Outstanding grad seeks to use applied mathematics to create a better world
ASU graduate Lucero Rodriquez Rodriguez participated in undergraduate research that opened her eyes to the possibilities of using math principles to understand the complexities of biology, ecology and other sciences. Courtesy photo
Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable fall 2024 graduates.
A lifelong passion for puzzles, an aptitude for numbers and an altruistic spirit are just a few of the factors that led Lucero Rodriguez Rodriguez to pursue a PhD. She is graduating from the doctoral program in in applied mathematics for the life and social sciences at Arizona State University’s School of Complex Adaptive Systems. Referred to as an exemplary scholar and a trailblazer in interdisciplinary research by her nominators, she was chosen as the outstanding graduate student from the College of Global Futures because of her contributions to her field and to the ASU community.
Rodriguez, originally from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico, credits her early interest in math to an inspiring middle school teacher who encouraged her to explore her passion and learn beyond the curriculum.
“I’ve always loved solving puzzles and never stopped until I figured them out, so math became something I enjoyed and was naturally good at,” she said. “As I got older, I also became increasingly curious about how everything works — not just individually, but as part of the larger web of life on Earth.”
Early in her college career, Rodriguez participated in undergraduate research that opened her eyes to the possibilities of using math principles to understand the complexities of biology, ecology and other sciences.
“From then on,” she said, “I knew that mathematics would allow me to explore and answer the questions I’d been asking for as long as I could remember.”
In the summer of 2017, Rodriguez visited ASU for the first time to attend the Quantitative Research in the Life and Social Sciences Program and was inspired by the collaborative and impactful research she saw happening at the university. This taste of ASU’s approach to research gave her new insight into how her degree in applied mathematics from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley could be used to solve real-world challenges in fields like epidemiology, biology and ecology.
“That experience made me realize that ASU was where I wanted to be,” she said. “I knew ASU could offer the freedom, support and resources I needed to pursue interdisciplinary research.”
While at ASU, Rodriguez served as a mentor for undergraduate students, published research in peer-reviewed journals and presented at international conferences. Her dissertation, titled “Mathematical Modeling of Collective Interactions Among Agents,” is another example of her discipline-spanning academic career. She has conducted research on topics like human-autonomy interaction, trust in automation and sustainable ecological modeling.
After graduation, Rodriguez aims to use her skills and experience to improve human health and well-being, and to make a positive impact in the health sciences field. She hopes to become a statistician or a data scientist with a focus on disease screening, treatment and survivorship.
Read on to learn more about the new graduate’s ASU journey.
Question: Which professor taught you the most important lesson while at ASU?
Answer: My advisor, Yun Kang, has been instrumental in my growth as a researcher. She took me under her wing as soon as I arrived at ASU and showed me how to lean on my strengths to help build up my weaknesses. Dr. Kang pushed me every day to see beyond my immediate goals and always believed in me, which made a huge difference. Because of her mentorship, I’ve grown so much and have a deeper understanding of my research and my abilities.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?
A: For those still in school, my advice is simple: Don’t give up. Every setback, hurdle and challenge is preparing you not only for your career but for life. Sometimes, the top of the mountain might feel impossible to reach, and you might think you’ll never get there, but I promise you can. And when you do, the view is even better than you imagine. Don’t let impostor syndrome or anyone else convince you otherwise. Just focus on moving forward, one step at a time, and try again, and again, and again. You’ve got this!
Q: What was your favorite spot on campus, whether for studying, meeting friends or just thinking about life?
A: The Sun Devil Fitness Complex was definitely my go-to spot. It’s where I’d go to get my daily workout, relieve stress or even think through a problem I hadn’t been able to solve. Somehow, weightlifting helped me clear my mind and work through tough math or coding problems. It’s funny, but some of my best ideas came to me right there!
Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?
A: If I had $40 million, I would dedicate it to restoring biodiversity on our planet. I’d create protected areas and restore forests to help bring back a healthy ecosystem. Humans depend heavily on natural resources — for everything from food and clean air to water and health care. Even if it isn’t visible to everyone yet, the loss of biodiversity is already impacting human life and will severely affect our quality of life and survival on Earth in the future. Restoring biodiversity is essential for creating a sustainable future for all of us.
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