Ernesto Estrada
Encyclopedia
Ernesto Estrada is a Cuba
n-Spanish
scientist
. He is the Chair in Complexity Science, a full Professor at the Department of Physics
and Department of Mathematics
, and a member of the Institute of Complex Systems of the University of Strathclyde
, Glasgow
, United Kingdom
. He is known by his contributions in different disciplines including chemistry, and the mathematics and physics of Complex Systems.
, in the central region of Cuba. Since the age of 11 he studied in a school which specialized in exact sciences. He later studied for a technical degree as an analytical chemist in a technological institute in Havana
. At the age of 18 he presented his first scientific paper in an international congress together with his mentor, Dr. Jose F. Fernandez-Bertran. The paper was about the detection of polyatomic anions
in matrices of NaCl using infrared spectroscopy. Between 1985 and 1990, he studied chemical sciences at the Central University of Las Villas in Santa Clara, Cuba
, where he obtained his degree in only 4 of the 5 years established for the program. In the first years after graduation, Estrada investigated the synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of new organic molecules with biological activity. This research introduced him to the world of computational chemistry due to the requirement of using efficient methods to design biologically active molecules. In 1997, he obtained his Ph.D in Chemistry under the direction of Prof. Luis A. Montero Cabrera on the topic of “Graph Theory Applied to Molecular Design”. By this time, Estrada had published 8 scientific papers in major chemistry journals.
, in particular to the development and use of molecular descriptors based on the use of Graph Theory. He is known for the introduction of several approaches in this field, such as the Topological Sub-Structural Molecular Design (TOPS-MODE) approach, and the generalization of topological indices. In 2005, Estrada started researches in the field of complex networks, developing new approaches to investigate the structure and dynamics of such systems. An index introduced by him in 1999 to characterise the degree of folding of proteins, and then generalised to the study of complex networks in 2005, has eventually became the Estrada index
of a graph or network, and it is the subject of intensive research in mathematics and other fields. Estrada is also known in the field of spectral graph theory where he has introduced several approaches to characterise the organizational architecture of complex networks, such as the “subgraph centrality”, “communicability”, “spectral scaling”, “golden spectral graphs”, etc.
In 2007, Estrada received the prize as Outstanding Scientist from the International Academy of Mathematical Chemistry
. The prize recognizes his valuable contributions in developing and applying graph theory to solve problems in many interdisciplinary areas, such as chemistry, physics, biology, ecology and technology.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n-Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
. He is the Chair in Complexity Science, a full Professor at the Department of Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
and Department of Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, and a member of the Institute of Complex Systems of the University of Strathclyde
University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde , Glasgow, Scotland, is Glasgow's second university by age, founded in 1796, and receiving its Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university...
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He is known by his contributions in different disciplines including chemistry, and the mathematics and physics of Complex Systems.
Birth and education
Estrada was born in the city of Sancti SpiritusSancti Spíritus
Sancti Spíritus is a municipality and capital city of the province of Sancti Spíritus in central Cuba. Sancti Spíritus, Latin for "Holy Spirit," is one of the best preserved cities in the Caribbean from the time of the sugar trade.-History:...
, in the central region of Cuba. Since the age of 11 he studied in a school which specialized in exact sciences. He later studied for a technical degree as an analytical chemist in a technological institute in Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
. At the age of 18 he presented his first scientific paper in an international congress together with his mentor, Dr. Jose F. Fernandez-Bertran. The paper was about the detection of polyatomic anions
Polyatomic ion
A polyatomic ion, also known as a molecular ion, is a charged species composed of two or more atoms covalently bonded or of a metal complex that can be considered as acting as a single unit in the context of acid and base chemistry or in the formation of salts. The prefix "poly-" means "many," in...
in matrices of NaCl using infrared spectroscopy. Between 1985 and 1990, he studied chemical sciences at the Central University of Las Villas in Santa Clara, Cuba
Santa Clara, Cuba
Santa Clara is the capital city of the Cuban province of Villa Clara. It is located in the most central region of the province and almost in the most central region of the country.- History :Santa Clara was founded by 175 people on July 15th, 1689...
, where he obtained his degree in only 4 of the 5 years established for the program. In the first years after graduation, Estrada investigated the synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of new organic molecules with biological activity. This research introduced him to the world of computational chemistry due to the requirement of using efficient methods to design biologically active molecules. In 1997, he obtained his Ph.D in Chemistry under the direction of Prof. Luis A. Montero Cabrera on the topic of “Graph Theory Applied to Molecular Design”. By this time, Estrada had published 8 scientific papers in major chemistry journals.
Academic career
After completing his Ph.D., Estrada spent some time as post-doctoral research at the University of Valencia, Spain working with Prof. Jorge Galvez and at the Lisa-Meitner Institute for Computational Quantum Chemistry, Hebrew University of Jerusalem with Prof. David Avnir. In 2000, he officially emigrated to Spain where he obtained a fellowship at the University of Santiago de Compostela. Between 2002 and 2003, Estrada worked as a scientist at the Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever in Colworth, U.K. He then obtained a position as “Ramon y Cajal” researcher at the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Since 2008, Estrada occupies the newly created Chair in Complexity Science at the University of Strathclyde and has published more than 120 papers. He is a Cuban and Spanish citizen, resident in Scotland, U.K.Research and achievements
Estrada has been a major contributor to the development of mathematical chemistryMathematical chemistry
Mathematical chemistry is the area of research engaged in novel applications of mathematics to chemistry; it concerns itself principally with the mathematical modeling of chemical phenomena...
, in particular to the development and use of molecular descriptors based on the use of Graph Theory. He is known for the introduction of several approaches in this field, such as the Topological Sub-Structural Molecular Design (TOPS-MODE) approach, and the generalization of topological indices. In 2005, Estrada started researches in the field of complex networks, developing new approaches to investigate the structure and dynamics of such systems. An index introduced by him in 1999 to characterise the degree of folding of proteins, and then generalised to the study of complex networks in 2005, has eventually became the Estrada index
Estrada index
In chemical graph theory, the Estrada index is a topological index of protein folding. The index was first defined by Ernesto Estrada as a measure of the degree of folding of a protein, which is represented as a path-graph weighted by the dihedral or torsional angles of the protein backbone...
of a graph or network, and it is the subject of intensive research in mathematics and other fields. Estrada is also known in the field of spectral graph theory where he has introduced several approaches to characterise the organizational architecture of complex networks, such as the “subgraph centrality”, “communicability”, “spectral scaling”, “golden spectral graphs”, etc.
In 2007, Estrada received the prize as Outstanding Scientist from the International Academy of Mathematical Chemistry
International Academy of Mathematical Chemistry
The International Academy of Mathematical Chemistry was founded in Dubrovnik in 2005 by Milan Randic. The Academy Members are 88 from all over the world , comprising six scientists awarded the Nobel Prize....
. The prize recognizes his valuable contributions in developing and applying graph theory to solve problems in many interdisciplinary areas, such as chemistry, physics, biology, ecology and technology.
Selected publications
- Estrada, E.; Hatano, N. Returnability in complex directed networks (digraphs). Linear Algebra and its Applications 430, 2009, 1886-1896.
- Estrada, E.; Hatano, N. Communicability in Complex Networks. Physical Review E 77, 2008, 036111.
- Estrada, E. Topological structural classes of complex networks. Physical Review E 75, 2007, 016103.
- Estrada, E. Spectral scaling and good expansion properties in complex networks. Europhysics Letters 73, 2006, 649-655.
- Estrada, E.; Rodríguez-Velázquez, J. A. Subgraph centrality in complex networks. Physical Review E 71, 2005, 056103.
- Estrada, E. Generalization of topological indices. Chemical Physics Letters 336, 2001, 248-252.
- Estrada, E. Characterization of the folding degree of proteins. Bioinformatics 18, 2002, 697-704.