{"id":7266,"date":"2026-02-05T15:20:36","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T18:20:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/investiga.uandes.cl\/?p=7266"},"modified":"2026-04-15T23:40:34","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T02:40:34","slug":"from-artificial-intelligence-to-human-dignity-contemporary-grand-challenges-marked-doctoral-theses-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/investiga.uandes.cl\/en\/from-artificial-intelligence-to-human-dignity-contemporary-grand-challenges-marked-doctoral-theses-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Doctoral Theses Address Societal Concerns Such as the Use of Technology, Data, and Artificial Intelligence"},"content":{"rendered":"

The doctoral theses defended during 2025 reflect not only the thematic diversity of the doctoral programs at Universidad de los Andes, but also the steady progress in consolidating its doctoral system<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"In a national and international context marked by greater demands in productivity, funding, and completion times, UANDES faces the challenge of continuing to strengthen quality doctoral pathways, with clear academic standards and conditions that enable timely and sustainable graduation,\" says says Mar\u00eda del Valle Barrera, Deputy Director of Doctoral Studies at UANDES<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Among the 20 theses defended during the year, researchers from different nationalities \u2014 including Colombia, Ecuador, Italy, and Chile \u2014 were recognized<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The research themes developed placed special emphasis on addressing the concerns society faces today, such as the use of technologies, data, and artificial intelligence in support of decision-making \u2014 specifically in theses on prescriptive analytics and cost-effectiveness (Armando Meza Angulo<\/strong><\/a>, Ph.D. in Engineering Sciences<\/a>); the use of AI in decision-making in broadcast television (Alejandro Reid<\/strong><\/a>, Ph.D. in Communication<\/a>), reinforcement learning and investment portfolios (Milena Bonacic<\/strong><\/a>, Ph.D. in Engineering Sciences); and earthquake engineering and uncertainty management (Matias Birrel<\/strong><\/a>, Ph.D. in Engineering Sciences).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the area of health, biomedicine, and innovation, research focused on nanobubbles and hypoxic stress (Sergio Viafara<\/strong><\/a>, Ph.D. in Biomedicine<\/a>); extracellular vesicles and arthritis (Eliana Lara<\/strong><\/a>, Ph.D. in Biomedicine); and the relationship between oral health, the microbiota and pregnancy (Mar\u00eda Jos\u00e9 Bendek<\/strong><\/a>, Ph.D. in Biomedicine).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Democracy, Dignity, and Society: The Ideas That Shaped Doctoral Research in 2025<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Other topics that were developed in doctoral research during 2025 reflect the priority areas of Universidad de los Andes in the fields of law, social sciences, and humanities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These included works that investigated ownership, expropriation, and reparation (Patricio Ponce<\/strong><\/a> and Maria Karina Guggiana<\/strong><\/a>, Doctorate in Law<\/a>); the legal status of migration (Mayerlin Matheus<\/strong><\/a>, Doctorate in Law<\/a>); human dignity and constitutional jurisprudence (Marcelo Ovalle<\/strong><\/a>Ph.D.); and the judicial defense of the tax authorities (Alejandro Preuss<\/strong><\/a>, Ph.D. in Law).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the area of culture and communication, research adressed press, accountability, and journalism (Constanza Hormaz\u00e1bal<\/strong><\/a> and Roc\u00edo G\u00f3mez<\/strong><\/a>, Ph.D. in Communication<\/a>); feminism and the evangelical world (Alejandra Riveros<\/strong><\/a>Ph.D. in Communication); as well as political philosophy, myth, and modern thought (Juan Andr\u00e9s Gonz\u00e1lez<\/strong><\/a>, Mat\u00edas Quer<\/strong><\/a>, Sebasti\u00e1n Guerra<\/strong><\/a>, Filippo Salimbeni<\/strong><\/a> and Joaqu\u00edn Celis<\/strong><\/a>, all from the Doctorate in Philosophy<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regarding the consolidation of the doctoral programs at UANDES, Barrera noted: \"The sustained increase in doctoral graduations is a sign of the growing maturity of Universidad de los Andes doctoral programs.\"<\/strong>“.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Maintaining adequate rates of timely graduation<\/strong> is one of the main challenges for doctoral programs today, especially in an increasingly competitive funding context. This requires proper alignment between the curricula, the academic support, and the instruments supporting doctoral training,\" concluded the Deputy Director of Doctoral Studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A post shared by Direcci\u00f3n de Investigaci\u00f3n y Doctorados Universidad de los Andes (@investigacionydoctoradosuandes).<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n