Montserrat Ponsà, honorary member of the Catalan Biology Society

Dr Ponsà earned her BSc in biology and pharmacy from the UB and her PhD from the UAB in 1980, with one of the first theses in Catalan presented at the university. She lectured on cell biology at the UAB and held several prominent positions, such as director of the Electron Microscopy Service and vice-rector of Research. With a research career focused on chromosomal evolution, genetic biodiversity and reproductive biology, Dr Ponsà has published numerous studies on primates, rodents and other species, in addition to conducting pioneering work on assisted reproduction.

Dr Ponsà has been an active member of the Catalan Biology Society since she was a university student: she formed part of the board and different editorial boards, and participated in the organisation of courses and conferences. Among the many awards and distinctions hse has received are the City of Barcelona Award for research. Her recognition as an honorary member was formalised in an institutional act that took place in the Prat de la Riba room at the IEC headquarters on 26 March, with speeches by Teresa Cabré, director of the IEC, and Marc Martí-Renom, president of the Catalan Biology Society.