Luz Martinez-Miranda

Luz Josefina Martinez-Miranda (8 September 1956 – 27 April 2026 ) was an American-Puerto Rican physicist. She was an associate professor in the College of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Maryland. Martinez-Miranda was an APS Fellow and was the first female president of the National Society of Hispanic Physicists. She attended high school in Puerto Rico at University High School, and went on to receive her bachelor's and master's degrees in physics from the University of Puerto Rico. While studying at the university's Río Piedras campus, she concurrently attended the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, and earned a degree in musical performance with a specialization in piano performance.

She graduated with her PhD in 1985 from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). While at MIT, she was one of only 8 women of the 68 people in the physics program.

She was the third president and the first female president of the National Society of Hispanic Physicists.

Research Martinez-Miranda's research focused on the interaction of liquid crystal with nanoscale materials. after she was nominated by the Forum on Education in 2007, for sustained achievements in recruiting, mentoring, and advancing women and minorities in physics; for engaging K-16 students in the excitement of research; and for being a role model through her research to understand liquid crystal systems and further their application. Fellow, American Physical Society (APS), 2007 Visiting Faculty Appointment to the Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal, 2006 Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), 2004 Boricua College Professional Achievement Award in Science, 2004 NSF Career Advancement Award, 1997 W.M. Keck Foundation, Engineering Excellence Teaching Award, 1995 Fellow, American Ceramic Society, 1994 NSF Visiting Professorship for Women, 1994–1996.