Everything Started by Looking Up at the Sky. The Path of a Mexican Astronomer into Supermassive Black Holes

My interest in astronomy began in my childhood, in a small garden where I used to take refuge when the world seemed overwhelming. Under a small walnut tree, I wondered what was beyond the blue and why bright dots appeared in the night sky. Some answers came when I was 11, during the summer, at a workshop on the Universe at the public library in Saltillo, Coahuila, my hometown. That experience not only answered some of my questions but awakened many more about what our eyes cannot see. That summer marked my life and defined many of my future decisions. What began as childish curiosity became a calling that took across the Atlantic 19 years later to start my professional career as an astronomer with a postdoctoral contract.

My professional path towards astronomy began by learning the language and tools of the Universe: mathematics and physics. At 17, I entered the Faculty of Physical-Mathematical Sciences of the Autonomous University of Coahuila to study physics. From the first day, I knew this path required courage: there were less than 15 students, only three of us were women, and I was the youngest. Discipline and dedication were essential to understanding everything from calculus and geometry to quantum mechanics and electromagnetism. Having solid foundations is essential to going forward in the knowledge of our environment.

Learning to be patient was the next challenge. Halfway through my degree, my interests widened to materials physics, and this experience allowed me to get involved in research for the first time. However, a summer fellowship program took me to the Department of Astronomy at the University of Guanajuato, where I not only remembered my true passion but also discovered supermassive black holes (AGN). A year later, I accepted a scholarship to return to Guanajuato and develop my undergraduate thesis.

Everyone needs a guide to avoid getting lost along the way. In January 2014, I was accepted UNAM’s postgraduate program in astronomy with a CONACyT scholarship. I met Dr. Deborah Dultzin at the institute, a pioneer in the study of quasars in Mexico, who became my tutor. A year later, I would meet my second advisor, Dr. Omaira González Martín, an expert in studying AGN through infrared and X-ray wavelengths. My master’s research focused on how AGN affects star formation, for which I used data from the Canarias Large Telescope (GTC), located on the island of La Palma, Spain. The results were not only part of my graduate thesis but also led to my first publication as a head researcher in The Astrophysical Journal.

Every step must be taken with confidence. After a short break to strengthen my knowledge and define the direction of my research, I entered the PhD program in astronomy, where I continued working with my advisors, now at UNAM’s Institute of Radioastronomy and Astrophysics (IRyA) in Morelia. I developed a new research project focused on understanding the AGN’s gas and dust behavior through X-ray and infrared observations. The main results of our research were published in three articles in international astronomy journals.

In academia, being open to new experiences is fundamental. My PhD allowed me to grow professionally in the astronomy field. Attending international European conferences and completing fellowships in countries such as Australia and Spain were key to my development. Although presenting my work in English to colleagues was a challenge, it taught me to collaborate and push my research forward.

My next lesson was to learn how not to give up and keep trying. Six months before finishing my PhD, I started applying for postdocs. I faced multiple rejections before getting a fellowship at the Canarias Institute of Astrophysics (IAC), Spain, with Dr. Begoña García-Lorenzo. After two months of work, she offered me a postdoctoral contract to join the Spanish team developing the HARMONI instrument. Along with the team, I developed an innovative technique to real-time measuring of atmospheric turbulence, optimizing the selection of objects to be observed every night. This technique is now being implemented in international observatories, such as the Very Large Telescope in Chile.

Learning to be independent but still maintaining collaborations allows you to expand your own knowledge. A little over a year after arriving in the Canary Islands, I got the Juan de la Cierva Scholarship, which allowed me to develop my own research and join the GATOS international collaboration, accessing data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). My research analyzed the gas distribution in the galaxy MCG-05-23-16, which hosts an AGN, and revealed how it contributes to the galaxy’s structure. The collaboration also allowed me to participate in other research projects exploiting these new data.

I have returned to Mexico to pursue a third postdoc at the IRyA, funded by the Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology and Innovation (SECIHTI). My research is focused on exploiting data from the new JWST and XRISM satellites to study AGN and their environment further.

My stay outside Mexico boosted my professional career, but also affected my emotional well-being. I learned the importance of a healthy work environment and the balance between professional and personal life. Being a woman in science means facing challenges and breaking barriers without losing sight of our goals. We must remember moving forward with determination. Mistakes are part of the learning process, but what is truly valuable is the ability to adapt, improve, and keep going forward firmly and steadily.

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