The Director of IMDEA Materials Institute and Professor at the Carlos III University of Madrid (UC3M), Prof. José Manuel Torralba, has been elected as a new full member of the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAI).
This appointment recognises his career and contributions in the field of metallurgy and powder technology.
Prof. Torralba, who also leads the Sustainable Powder Technology research group at IMDEA Materials, is a metallurgical engineer from the Technical University of Madrid (UPM) and holds two Ph.Ds.: one in Metallurgy from UPM and another in Armament from the Technical School of the Army.
He has held various academic and administrative positions, including Vice Rector for Research and Innovation at UC3M and Director General of Universities and Research for the Community of Madrid.
“Being elected a full member by the Royal Academy of Engineering is both a personal and professional honor,” said Prof. Torralba. “It is always gratifying to know that the work of an entire career is recognised by such a prestigious institution.”
“It is also a recognition of the effort and dedication of all my colleagues at IMDEA Materials, UC3M, and all the institutions I have had the opportunity to collaborate with. Without them, many of the advances we have achieved would not have been possible.”
“I hope to represent in the Academy the perspectives linked to my two profiles as an engineer (Mining-Metallurgical and Armament) as well as my professional profile related to Materials Science and Engineering,” he added.
His research has focused on Powder Metallurgy, with particular interest in the development and characterisation of metallic powders and advanced consolidation methods such as electric field-assisted sintering, metal injection, and additive manufacturing.
He has recently become involved in projects where sustainability plays a crucial role. He has worked with a wide range of materials, including low-alloy steels, stainless steels, superalloys, lightweight alloys, metal matrix composites, and high-entropy alloys.
“Powder Metallurgy is a key discipline for the development of more sustainable and efficient technologies. I hope this recognition will further highlight its importance in the development of new materials and in addressing the technological challenges of the future,” he said.
With over 500 scientific publications and the supervision of 30 doctoral theses, Prof. Torralba has made a significant impact on materials research. He is also the co-chief editor of the journal Powder Metallurgy, the leading publication in his field.
Among his many accolades are the 2021 FEMS Gold Medal, recognition as a Fellow of the European Powder Metallurgy Association in 2018, and the American Powder Metallurgy Institute in 2015. Additionally, he received honorary doctorates from the University of Craiova in 2007 and the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca in 2001.
