Andrés was born in Bogotá, Colombia, into a middle-low-income household. Bogotá, Colombia's largest and most ethnically diverse city. His passion for mathematics began at an early age, inspired by his mother, an engineer who taught algebra, and supported by his father and brother. He earned his undergraduate degree from Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas and later completed a Master of Science in Mathematics at Universidad de los Andes, where he also taught for three and a half years.  

In 2018, he was recruited by Professor Peter Bates to pursue a Ph.D. in Mathematics at Michigan State University. Under the guidance of Professor Yingda Cheng, he focused on developing deterministic numerical methods for kinetic equations.  During his time at Michigan State University, Andrés played a pivotal role in fostering a sense of community among international students. He spearheaded Comunidad Latinoamericana, a student organization dedicated to supporting and connecting students from Latin America and the Caribbean. His leadership helped establish a lasting initiative that continues to thrive.  

Currently, Andrés is a Peter O’Donnell Jr. Postdoctoral Fellow at the Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences at UT Austin, under the mentorship of Professor Irene M. Gamba. While continuing his work on kinetic equations, he has expanded his research to include stochastic partial differential equations. His current projects involve collaborations with various universities and national laboratories.  His goal is to design computational techniques that preserve the physical and mathematical properties of the underlying models, improving accuracy and stability in simulations.

Beyond research, Andrés has extensive teaching experience spanning seven and a half years in Colombia and the United States. As a teaching assistant at Universidad de los Andes, he taught undergraduate mathematics courses. During his Ph.D. at Michigan State University, he served as an instructor and a lead teaching assistant, helping colleagues refine their teaching practices. His experience in diverse educational settings has strengthened his ability to adapt instruction to different learning styles and cultural backgrounds. In addition to teaching, Andrés is committed to mentoring students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. At UT Austin, he has mentored undergraduate and graduate students in the Department of Mathematics and the and the Oden Institute, guiding them through research projects and professional development.

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“Para mí, el Mes de la Herencia Hispana es una oportunidad para celebrar el pasado, reconocer y agradecer a los matemáticos latinos que vinieron antes que yo y abrieron un sinfín de oportunidades en este país. Pero también es un momento para mirar el presente y reflexionar sobre cómo puedo ayudar y crear más espacios para quienes vienen detrás.”

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