Biography

He studied Mathematical Engineering at the University of Chile, where he graduated in 1990. He then moved to France, where he received his Ph.D. in 1994 from the Institut de Mathématiques de Luminy of the Université Aix-Marseille in Marseille. His thesis was on the ergodic theory of cellular automata and local entropy theory in topological dynamics. In 1994 he joined the Department of Mathematical Engineering at the University of Chile and in 2000 he joined the newly created UMI-CNRS Center of Mathematical Modeling (CMM) at the University of Chile. Since then, he has carried out fundamental and applied research in both ergodic theory and systems biology. In 2002, he founded the Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Mathematics of the Genome at CMM to provide computational and mathematical tools to solve real biotechnological challenges from a mathematical perspective. This laboratory has participated in the main genome programs in Chile and has international collaborations with several groups in France and the USA. From 2004 to 2006 he was a junior member of the Chilean Academy of Sciences, in 2009 he became a member of the Chilean Academy of Engineering and in 2018 he was elected Corresponding Member of the Chilean Academy of Sciences. In 2009 he received the Latin American and Caribbean Mathematical Union Prize in recognition of "remarkable work and as an incentive for further contributions to mathematics". During his career he has held several scientific positions in Chile: President of the National Council of Sciences from 2006 to 2008, responsible for the Chilean-French cooperation program ECOS-CONICYT, Chairman of the Department of Mathematical Engineering at the University of Chile and Director of the Center for Mathematical Modeling. His work in promoting scientific cooperation with France was recognized by the award of the Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite and the title of CNRS Embassador Fellow.

Research Interests: Dynamical Systems and Ergodic Theory; Systems Biology.

Prizes and Honors:
- CNRS Fellow-Ambassador 2023.
- Latin American and Caribbean Mathematical Union Prize 2009: “In recognition for
remarkable work and as a stimulous for further contributions to Mathematics”.
- Member of the Chilean Academy of Engineering since 2009.
- Corresponding Member of the Chilean Academy of Sciences since 2017.
- Chevalier de l’Ordre National du M´erite, France, May 2007.
- President of the National Council of Sciences FONDECYT-CONICYT 2006-2008.

Direction of Ph.d. Theses: 20 (18 finished and 2 ongoing)

Direction of Engineering and Master Theses: 33 (31 finished and 2 ongoing)

Patents: 5 (expanded to 29 considering countries)

Startups: Founder Partner of Diagnofast: a startup for the development of bio-identification kits to specifically recognize microorganisms, 2018 (www.diagnofast.cl).

Organization of International Events in Chile: 38

Invitations to International Events (not in Chile): 80

Main Invited Positions (over 2 weeks each): Northwestern U., Maryland U., MSRI-Berkeley, IML-Marseille, U. Paris-Est, U. Picardie, U. Rennes, U. Nantes, USTC-China, Max Planck Institute Bonn, U. Charles Prague, CIMAT-Mexico.