Participants in the MGREP’s summer institute are, from left, Paloma Fierro, Dianalaura Cueto, Arturo Meza, Ana Van Boeyen, Isaac Triujeque, Daniela Ruiz, Margarita Rivera, Steven Allison, Efi Foufula Georgio, Brandon Esquivias and Luisa Kregel. – Six graduate students from Mexico will matriculate to the Samueli School this fall as participants in UC Irvine’s Mexico Graduate Research and Education Program (MGREP).
Launched in 2016 by UCI’s school of engineering, the MGREP facilitates research and academic collaborations between the U.S. and its neighbor to the south.
The six students – three men and three women – came to campus in August for a weeklong summer institute on Life and Climate Change, and as preparatory training for the program.
“These students are in diverse fields of research; their vision and determination to contribute to the well-being of our neighbor region will benefit both of our countries,” said Luisa Kregel, program director.
Four of the six are from Mexicali Baja California, Mexico, and graduated with bachelor’s degrees in renewable energies engineering from Autonomous University of Baja California. They include:
Margarita Rivera Aguayo, whose research will focus on developing sustainable, conscious and novel solutions for the operational process of thermal power plants, where the excessive use of water is required.
“Particularly in the Mexicali region, where plenty of thermal power plants are located and operating even in extremely hot weather and when water resources are scarce, my research will not only benefit the economy by optimizing the current process, it will also contribute to better water use and management,” Aguayo said.
Dianalaura Cueto is interested in power-to-gas research, and she recently spent six months at Hiroshima University, Japan, studying environmental impacts of gas power generation. With this fellowship, Cueto hopes to advance clean, cheap and reliable energy resources that help in the transition to renewable energy. She plans to study sustainable power generation from natural gas of deep ocean water methane hydrates, coupled with electrochemical systems.
“Natural gas, a low-emissive fossil fuel, has the potential to fulfill the job as the use of this fuel increases worldwide. Thus, new sustainable methods to extract natural gas from almost unreachable areas such as the deep ocean are required.”
Brandon Esquivias ’ research focuses on energy systems and energy generation. In 2014, he worked at solar and conventional power-generation plants in Mexico City. Then, from August 2015 to December 2016, he completed his professional studies in environmental engineering at the Technical University of Brandenburg in Cottbus, Germany, followed by three months of work at Audi in southern Germany.
"With my research, I look forward to developing economic and innovative solutions to resolving the problems around combined cycle power plants, which have significant environmental impacts. With this work, I hope to be able to help my region make decisions on how to best approach energy generation in Mexico-USA," Esquivias said.
Daniela Ruiz is interested in solar thermal energy as a renewable source. According to the Mexico Secretary of Energy, Mexico ranks third in the world in its potential for solar. “I intend to propose […]
Click here to view original web page at Six Grad Students from Mexico Receive Fellowships
Trending News on PVDN
10 Million Pesos Allocated for the Rehabilitation of Puerto Vallarta’s Iconic Los Muertos Pier PUERTO VALLARTA (PVDN) - The Mayor of Puerto Vallarta, Luis Alberto Michel Rodríguez, recently toured Los Muertos Pier to supervise the ongoing rehabilitation work. This project, undertaken by the Secretary of Infrastructure and Public Works (SIOP) of the State Government, has been backed with an investment of 10 million pesos. Los Muertos Pier is one…
Expats Need to Be Honest, Mexico Isn’t Safe (Opinion) PUERTO VALLARTA (PVDN) - Can you name any country that is dubbed safe, despite weekly discoveries of over 100 bags filled with human remains scattered across its lands or where international criminal organizations have infiltrated local governments from city council to mayor, governor, local and state police, the military, and the presidency? The answer, astonishingly,…
Missing LGBTIQ Activist, Rubén Michel Castro Guízar, Found Dead in Puerto Vallarta Puerto Vallarta (PVDN) - A tragic ending to a mysterious disappearance, Rubén Michel Castro Guízar, a notable figure within the LGBTIQ and deaf communities of Puerto Vallarta, was found deceased on Monday. The grim discovery was made ten days after the 32-year-old's sudden disappearance following his participation in a local pride march. The deaf activist,…
Puerto Vallarta International Film Festival Kicks Off in Style PUERTO VALLARTA (PVDN) - The 23rd edition of the Puerto Vallarta International Film Festival (FICPV) has officially opened with an illustrious gala at the Dr. Juan Luis Cifuentes Lemus Auditorium, located in the Centro Universitario de la Costa (CUCosta). The festival, running from June 8th to 11th, showcases a diverse selection of films and brings…
FBI Issue Warning to American Timeshare Owners in Mexico: $40 Million Lost to Scams in 2022 PUERTO VALLARTA (PVDN) - In a recent revelation, the United States embassy in Mexico, in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), has issued a warning to American timeshare owners in Mexico. The advisory focuses on an emerging scam targeting this demographic via unsolicited phone calls or emails intending to rent their properties. In…
The Humble Origins of Puerto Vallarta: From Las Peñas to a Global Tourist Destination The Birthplace of Puerto Vallarta: Las Peñas Long before the town's transformation into a popular tourist destination, Puerto Vallarta, or as it was originally known, Las Peñas de Santa Maria de Guadalupe, began as a humble fishing village. Nestled between towering mountains and a sprawling sea, Las Peñas was home to only a handful of…
Massive Infrastructure Rehabilitation Underway in Puerto Vallarta PUERTO VALLARTA (PVDN) - The municipal government of Puerto Vallarta is making strides toward bettering the infrastructure of the city. Focused efforts on the rehabilitation of streets, rural roads, and the cleanup of ditches, grates, and sewers are enhancing the quality of life for Vallarta's residents. Crews from the Public Works Directorate have been actively…
Eight Call Center Employees Suspected in Cartel Scam Targeting Americans Confirmed Dead Eight young employees of a call center in Mexico were confirmed dead Tuesday, victims of a violent drug cartel involved in a real estate scam targeting Americans. The tragic news comes following reports from family members who had reported the youths missing after failing to return from work. A Grisly Discovery and the Unmasking of…
Puerto Vallarta Sees Post-Pandemic Tourism Surge with Over 3 Million Air Passengers PUERTO VALLARTA (PVDN) - In a remarkable post-pandemic rebound, Puerto Vallarta has welcomed more than 3 million passengers by air this year, nearly half a million of whom arrived in May alone. Passenger Traffic on the Rise According to data from the Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP), which manages the air terminal at this tourist…
Popocatépetl Volcano Activity Continues; June 5, 2023 Monitoring Update PUERTO VALLARTA (PVDN) - In the latest updates from the monitoring systems of the Popocatépetl volcano, 108 exhalations were recorded in the last 24 hours, accompanied by water vapor, volcanic gases, and minor quantities of ash. The monitoring systems also registered 51 minutes of tremor segments, ranging from low to moderate amplitude and high frequency.…
