MEMBERS OF THIS AGENCY
PhD Students
Leonardo Israel Lugo Fuentes (M.Sc.)
I was born in 1997 in San Francisco del Rincon, Guanajuato. When I was in high school, I had participated in many chemistry contests and lectures. This prompted me to study chemistry at the University of Guanajuato and move to Guanajuato city. Since I enrolled into the first courses, I met Dr. Jimenez-Halla who teaches in Differential and Integral Calculus and he brought my attention to computational chemistry. Then, I decided to work with him. Dr. Jimenez-Halla taught me the basics of computational chemistry and I loved it. Nowadays, I am in the last year of my career working on a project involving gold complexes in collaboration with Dr. Rong Shang (Hiroshima University). During my free time, I love to play guitar and keyboards as well as reading and videogames.
Co-supervisor of thesis: Dr. Rong Shang (University of Hiroshima)
Dr. Joaquín Barroso Flores (CCIQS UAEM-UNAM)
B.Sc. Thesis: Computational Study of Dimetallene Reactions, R-M=M-R (M = Al or Ga), with Iminoboranes and Reactivity with Gold(I) Complexes.
Check on Leo's list of scripts and softwares developed for computational chemistry free to use in GitHub.
Darien Isaac Martínez Valencia (M.Sc.)
I was born in 1997, in Tapachula, Chiapas, a small town in southern Mexico, near of Guatemala border. I studied Chemical Engineering, in the Technology Institute of Tapachula. I had the opportunity to assist in some research stays. In 2019, I met Dr. Oscar Jiménez Halla and University of Guanajuato through a scientist program of research stays by the Mexican Science Academy. In that time, I did a research report about a computational study of multicomponent reactions, which allowed me obtained my bachelor’s degree. I was awarded two times in national essays contests (2018, by Economic Culture Fund; and 2020, by University of Veracruz–International University Book Fair). One of my main objectives is to become a professional disseminator of Science.
Co-supervisor of Thesis: Dr. Jose E. Baez
PhD Thesis: DFT Mechanistic Studies of Ylides as Catalysts in the Synthesis of Organic Polymers
M.Sc. Thesis: Effect of the Lewis Adduct in the Mechanism of the Grignard Reaction. Isolobal Analogy with the Chemistry of Dialanes. (In spanish) Co-supervisor of Thesis: Dr. David Cruz Cruz
Cinthya Karina Prieto García (M.Sc.)
I was born in Aguascalientes city in 1999, but I grew up in Loreto, Zacatecas. During my time in High School, I used to participate in Chemistry and Physics Olympiads. It was then when I found my passion for science. I studied Chemical Engineering at the Technological Institute of Aguascalientes. Before finishing my studies, I participated in a summer research program with Dr. Jimenez-Halla where I met computational chemistry for the first time and I love it. In addition to this, I made my professional residence in the Advanced Materials Research Center (CIMAV), Monterrey, where I continued learning computational chemistry. Since 2018, I disseminate science, especially astronomy, physics, and chemistry through social networks with my project “Cúmulo científico” (@cumulocientifico). Thanks to this, I have participated in several scientific events bringing lectures and workshops for children and adults. Nowadays, I am doing a master’s degree in Chemistry at the University of Guanajuato, Mexico. Also about me, I love solving and collecting Rubik’s cube variations and my drawing technique is really good.
PhD Thesis: From Interstellar Chemistry to Early Earth: The Role of Boron in Astrochemistry and Astrobiology. Co-supervisor of Thesis: Dr. Felipe Fantuzzi (University of Kent, UK)
Dra. Heidy M. Quitián-Lara (Max-Planck-Institut, Germany)
M.Sc. Thesis: Boronyl Compounds as Potential Candidates for Astrophysical Detection: a Computational Assessment. Co-supervisor of Thesis: Dr. Felipe Fantuzzi (University of Kent, UK)
Master Students
Victor Alonso Lucas Rosales (Zeus) (B.Sc.)
I was born in Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, in 2000. Since I was a child I found curiosity in the behavior of numbers. I was fascinated by finding and playing with the patterns that are generated when operating with them. Later, I transferred this passion to the language of Chemistry. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to participate in different academic competitions in fields such as mathematics, physics and chemistry but my most important participation was in the Chemistry Olympiad, which is a program by the Mexican Academy of Sciences (AMC). I participated two years in a row in the National Chemistry Olympiad (ONQ) where I managed to consolidate excellent results. During this stage, I was trained in the art of chemistry like a child is taught a new language. After this, I started a bachelor's degree in mathematics at the Department of Mathematics (DEMAT) at the University of Guanajuato (August 2018). However, because of my love and passion for Chemistry, in January 2019, I got enrolled into the Chemistry Department, where I met Dr. Halla in the second semester, specifically in the Integral Calculus course. In this subject, I beat the highest academic marks historically in this course (Dr Halla nicknamed me 'Zeus'). Nowadays, my passion for numbers and chemistry has led me to join this Agency where I train my theoretical-computational skills by elucidating reaction mechanisms in organic chemistry.
Co-supervisor of Thesis: Dr. Albert Poater i Teixidor (Universitat de Girona)
José Antonio Sandoval Mendoza (B.Sc.)
I was born in Celaya, Guanajuato (Mexico) in 2001. In my high school last year I joined the national chemistry olympiads and won a medal. I really enjoyed this experience where I met a lot of people. I started my bachelor in chemistry in Aug 2019. There I met Dr. Halla and have been working with him in my last year (2022). I had also been involved in other projects and fields (analytical chem, nanomaterials, polymers). I'm currently working in my M.Sc. project. But I have always thought that theoretical and experimental sides have to go together. This is why I'm still involved in experimental chemistry. I see the computational chemistry as a prediction tool and as a very important support for experimental chemists. My main scientific interests are catalysis and polymers. Some hobbies I have are soccer, play team sports, videogames, gardening and listen to music.
Co-supervisor of Thesis: Dr. Diego M. Andrada (Saarland University)
Undergraduate Students
Alan Osviel Cruz Lopez
I was born in Salamanca, Guanajuato, in 2000, but I grew up in Moroleón until I was 15. From an early age, I have been curious about how things work and why, as well as deeply interested in numbers, seeking to uncover relationships and patterns. During high school, I participated in several academic competitions in Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, and Spanish, which expanded my horizons and strengthened my passion for science, ultimately leading me to choose Chemistry as my career path.
In 2019, I began my bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering at the Meritorious Autonomous University of Puebla (BUAP). However, after two years, I realized that my true passion lies in pure Chemistry, which led me to start a bachelor's degree in Chemistry at the University of Guanajuato in 2021. Before joining PIAM, I worked with aminocatalysts in an organic synthesis laboratory. Since February 2024, I have been a member of the agency, focusing on the theoretical and computational study of the reactivity of carbon dioxide with organometallic complexes of p-block metals.