Home Country: Argentina
Program: Data Science
University: Universidad Nacional de Tucuman, Virginia Tech University
Pronouns: he/his/him
Languages: Spanish, English
I was born and raised in Tucuman, the smallest province in Argentina, in a warm and loving family of seven, including my four siblings. Sports have been a constant passion throughout my life, with rugby being my favorite. I played for Tucuman Rugby Club and also enjoy playing football with my friends regularly, as well as other sports such as table tennis, paddle, and chess. From my country I am huge fan of River Plate and our National team. I like hiking as well, and love outdoors activities. I am a talkative person who feels at ease in new environments, and I enjoy meeting new people. Public speaking comes naturally to me, and I aspire to become a skilled speaker who can share knowledge on various topics.
Gastronomically speaking, I love Argentinian common dishes such as empanadas, humita and asado but I am open to try everything. I am also passionate about getting involved in projects, especially those with a social impact. I have participated in different social organizations and have a strong commitment to my society. Teaching is another area where I find fulfillment, and I have worked as a personal tutor for children at school, a teaching assistant at the university, and a rugby coach for my local club. I am also interested in entrepreneurship and aspire to start my own company that can address global issues.
After majoring in industrial engineering, I was fortunate to study at Virginia Tech University with a Friends of Fulbright scholarship, which gave me an appreciation for working with data. When I returned to Argentina, I worked for a gearbox manufacturing company (SCANIA) for a year before deciding to pursue a career in data science. I left my job and started studying on my own before applying for the master's program at Rice University. I am thrilled to have been awarded the Fulbright scholarship and am excited to begin my studies in data science at Rice.
On Rice:
What I like about Rice University is that it has a small student body, which creates a close-knit community that feels like a big family. As for Houston, I love that it is a bustling metropolis full of opportunities where I will have the chance to meet interesting people. I am also very interested in space programs and am excited to visit the various space centers located in Houston.
On Fulbright:
The best thing about Fulbright is the way it opens up opportunities for people from all around the world to share their cultures and contexts, providing scholars with unique experiences that will undoubtedly broaden their minds and hearts. This program offers the chance to create networks between different countries and gives hope for a brighter international future.
Fun Fact about Facundo:
I have really good memory for song lyrics!