Xiomara Calderón-Colón, a senior materials scientist at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), was honored with the 2020 Professional Achievement Award by the Women of Color STEM conference. (Photo Credit: Johns Hopkins APL)

The WOC STEM awards recognize leaders and role models from diverse backgrounds in science, technology, engineering, and math careers.

Calderón-Colón has won two Women of Color STEM awards, one in 2015 for outstanding technical contributions and another one in 2020 for professional achievement.

The Professional Achievement Award is presented to a mid-career professional who has established themselves as a leader and role model through engineering or technology accomplishments.

In her acceptance speech at the Women of Color STEM gala, Calderón-Colón talked about her journey, which started almost 40 years ago when she came to the mainland from Puerto Rico with one goal: to attend graduate school.

She expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to motivate, inspire, and support others, which she considers the best part of her journey.

Calderón-Colón earned her B.S. in industrial chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico – Humacao and her Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Calderón-Colón's expertise lies in biomaterials, nanomaterials, composite materials, advanced coatings, and surface chemistry.

Her contributions have spanned the areas of regenerative biomedical engineering and materials for protection and detection.

She has a reputation for innovative problem-solving approaches that have led to unique solutions to critical national defense challenges.

Calderón-Colón's inventions have earned her recognition as well.

In 2016, she won the APL Invention of the Year Award for her invention, "Surface Modified Anti-cancer Responsive Theranostic."

This invention delivers and controls diagnostic, drug-delivery, and therapeutic compounds for breast cancer intraductal treatment.

She was also awarded a second Invention of the Year honor with colleagues Julie Patrone and Olivia Tiburzi for creating a biocompatible, stable lipid nanoparticle platform that delivers drugs to prevent or halt Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease.

Aside from her academic accomplishments, Calderón-Colón has volunteered for various outreach efforts, including work with Conexiones, a local nonprofit committed to improving Hispanic students' performance and educational outcomes.

She oversees the APL Technology Leadership Scholars (ATLAS) internship program.