Previous Institutions:
Universidad Panamericana
What are you studying: Ph.D in Computational Applied Mathematics and Operations Research
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Danny is a first-year CMOR Ph.D. student. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Pure Mathematics from Universidad Panamericana in Mexico City, where she wrote an undergraduate thesis combining Set Theory, Topology, and Measure Theory. Her current academic interests include optimization in healthcare and optimization under uncertainty.
Prior to Rice, she spent two years at the University of Notre Dame working in the Data Security and Privacy Lab under Professor Taeho Jung, where she studied differential privacy and fully homomorphic encryption.
Outside of mathematics, she enjoys visiting new places, making new friends, running (even if she gets out of breath easily), listening to Broadway musicals, and watching NBA games.
Fun Fact:
I rarely say no to a plan, even if it involves pretending I have skills I definitely don’t (like hiking) or hopping on a flight at the last minute.
Favorite thing about Rice:
Each day at Rice feels new and different.
Favorite thing about Houston:
The incredible food scene and the chance to watch live sports.
Why did you decide to go to grad school?
During my undergraduate studies, I discovered a new perspective on mathematics: one that was no longer about numbers, but about ideas, structures, and the relationships between them.
After graduating, I faced a choice between accepting a position at a consulting firm or pursuing teaching while applying to graduate programs. I chose the latter because four years did not felt enough to experience the entire conceptual level of math. I wanted more time to learn, question, and grow within a discipline that is truly the love of my life. Graduate school felt like the natural way to keep that closeness to mathematics and deepen a passion that continues to shape who I am.