currently heads the Scientific Product Department at Altum Sequencing and is an associate professor at Universidad CEU San Pablo. She has developed her career across the CRG, Institut Curie, and CNIO, working on cancer genomics, epigenetics, next-generation sequencing, and molecular diagnostics. She has participated in over 12 scientific publications and presentations, is the inventor of a pending patent, and has contributed to the development of diagnostic solutions. At Altum, she leads the scientific strategy for liquid biopsy technologies and minimal residual disease monitoring in oncology.
Marta Lacuna Mohedano (Madrid, 2002) is a Research Success Specialist at 60Nd, a UC3M spin-off, where she participates in the development, validation, and commercialization of NeoMag, a platform designed to accelerate the integration of mechanobiology into preclinical phases. She holds a degree in Biotechnology from Imperial College London and a master's degree in Synthetic and Systems Biology. During her academic career, she worked at the Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Center (CBMSO), contributing to projects that resulted in three scientific publications. Her work combines research, innovation, and technology transfer to bring new tools closer to the scientific community.