Tell us about your research project and why it is important to you.
My main research topic is the link between violence and demographic processes—that is, how the multiple forms that violence takes (symbolic, structural or direct) affect the individual and collective health in a population. In my dissertation, I use the case of the War on Drugs in Mexico to study this relationship through a joint conceptual and methodological framework of demography, conflict and war studies, and the perpetuation of violence. In particular, my research seeks to explain: 1) the differences in life expectancy in subpopulations as an objective measure of structural violence; 2) how the spike in homicides, and specifically homicides with firearms, acts as an ecological factor that increases the risk of disease and comorbidity in the population, and; 3) how homicidal and firearms violence indirectly affects other outcomes of individual health.
This research is important because the consequences of lives lost by a cause of preventable death, such as homicide, extend beyond the direct victims and their families; it affects us all as a community, as a population. In addition, right now we are creating a legacy for generations to come. It is important to me, because I would much rather our legacy not be one characterized by this continuum of violence with impunity.
Have you submitted or published your research somewhere? Tell us about the experience.
I have presented parts of my research at the last two annual meetings of the Population Association of America—in Denver, CO in 2018 and in Austin, TX in 2019. This is the most important conference in the United States, and the world, within the field of population studies and demography. From a professional point of view, these meetings are important showcases for future collaborations or professional partnerships. From an academic point of view, it is impressive to see how in this meeting you get a preview of the most current research and the direction the discipline is taking. The parties are also good.
This year, I will present my work at the XXXII International Congress of the Latin American Association of Sociology in Lima, Peru. I expect a lot from this congress since the audience is very different from what I have already seen in the United States, which means it has a lot of potential to enrich my doctoral dissertation. The pairing of sociological approaches with demographic methods will work great.
What would you say is something interesting about your area of study that most people do not know?
When I talk about my research with people from Mexico, they usually don't seem surprised at all. It is as if every person in the country already knows about the topic. Many times, I find that it is a type of referential knowledge, and although that is valid, I am looking to split off from it epistemologically. On the other hand, when I talk with people from the United States, the shock at what happens in Mexico is still there.
I can't think of what would be interesting... perhaps, that organized crime and transnational drug trafficking organizations have existed since the beginning of the twentieth century in Mexico. Culturally, socially and economically, organized crime is another element with a role in the formation of power structures—political and economic—in the history of Mexico. For me that makes it very interesting, and since I am a demographer, I interpret it in terms of what happens to population dynamics.
Tell us about your academic or professional collaborations with Mexico.
Currently, I don't have any academic or professional collaborations with people from Mexico. In 2018 I contacted Dr. Enrique Martínez, an anthropologist from the University of Guadalajara, to perform a spatial analysis of mortality in a specific region of the state of Jalisco, where he has extensively studied the relationship between migration to the United States, youth, and organized crime. But I have not had the opportunity to work with him since then. I know it is vital to foster these professional relationships with public research centers and universities in Mexico, but I have not had the opportunity to develop them yet.
What attracted you to Texas and UT San Antonio?
The rodeo and the BBQ. No, that’s not true. It was actually the Ph.D. program in Applied Demography at UTSA’s Department of Demography. Once I finished my master's degree in population studies, I was determined to continue doing research in this area. Due to socio-historical processes that are beyond me, the United States and other western countries are some of the best destinations to do graduate studies. I found the content and duration of the program at The University of Texas at San Antonio very attractive, and the existence of ConTex was certainly something that helped me decide on Texas.
What have been some good things you did not expect from Texas or UT San Antonio?
I have experienced acts of kindness from strangers in San Antonio that felt like good things; the kind of things that make your day, and I had forgotten how that felt. I think it’s great that the UTSA library is open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.—almost 24 hours a day—year-round. I have used the book borrowing service in the library a lot, and they have almost always been able to get the books I request. That efficiency has made my job a lot easier and saved me a lot of money. I think of that as a good thing I didn't expect at UTSA.
What have been the biggest challenges of studying at UT San Antonio and living in the United States?
Regarding studying at UTSA... I think it has nothing to do with the university per se, but it has been a personal challenge to maintain intense levels of concentration every day, something which I had not been used to in a while. Many hours in the office and in front of the computer also result in a deterioration in health, so it also becomes a challenge to combine healthy habits with the academic pressure that we put on ourselves, especially in an environment like where I live in the Westside of San Antonio, that seems to be obesogenic.
How has the support of ConTex and CONACYT impacted you?
The support of ConTex and CONACYT has impacted me in a very positive way. If they did not exist, I would not have the possibility to pursue a doctoral degree in an area like this outside of Mexico. The ConTex team is great and the support they provide to me and the other fellows is excellent. Undoubtedly, the support I receive from ConTex and the sense of security it has given me has had a positive impact.
What kind of work do you expect to do in the future? How do you expect your research to benefit people in the United States and Mexico?
I would very much like to continue doing social research, because that is where I can work on many of the things that I have on my mind. In addition, social research has a selfless element to it that, in the correct environment, can lead to concrete change for the community. I don't see this activity as something limited to academia or universities. I think that I could also do well in international organizations, state institutions on both sides of the border, and even non-profit organizations. The ideal scenario would be for this research to contribute to the decrease in the number of homicides in the country, although in reality, the direct and immediate benefit to people in the United States and Mexico is small. There are many limitations to this type of research. To be honest, I hope that new evidence about the relationship between violence and population health will lead to beneficial changes through someone with legitimate power.
What advice would you give to other Mexican students who are considering studying in Texas?
I would tell them to always take the initiative, to write to the professors or graduate advisors of the programs they are interested in, to ask any questions they might have, to be aware that time does not stop for anyone, and to make decisions with all the information they have available. Ultimately, they will enjoy it a lot if they want to.
