Iraburu Elizalde, María

Born in Pamplona in 1964. Graduated in Biological Sciences at the University of Navarra. She defended her doctoral thesis in the department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 1992 and between 1993 and 1996 she completed a post-doctoral stay at the Liver Research Center at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. In the academic year 2018-19 she took the “Programa de Alta Dirección de Empresas (PADE)” [Business Executive Management Programme] at the IESE Business School of the University of Navarra.

She joined the University of Navarra in 1996. Since then she has divided her time between her research career and teaching and university government. She has been the Principal Investigator of seven research projects subsidised by the Government of Navarre, the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs and of the University of Navarra Research Programme, and has directed eight doctoral theses. Her work has focussed on the study of molecular mechanisms involved in liver pathophysiology. As Full Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, she has taught in the Faculties of Medicine and Science, of which she has also been Vice-Dean. She currently teaches the subjects of Structural and Functional Biochemistry and Macromolecule Biosynthesis and regulation in the Biochemistry Degree in the Faculty of Science.

She has been part of the rectorate since 2005: as Vice-Rector of Student Affairs between 2005 and 2012 and Vice-Rector of Teaching Staff between 2012 and 2021. She became Rector of the University in January 2022.

Alongside her work in the implementation of the teaching staff strategy, over the last few years she has promoted the University of Navarra's sustainability project, as well as developed the Instituto Core Curriculum and defined equality and work-family balance policies. She has promoted the Women for Science and Technology initiative, aimed at raising awareness of women in science and boosting scientific careers of female graduates and postgraduates in STEM areas. She is part of the regular faculty of teachers and speakers of the Centre for University Governance and Reputation of the University of Navarra.

She became part of the Board of Trustees of the Catholic University of America in 2020. She serves on the commissions for teaching staff and academic affairs and student affairs of this university.

María Iraburu is a member of Jakiunde since she was named Chancellor of the University of Navarra in January 2022.