Our People

Originally from Brazil, Karina holds a Bachelor’s degree in Tourism and a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing Management from the University of São Paulo. She is currently pursuing a Professional Master of Education at Queen’s University.

At DeGroote, Karina supports undergraduate students with course planning, degree requirements, academic regulations, and student success initiatives. With extensive experience in higher and international education, she thrives in multicultural environments and is deeply committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Karina is married to a Chilean, and speaks English, Portuguese, and Spanish. She looks forward to contributing to LANMU by sharing her experiences, fostering community, and strengthening ties within the Latin American network at McMaster.

El Dr. Shrikant I. Bangdiwala es un Professor en el departamento de métodos de investigación en salud, evidencia e impacto en la facultad de ciencias de la salud, y director de estadística en el instituto de investigación en salud poblacional de McMaster University. Trabaja en el diseño y análisis de estudios clínicos y epidemiológicos multicéntricos, primordialmente en el área de las enfermedades cardiovasculares. Nacido en Puerto Rico, de padres de la India, es un boricua que se unió a McMaster en 2017 después de 36 años como profesor de bioestadística de la Universidad de Carolina del Norte  en Chapel Hill, EE.UU.

Eric Bayruns García is an assistant professor in McMaster University’s department of philosophy. And he is a Research Associate in the African Centre for Epistemology and Philosophy of Science at the University of Johannesburg.

He was a Fellow-in-Residence at the Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University. And he was an assistant professor in California State University, San Bernardino’s philosophy department.

He specializes in philosophy of race, epistemology and Latin American philosophy. His research focuses on epistemological and ethical issues raised by racial injustice and colonialism. His work has been published in peer-reviewed academic philosophy journals such as Episteme, Social Epistemology, Feminist Philosophy Quarterly, the Inter-American Journal of Philosophy and the Journal of Social Philosophy.

The ability to generate genetic variants has greatly aided the study of biochemical and developmental pathways. Given the success of this approach it is not surprising that genetics is being used to address a wide range of neurobiological questions including the generation of behaviour. My laboratory uses the larval visual system of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as a model system to investigate the mechanisms underlying the development and function of the nervous system. To that end, mutations or molecular tools are used to impair specific cell types and/or cellular interactions. Mutations found to disrupt the development of the larval visual system or the larval response to light can be used to identify molecules involved in these processes. Thus, my research program can be divided in two parts namely the genetic analysis of the larval response to light and the molecular genetic analysis of genes required for the development of the larval visual system. To address these questions a variety of techniques are used such as mutant analysis, molecular and cell biology.

Fernando Carneiro has more than 20 years of experience in communications and journalism. He is a candidate in the Master of Communications Management (MCM) program at McMaster. Carneiro worked in journalism for 16 years, serving as national deputy editor and then as executive and digital editor at Metro News. In these positions, he worked with editors in newsrooms across Canada, gaining perspectives and insights that serve him to this day at McMaster. He transitioned to communications in 2017, working in issues management at Wilfrid Laurier University before joining the Office of the Provost at McMaster. He immigrated to Canada from Brazil in 1989.

My research interests include immigrant and refugee families and their process of acculturation as family units. My Canadian interests include issues of grief, ambiguous losses, war and torture, identity processes, transnational relationships and their impact on parenting practices, successful settlement processes and mental health. My International research focuses on social justice issues, particularly on forced migration, gender violence, children’s and women’s rights in Central America.

Alexis (she/they) is the Digital Scholarship Coordinator at the Sherman Centre for Digital Scholarship. In her role, she connects students, faculty, staff, and community members to resources, tools, and training that advance their digital research projects.

Alexis is also PhD Candidate in the Department of Communication Studies and Media Arts at McMaster University. Her research interests include critical data studies, platform studies, digital harms, data justice, and digital scholarship.

Born to a Peruvian father and Portuguese mother in Canada, Elizabeth is a proud McMaster alum and is the first member of her family to complete a post-secondary degree. Growing up in downtown Hamilton and living with her Peruvian grandmother Elizabeth was always surrounded by the diverse and rich Peruvian/Latin American culture. As a Latinx woman and Academic Advisor in the Faculty of Science, she is committed to supporting Latinx students succeed at McMaster.

Michael Egan’s research interests revolve around contemporary environmental histories of catastrophe. Within this, he has areas of research strength in environmental activism, contamination science and policy, and cultural responses to pollution. His new work is shifting attention toward catastrophe on a global scale in relation to the Anthropocene and the history of the future. He is especially interested in the construction of modern arks, refuges against environmental disaster.

Dr. Andrés Felipe Fajardo is a 3rd year Pediatric Resident at the McMaster Children’s Hospital. Felipe has found LANMU to be an incredible space to meet other Latin Americans within McMaster, exchange ideas, and find support in the community. He is excited for the opportunity to help Latin American McMaster students in the health sciences by promoting academic excellence and supporting career goals through LAHSSI. He is also passionate about Latin American representation in healthcare and hopes to continue providing support and mentorship to those interested in a career in healthcare.

Valeria Flores is a graduate student in the Master’s in History program at McMaster University. She specializes in International Relations and Human Rights history. She was part of the team responsible for the Child Protection & the Rights of the Child conference hosted by the Center for Human Rights and Restorative Justice, had a backgrounder on the Guatemalan Historical Clarification Commission published in the Confronting Atrocity website, and participated in the CityLAB program to develop a Housing Sustainability & Investment Plan for the city of Hamilton. She recently completed a Bachelor of Arts in Honours History and a minor in English & Cultural Studies, graduating Summa Cum Laude from McMaster. Alongside her responsibilities as Project Support Assistant for LALS-MP, Valeria is currently a Student Partner developing an experiential learning resource hub with the faculty of Humanities, and is working with Dr. Michael Egan as a Research Assistant developing modules for Dr. Egan’s upcoming courses.

Millaray Freire-Archer is a 2nd year medical student at the DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster. She is interested in immigrant and refugee health, and social medicine. For her, LANMU has been key to finding community within McMaster, along with academic and professional support. She is dedicated to Latin American representation in medicine and health sciences, and supporting students interested in careers in healthcare through LAHSSSI and LANMU in general.

Michelle works as an International Recruitment Officer at McMaster University.  She has a decade of working experience in the international education sector and is committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse group of students to achieve a successful post-secondary journey. She thrives on developing and maintaining positive relationships with internal and external partners while connecting institutions and individuals from different parts of the globe, including Latin America.

Born and raised in Brazil, Michelle holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations and a Master’s Degree in Political Science from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. As a first-generation immigrant, she relates to the challenges that international students experience during their academic journey and is happy to assist with a seamless transition to our community. She is delighted to be a part of LANMU, to broaden her perspective and exchange ideas, and to strengthen her ties with the Latin American community at McMaster.

Dr. Matheus Grasselli is a Professor of Mathematics and Chair of the Mathematics of Statistics Department at McMaster University. He was the Deputy Director of the Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences in Toronto from 2012 to 2016 and continues to serve as the Director of the Fields Centre for Financial Industries. He is also a co-leader of the Fields-CQAM Lab on Systemic Risk Analytics.

Dr. Grasselli has published research papers on information geometry, statistical physics, and numerous aspects of quantitative finance, including interest rate theory, optimal portfolio, real options, executive compensation, and macroeconomics. He is also the author of an undergraduate textbook on numerical methods. He is a regular speaker in both academic and industrial conferences around the world and has consulted for CIBC, Petrobras, EDF, and Bovespa. He is on the editorial board of the Journal of Banking and Finance, the International Journal of Theoretical and Applied Finance, and the Journal of Dynamics and Games, he is also the founding managing editor of the book series Springer Briefs on Quantitative Finance.

He currently works as a deputy provost for McMaster University.

Maureen is an Associate Professor at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at McMaster University. His research is focused on the study of nanomaterial properties using advanced imaging and electron spectroscopy techniques implemented in transmission electron microscopes. In particular, he investigates low-energy excitations (phonon, plasmons, excitons) and electronic transitions in novel materials with potential for infrared nanophotonics, heat transport, and quantum material applications. His group also develops novel methodologies for nanoscale material characterization (e.g. thermometry). Besides his interest in vibrational and electronic properties of nanomaterials using EELS, he has worked on temporal aspects of the inelastic electron scattering associated with collective excitations, quantum electronic transport, and mechanical elongation of nanostructures using in-situ TEM. He obtained his PhD in Physics from The State University of Campinas. He currently serves as Associate Scientific Director of the Canadian Centre for Electron Microscopy.

As a proud native of Chile, Carolina brings a diverse perspective to our university. Currently serving as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Provost, Carolina is an integral part of our university community, embodying the spirit of diversity, inclusion, and academic excellence. She seeks to inspire others to embrace the richness of Latin American culture and heritage.

Jose Moran-Mirabal is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at McMaster University, Founding Scientific Director of the Centre for Advanced Light Microscopy, and the Canada Research Chair in Micro and Nanostructured Materials. Jose’s research combines strengths in micro- and nanofabrication, surface chemistry, and high-resolution fluorescence microscopy to design and study materials at the micrometer to nanometer scale. Current research projects in his laboratory include the development of modular surface modification approaches for the functionalization of nanocellulose; the development of simple and cost-effective bench-top approaches for the production of micro- and nanostructured surfaces and the application of high resolution fluorescence microscopy to study biomolecular interactions.

My research centers on gastronomic heritage, the origins and impacts of agriculture in the development of societies, contributions of plants to ritualized activity, the range and diversity of botanical practices, and transformations in human-environment dynamics. I am firmly committed to multidisciplinary approaches to human problems, both past and present, and the dynamic role of ethnobotanical and spatial research in this endeavor. Methodologically, I employ paleoethnobotany, archival research, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) modeling. I also incorporate linguistic approaches to practice and foodways, charting the dynamic language of ethnobotanical activity in production, reproduction, and transformation. I particularly focus on narratives of “collapse” and resilience as related to human negotiations of ecological variability.

Currently, I am engaged in research in Mexico (Oaxaca and Quintana Roo), Honduras, and Guatemala (2016 & 2017). I am also working on a book that investigates the role of archaeogastronomy in narratives of food security, malnourishment, and resilience. I explore the ways that gastronomic heritage is established through ties to ancient foodways and contextualized through modern conceptions of health and sustainability.

My teaching and supervisory interests include: foodways, ethnoecology, paleoethnobotanical analysis, spatial analysis, Mesoamerica, ancient history, and gastronomic heritage.

Dr. Iris Mujica joined McMaster University in 2002 as a full time faculty. She teaches a variety of undergraduate courses utilizing Problem Based Learning (PBL) and participates in the selection and training of students who have Global Health professional practice placements as member of the Global Health Education Committee (GHEC).

Luis Navarro del Angel is a new media artist and a Ph.D. candidate in the program of Communication, New Media, and Cultural Studies at McMaster University. His artistic practice revolves around electronic Latin dance music by means of software and code. He is a member of Grupo D’Binis, an audiovisual electronic cumbia duo whose second half is the visual artist and McMaster student Jessica Rodriguez. Luis is interested in community engagement through public talks and workshops. In 2020, he organized a series of conversation circles where people from Latin America in Hamilton and worldwide joined to discuss how issues of national identity, ethnicity, social class, and gender influence music technologies

I conduct archaeological research on Formative Period cultures of the south central highlands of Bolivia. My ongoing work employs ceramic analysis to investigate community organization during the periods prior to the appearance of Tiwanaku, one of the earliest urban centers in highland South America. I have focused my work on the Taraco Peninsula, on the southern shores of Late Titicaca, where I have led excavations, conducted geological surveys, and conducted fine-grained ceramic analysis. My research asks several broad anthropological questions: How did potters learn their craft in the past? How do crafting traditions develop, and how are they maintained? How do the production, distribution and consumption of crafts contribute to the development of community and political identity?

My teaching and supervisory interests include: social archaeology, ceramic analyses, archaeometry/compositional geochemistry, ethnoarchaeology, anthropologies of space and place, and South/Central/North American prehistory.

Gastón Rueda completed his medical doctor degree at Universidad Nacional de La Rioja in Argentina and joined as a postdoctoral research fellow at Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, conducting his first clinical trial assessing the effect of dietary tryptophan on the gut microbiota and immune homeostasis. He has proposed and organized several clinical research studies and is currently investigating the role of dietary interventions in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus, celiac disease and IBD. Gaston is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for our community. Recognizing the unique challenges that Latino American students often face, he is actively supporting and advocating for their needs through the new Latin-American Health Sciences Student Success Initiative, aiming to create a safe and empowering space where every student can thrive academically and socially.

Camila Ruiz Tacha is a dedicated professional who currently serves as the Events Coordinator for the Student Success Centre at McMaster University. With over a year and a half of experience in this role, she plays a crucial part in organizing events and initiatives aimed at promoting student success. Camila’s journey in the educational sector began during her time at Humber College, where she not only worked but also holds the distinction of being an alumni.

Camila’s passion for advocacy and her commitment to equitable representation have been central to her career. During her tenure at Humber College, she actively contributed to the student community by serving on the Student Union’s Board of Directors. She was also a key member of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Taskforce, where her efforts focused on ensuring a diverse and inclusive environment within the college community.

As a Latin immigrant, Camila brings a unique and invaluable perspective to her work. Her advocacy work is rooted in championing the needs and interests of underrepresented individuals and communities. Her commitment to promoting diversity and inclusivity continues to be a driving force in her professional journey.

Monica is a clinical psychologist with over twenty years of versatile experience in higher education, clinical and corporate environments both in Venezuela and Canada. After immigrating to Canada nine years ago, Monica came to realize the importance of celebrating diversity and being true to her roots as the best way to “fit in”. As a proud Latin-American, culturally-aware Spanish speaker, she wants to contribute actively to our already diverse community here at McMaster University.

Dr. Manuel Vasquez Villavicencio is an assistant professor in the Department of Philosophy. He works on the history of early modern philosophy, the philosophy of emotions, and Latin American philosophy. He is passionate about how emotions are necessary for us to be better thinkers and better agents. Before joining MAC, he worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Instructor in the Department of Philosophy of the University of Toronto. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Quebec at Montreal (UQAM). As part of his Ph.D. training, he was a Visiting Assistant in Research at Yale University. He also received an Engineering degree and a Master’s degree in Philosophy from Simon Bolivar University (USB – Venezuela).

Angela Zavaleta Bernuy is a Lecturer in the Department of Computing and Software at McMaster University. Angela is currently finishing her Ph.D. in Computer Science at the University of Toronto (May 2025), where she also completed her M.Sc. in Computer Science and B.Sc. in Software Engineering and Mathematics.

Angela’s research integrates perspectives from human-computer interaction, experimental psychology, and educational psychology frameworks into computing education research. She emphasizes practical experiments and cross-disciplinary partnerships involving behavioural interventions and creative educational software to improve the learning experience for her students. As a scholarly teacher, Angela applies her research into her teaching by using data-driven systems to provide personalized, and positive, experiences for her students.  Angela serves as a member of ACM Women and is an active member of the ACM Special Interest Group in Computing Education Research.