Prof. Dr. María E. Taboada is a Professor at the Departamento de Ingeniería Química y de Procesos de Minerales, Universidad de Antofagasta. She received her Ph.D. in Engineering Sciences from the University of Chile in 2001. From 2006 to 2014, she served as Director of the UA Graduate School. She has also been director of the Master's Program in Engineering Sciences and Mineral Processes, and Research Secretary of the Faculty of Engineering. She conducts research in the area of both metallic and non-metallic mineral processes at the UA Process Research Laboratory. Additionally, She has directed and participated in a large number of research projects, e.g., Fondecyt, Fondef, Corfo, FIC-R, among others. She has also carried out consulting work for national and international mining companies in the areas of phase balances and crystallization. Her research interests include crystallization, liquid–solid equilibrium, and leaching of minerals using seawater.