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.
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Check on Leo's list of scripts and softwares developed for computational chemistry free to use in GitHub.
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.
M.Sc. Thesis: New Theoretical Insights of p-Block Compounds in Ring Expansion Reactions and Catalysis. Co-supervisor of Thesis: Dr. Albert Poater i Teixidor (Universitat de Girona)
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.
Kylian Alfonso Martin Varela
Kylian Martín was born in Mexico City in 2000. From a young age, his curiosity about the natural world motivated him to explore scientific ideas and ask increasingly deeper questions about how reality works. This curiosity eventually led him to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at the University of Guanajuato.
During his early undergraduate years, he was introduced to theoretical and computational chemistry, an encounter that sparked his interest in quantum-mechanical modeling and Density Functional Theory. His first research experience at PIAM, where he explored concepts such as inorganic aromaticity, played a key role in shaping his scientific direction.
Today, Kylian continues to develop within the field of computational chemistry, driven by a genuine enthusiasm for discovery and a desire to understand the complexity of chemical phenomena.