June 22, 2023 | News | New faces at MPIDR

Welcome, José Carlos Andrade Santacruz!

José Carlos Andrade Santacruz is part of the Laboratory of Population Health. © MPIDR/Schulz

MPIDR welcomed several new faces to the Institute in May. One of them is José Carlos Andrade Santacruz from Ecuador. While working with us for the next three years as a PhD student, he will focus on methodological innovations to life tables to study inequalities in mortality across different socioeconomic contexts.

José received his Master's degree in Economics from the University of Barcelona. His last position before coming to Rostock was as Director of Information, Research and Evaluation at the Technical Secretary Ecuador Grows Without Child Malnutrition in Ecuador.

What motivates you to work in this field of research?

By conducting research and gaining a comprehensive understanding of mortality, we can effectively identify health disparities among diverse population groups. This knowledge serves as a valuable tool for setting public health priorities and creating targeted interventions, and thus, leading to substantial improvements in population well-being.

Why did you choose MPIDR as your new employer?

Not only because MPIDR is one of the leading demographic research centers in the world, but also because MPIDR can greatly enhance my research skills and help me to achieve my goals in the study of population dynamics in terms of gaining valuable insights, methodologies, and findings that will enable me to excel as a researcher in this field.

What is your favorite part about work?

One aspect of my work that I truly enjoy is engaging with colleagues and discussing intriguing aspects related to the field in which I am actively involved in. These interactions provide me with valuable opportunities to exchange ideas, receive constructive feedback, and gain support, which motivates me to keep going with my PhD career.