One of us: Assistant Professor from Mexico Jesus Alberto Cazares Montes

June 1, 2022

Mexico is a country located almost ten thousand kilometers away from Latvia. It has a completely different culture that might be foreign for many. Jesus Alberto Cazares Montes, or how colleagues and students call him – Jesus Montes, is a citizen of Mexico who has come this long way to not only teach, but also to get to know our country. When you first meet Jesus Montes he seems like a quiet and shy person, but by the time the conversation begins, the room is filled with warmth. Interesting facts about Jesus Montes are that he earned his doctorate in physics from the “Center of Research and Advanced Studies at National Polytechnic Institute (CINVESTAV–IPN)” in Mexico and he has taught various courses at six universities in both Mexico and Croatia. Since 2019, Jesus Montes has joined the academic staff of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and teaches mathematics and physics study courses in the English-language bachelor's study programme “Computer Science”. While reading this interview you will learn more about how Jesus Montes journey to VUAS and how he fell in love with Latvia, its culture and traditions.


Tell us about yourself and about your life in your home country and how it is different/similar to the one here in Latvia, Ventspils? 


I was born in a small town not so far from Guadalajara, Mexico called Cajititlan (actually, the hospital was in Guadalajara, which is one of the largest cities in Mexico). Because of my father’s job, we lived in different cities in Mexico. 


I would say that I am an open, optimistic person that loves coffee, music and culture in general.


I used to live in Guadalajara and Mexico City and they are very dynamic, crowded and noisy cities, but, on the other hand, they offer a wide range of possibilities and activities. This is something that I miss a little bit: the cultural activities.


Tell us please about your education and work experience before Ventspils.


I got the Bs.Sc. in physics in Zacatecas University, the Ms.Sc. and the Ph.D. in physics in the Center of Research and Advanced Studies which is the 2nd best research center in Latin America and has the 109 position in the world and is located in Mexico City. I have worked in different universities in Mexico including the National Polytechnic Institute. I did a postdoctoral stay at Ruđer Bošković Institute, in Zagreb, Croatia and after that, I worked as a mathematics professor at Rochester Institute of Technology, Croatia. 


How did you get to Latvia? To VUAS?


Here I will share the whole story of how I got from Mexico to Croatia and then to Latvia.


Once I got the Ph.D. in Mexico City, first I went to Croatia as a visiting researcher and then I joined as a mathematics professor at Rochester Institute of Technology in Croatia for three years. When I was teaching in Zagreb, my students often said to me “Professor, why are you here with us? I mean, you are very talented, you are very passionate, you know a lot of things, but many of us believe that you are wasting your time in this place with foolish students that are only interested in passing the course, but not to learn?” Honestly, I did not pay much attention to their comments.


However, that place was interested in acquiring university status, but according to Croatian law if a professor has a diploma in a specific science then they are qualified to teach only that science. As I am a physicist, I was able to teach physics, but not mathematics (the subject that I was teaching at that time).


I took into consideration the comments of my students and I decided to challenge myself by looking for a university where I could teach engineering again. I searched for different positions, I applied and I got a positive answer from our university. I came to Ventspils and we signed the contract. After that, in less than 3 days, I got several more positive answers from universities in different countries - including a one in Croatia!


However, VUAS was the first one. Since I did not like hot weather - Latvia could offer me the perfect weather! So, I chose Ventspils.


Now, looking back at this experience - I am really glad that the events happened the way they did. I think that I was really lucky to get the opportunity to join VUAS as a professor and I am very happy to be part of the VUAS community.

 

How do you see your future here at VUAS? And how do you see VUAS in 3-5 years' future?


I am really lucky to be part of the VUAS community, not only because I am in the faculty of IT, but also because I recently joined VIRAC. This full affiliation will allow me to grow not only as a professor but also as a researcher. Additionally, I am learning the Latvian language, that way I can be of a greater use to the university.


Currently, VUAS is taking part in different projects, both nationally and internationally. This means a bigger projection of our university can also imply growth of the university in a not so far future.


Additionally, I was elected as Assistant Professor two months ago. Do I need more reasons to be proud to belong to the VUAS community?


How would you characterize the student auditorium in VUAS? What techniques work best in the study process? Can you give some advice to students?


Unfortunately, I have not worked exactly with a Latvian auditorium because I am working with international students. This is really an awesome experience because I am learning different approaches and methods from them.


Mathematics is a logical and structured science but it is necessary to work with it, to study a lot to get a full understanding. I have seen that some students can learn things at a first glance and they can remember everything, but I have also seen students that need to work a lot and solve many exercises before they learn the subject. I mean, each one of us needs a different learning process, thus, the first advice that I can give to any student is to know yourself and find what kind of methodology suits you better and work with that.


Something really important is to never limit yourself with the content studied in the classroom. Go to the library and make a review of the materials studied in class and also the materials for the next class - you will understand it better.


There is an interesting quote in the book Xunzi “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I may remember. Involve me and I learn”. The learning process involves two persons - the professor (I see the professor like a guide, nothing more) and the student. If a student is just going to the classroom and not working regularly, it will be hard to get a deeper knowledge of the subject, but when the students read additional materials or discuss the subjects and homework with their colleagues, then success is almost guaranteed.


I can summarize this with a personal quote: Nobody becomes a captain in a swimming pool.


Could you list 3 - 5 beliefs that would make life easier and people happier?


“If your problem has a solution - why worry? On the other hand, if your problem has no solution - then why worry?”


“Good decisions come from experience - experience comes from bad decisions!” (in other words, do not be afraid to be wrong, but learn from the mistakes).


“If lemons fall from the sky, learn how to make lemonade!!” (in other words, transform a problem into an opportunity).


Do you miss Mexico? 


What I really miss from Mexico is the food… It is impossible to find such a kind of food here in Europe. Yes, I know, there are many “Mexican” restaurants in Europe (we even have one here in Ventspils). However, they offer the so-called Tex-Mex food. This is the result of the Mexican influence in the south part of the USA (especially Texas, that is the reason for the name). But certainly, no one offers real Mexican food.


Do you consider Latvia your home?


I think that you can call home a place where you feel comfortable, a place where you can identify yourself with the local culture and especially where you can create bonds. After almost three and a half years here, I have started to tie my identity with the Latvian culture and now that I am learning the Latvian language my bond can only get stronger. Additionally, I am in a folkloric dance ensemble and a folkloric choir ensemble. I now have a dream to participate in the Latvian Song and Dance Festival.



Yes, I consider Latvia my home and every day I become prouder of this land since I am creating a stronger bond with Latvia every day.


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International Scientific Seminar on Massive Star Formation

By Rota Žagare • September 18, 2026
On 24 September, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences will host the international scientific seminar “Massive Star Formation – Latest Research and Developments”, organised by the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC). The seminar will bring together researchers and those interested in research with visiting scientists from the United States. The seminar will feature scientist Dr Todd R. Hunter and Lead Astronomer Dr Crystal L. Brogan from the U.S. National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO). The guests will present current research in radio astronomy, state-of-the-art observational infrastructure, and the opportunities it provides for studying the Universe and the processes of star formation. Dr Todd R. Hunter will give a presentation entitled “Exploring the Universe at Centimeter Wavelengths: The Next Generation Very Large Array”, while Dr Crystal L. Brogan will present “Searching for Our Cosmic Origins Using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array”. The seminar will provide researchers with an opportunity to discuss the latest research findings and methods with internationally recognised experts in radio astronomy, as well as to explore opportunities for future scientific collaboration. Such international knowledge-exchange activities strengthen the research capacity of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and promote the involvement of Latvian researchers in the international radio astronomy research community. This information has been prepared within the framework of the project “Ventspils University of Applied Sciences` International Cooperation and Innovation for the Development of Latvia’s Smart Specialisation” (Project No. 1.1.1.5/3/25/I/012). 

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By Rota Žagare • September 18, 2026
On Friday, 25 September, at 16:15, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences invites everyone interested to attend the popular science open lecture “From Cosmic Cloud to Star: How Massive Stars Are Born”. The lecture will offer an engaging and accessible introduction to how massive stars are born, how astronomers are able to observe their formation, and what these studies can reveal about the origins and evolution of our Universe. The lecture will be delivered by guests from the U.S. National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) – scientist Dr Todd R. Hunter and Lead Astronomer Dr Crystal L. Brogan. Both researchers use modern radio astronomy techniques to study star formation and processes taking place throughout the Universe. The lecture is particularly suitable for astronomy enthusiasts as well as anyone interested in space and the methods scientists use to explore the Universe. No prior knowledge of astronomy is required. The lecture will be held in English, and participation is free of charge. The open lecture will complement the European Researchers’ Night programme in Ventspils. After the lecture, participants will have the opportunity to continue exploring science at the VIZIUM Science Centre, where European Researchers’ Night activities will take place. This information has been prepared within the framework of the project “Ventspils University of Applied Sciences` International Cooperation and Innovation for the Development of Latvia’s Smart Specialisation ” (Project No. 1.1.1.5/3/25/I/012).

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By Rota Žagare • September 11, 2026
As the availability of artificial intelligence (AI) tools continues to grow, so do their capabilities and the range of tasks they can perform, including increasingly complex and sophisticated ones. Consequently, AI is finding applications in ever narrower and more specialised fields. Scientific research in astronomy is no exception, including radio astronomy and related theoretical fields, which are among the areas of research pursued by scientists at the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VSRC) of the Institute of Engineering at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. AI is based on existing knowledge and cannot independently interpret newly generated scientific results. Nevertheless, AI-assisted data processing, generation of program code, partially repetitive data rows and other types of information, as well as the initial compilation and review of large volumes of information on a scientific topic or, for example, the operation of an existing program, can facilitate certain tasks when carried out under careful supervision and verification by a researcher. The results can, in turn, be checked using another version of an AI agent. However, these approaches do not necessarily reduce the overall amount of work or the time required to complete it. To make the most effective use of the opportunities offered by AI and to communicate this knowledge in an accessible way so that it can subsequently be learned and adopted by everyone involved in research, including members of the older generation of scientists, VSRC launched a series of seminars on the use of AI in science in autumn 2026. The series places particular emphasis on astrophysics and radio astronomy, including radio interferometric observations using the Irbene Radio Telescope (IRT) and the LOFAR network. The first seminar was led by VSRC scientific assistant Gints Jasmonts, who shared his knowledge and experience on 3 September. He provided an introduction to the world of AI and presented examples from his own work in computer science and astrophysics. The discussion focused primarily on large language models available through chat interfaces, search engines and programming environments. At their core, these AI systems operate by predicting the next word or token based on the preceding context. The seminar concluded with a discussion, which revealed that participants are already using AI in their everyday work. At the same time, it became clear that learning how to apply the diverse capabilities of AI specifically to research will require further learning. The next seminar will therefore have a more practical focus. This information has been prepared within the framework of the project “Ventspils University of Applied Sciences` International Cooperation and Innovation for the Development of Latvia’s Smart Specialisation ” (Project No. 1.1.1.5/3/25/I/012).

Ventspils Researchers Present Latest Discoveries on Massive Star Birth at International Astrophysics Symposium in Germany

By Rota Žagare • August 31, 2026
Dr. Artis Aberfelds, Senior Researcher at the Engineering Research Institute "Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre" (VIRAC) of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, participated in the prestigious international symposium "SFB 1601: Cologne-Bonn Symposium on the habitats of massive stars across cosmic time" held at the University of Cologne, Germany. A scientific report on methanol maser activity around forming massive stars was presented during the event. Organized by the University of Cologne, the symposium brought together leading astrophysicists and radio astronomers from around the world to discuss the latest discoveries in star formation, the interstellar medium, and the physical processes governing the birth of stars. The research presented by Dr. Aberfelds was developed in close international collaboration with researchers A. Sanna and L. Moscadelli from the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF). Utilizing the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) in the USA – one of the world's most sensitive radio telescope arrays – the study analyzed the connection between 6.7 GHz methanol (CH3OH) maser emission, stellar radiation, and outflows from young massive stars. Key Findings and Conclusions: Discovery of 5 new maser sources: Observing 22 star-forming regions, 6.7 GHz methanol maser emission was detected in 13 objects, revealing 5 previously unknown maser sources. Precise indicator of stellar location: Over 90% of all detected maser spots are located in close proximity to the central star. Direct link with thermal free-free radio continuum emission: The study revealed a strong correlation between methanol maser luminosity and thermal radio emission, enabling astronomers to more accurately predict and identify weak radiation sources in the Universe in the future. Potential for next-generation radio telescopes: Calculations indicate that more than 30% of the methanol maser population currently remains undetected due to sensitivity limits of existing instruments. These sources will be unlocked by next-generation radio interferometers (such as the ngVLA and SKA). The research and conference participation were carried out within the framework of the Latvian Council of Science (LZP) Fundamental and Applied Research Project „Revealing the physical mechanism of mass ejection around young massive stars via CH3OH masers” (Project No. 1.1.1.9/LZP/1/24/044).

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By Rota Žagare • July 20, 2026
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