Ana Isabel De La Fuente Duran | Student Spotlight
Ana Isabel De La Fuente Duran
Ph.D. Candidate | 2023 JEDI Graduation Award recipient
Materials Science and Engineering
Chueh Lab
"Over the last several years, my drive to excel at science in the classroom has evolved into a commitment to solving some of the world’s greatest challenges through scientific research, and my determination to proudly represent Hispanic women has grown into a desire to advocate for all underrepresented groups in STEM.
In my time at Stanford, my research has focused on developing high performance electrochemical materials to realize a sustainable clean energy economy. In particular, I am interested in the development of low-cost catalysts based on organic mixed ionic-electronic conducting polymers for energy conversion applications.
In all my work, I strive to become an exemplary scientist in the hopes of challenging biases about what a good scientist should look like, sound like, or be like. With the intention of demonstrating that greatness can be achieved with color, liveliness, otherness, and joy, I have stepped into leadership roles that are critical to the decision-making and trajectory of my department, my research group, and the School of Engineering. In this effort, I have served as the co-president for the Stanford chapter of the Materials Research Society, co-chair for my research group’s Equity and Inclusion Committee, and program coordinator for the Stanford SURF (Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship) program.
Stanford has simultaneously allowed me to pursue my scientific passions while honing my skills in mentorship and advocacy. I am certain that my time here will enable me to become the scientist, educator, and mentor I aspire to be."
