Name: Rolando Manuel Gonzales Martinez
Defended his PhD: April 2021
Position: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow
Place: University of Groningen
Why did you choose UiA?
My PhD at UiA was catalyzed by a scholarship opportunity from the FAHU Foundation in Denmark, spearheaded by Annikka Berridge. The award was granted to me following a competitive selection process, where I proposed a research initiative employing Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA) to identify and evaluate the determinants of complex phenomena. BMA offers a sophisticated mechanism for addressing model uncertainty by aggregating predictions across a multitude of statistical models, weighted by their posterior probabilities, thus ensuring robust and nuanced inferences.
What did you conduct research on, and why?
At the Universitetet i Agder, my doctoral dissertation was deeply rooted in Feyerabend's anarchistic epistemology, juxtaposing theory-driven and data-driven paradigms of scientific inquiry. This research was applied to nano-finance groups in Africa. Unlike the supply-driven microfinance model, nanofinance operates as a demand-driven initiative managed by marginalized demographic groups—such as women or individuals with disabilities—excluded from conventional financial systems.
Nanofinance+ transcends traditional financial services by incorporating developmental programs aimed at mitigating multidimensional poverty. Methodologically, my research showed that the inductive, data-centric approaches of machine learning and deep learning complement, in a symbiotic and iterative manner, the theory-driven deductive methods of inferential statistics.
How was it to be a PhD candidate at UiA?
Unique. My doctoral journey at UiA was nothing short of extraordinary. Norway’s breathtaking landscapes, coupled with access to cutting-edge computational technologies and an extensive repository of scholarly resources, created an intellectually stimulating environment. Beyond academia, I was fortunate to be part of a vibrant and supportive community of colleagues and friends. These experiences culminated in moments of profound personal and professional fulfillment, such as an unforgettable summer epitomized by the joy of a pear—a memory etched in my heart forever.
Norway’s breathtaking landscapes, coupled with access to cutting-edge computational technologies and an extensive repository of scholarly resources, created an intellectually stimulating environment
What is the most important experience you have made throughout the period?
The years spent as a PhD candidate solidified my conviction that Feyerabend’s anarchistic epistemology is uniquely suited for pioneering research at the frontiers of science—or even for dismantling and reimagining its existing paradigms. This perspective inspired me to pursue interdisciplinary explorations encompassing socio-economic development, AI-driven cancer detection, biologically inspired algorithms, Bayesian methodologies, catastrophe modeling, population vulnerability to natural disasters, spatio-temporal epidemiology, and the implications of artificial intelligence in both apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic narratives.
What career opportunities have you gotten after finishing the PhD?
I am currently a researcher at Oxford University (https://ophi.org.uk/people/rolando-gonzales-martinez) and a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at the Faculty of Spatial Sciences, University of Groningen (https://www.rug.nl/staff/r.m.gonzales.martinez/?lang=en). My research employs advanced computational methodologies, including machine learning and deep learning algorithms, to integrate survey data with satellite imagery, leveraging quantum Bayesian artificial intelligence (AI).
The PhD at UiA served as a pivotal platform for consolidating my academic expertise and accessing prestigious postdoctoral positions and international consultancy roles. Following the PhD, my career trajectory includes appointments as a postdoctoral data scientist at CASUS (Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Germany), a health researcher at the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences and Arts, and a consultant for institutions such as the Centre for Demographic Studies (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona), the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Additionally, I engaged in international consultancy for AjoCard (digital finance, Africa), Layco Medical (Netherlands), and Noggin HQ (psychometrics, UK). I also was awarded the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship, the European Union’s most prestigious funding program, and the University Teaching Qualification (UTQ) certification, recognized across all top Dutch universities as a benchmark of pedagogical excellence.
Have you got any tips for potential new PhD candidates?
- Pursue research that ignites your intellectual curiosity and aligns with your passions.
- Stay vigilant against cognitive biases such as the Dunning-Kruger effect.
- Commit to lifelong learning, as the rapid evolution of science, particularly in artificial intelligence, necessitates constant adaptation.
- Above all, remember: science is not about publications; it is a transformative endeavor aimed at advancing human knowledge and improving lives.