Education
Ph.D. in Mathematics
Baylor University
Jan 2008 – Aug 2012
Waco, TX
Dissertation: Spectral Zeta Functions for Generalized Piston Configurations
Adviser: Klaus Kirsten, Ph.D.
Adviser: Klaus Kirsten, Ph.D.
M.Sc. in Mathematics
Baylor University
Jan 2008 – Dec 2009
Waco, TX
B.E. in Electronics Engineering
Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala
Jan 2003 – Aug 2008
Guatemala
Thesis: Reconstrucción de señales de audio — Adviser: Enrique Edmundo Ruiz Carballo, Ph.D.
Excellence Award, School of Engineering
Excellence Award, School of Engineering
B.S. in Applied Mathematics
Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala
Jan 2003 – May 2006
Guatemala
Thesis: Distribución de raíces de polinomios — Adviser: Rodrigo Vásquez, M.Sc.
Excellence Award, School of Engineering Magna Cum Laude
Excellence Award, School of Engineering Magna Cum Laude
Academic Appointments
Associate Teaching Professor (Tenured)
UC Santa Cruz · Mathematics
Jul 2022 – Present
Santa Cruz, CA
Assistant Teaching Professor (Tenure-Track)
UC Santa Cruz · Mathematics
Jul 2018 – Jun 2022
Santa Cruz, CA
Lecturer, Mathematics
University of Texas at Austin
Jan 2013 – Jun 2018
Austin, TX
Adjunct Professor, Mathematics
Baylor University
Aug 2012 – May 2013
Waco, TX
Administrative Appointments
Associate Dean, Physical and Biological Sciences Division
UC Santa Cruz
2024 – Present
Santa Cruz, CA
Works with 9 departments on hiring practices, departmental and divisional climate, student access and success, and organizational infrastructure.
Organizer, Math Teachers' Circle of Santa Cruz
UC Santa Cruz
2022 – Present
Santa Cruz, CA
Coordinates speakers for monthly sessions for middle school and high school math teachers in Santa Cruz County.
Vice-Chair for Undergraduate Affairs, Mathematics Department
UC Santa Cruz
2022 – 2023
Santa Cruz, CA
Oversaw course articulations, curricular planning, teaching assistant allocation, divisional planning, and undergraduate program assessment.
Calculus Coordinator, Mathematics Department
University of Texas at Austin
2016 – 2018
Austin, TX
Coordinated calculus for business and science sections, including TA management, exam design and grading, and homework design.
Organizer, Math Teachers' Circle of Austin
University of Texas at Austin
2015 – 2018
Austin, TX
Coordinated speakers for monthly sessions for middle school and high school math teachers in the Austin area.
Research Interests
Mathematics
Casimir Effect
Regularization
Zeta Functions
Quantum Field Theories
Asymptotic Analysis
MSC2010: Primary 11M36, 14G10, 11F72, 35J05 · Secondary 35J15, 34L20, 11M45, 11M06
Education
Inquiry-Based Learning
Flipped Classroom
Experiential Learning
Math Outreach
Math Circles
Data Science
Honors & Awards
Ron Ruby Teaching Award
Division of Physical and Biological Sciences · UC Santa Cruz
2023–2024
Excellence in Teaching Award
Campus-wide · UC Santa Cruz
2023–2024
Guatemalteco Ilustre — Orator
Nationwide · Seguros Universales
2018
Teaching Excellence Award
College of Natural Sciences · UT Austin
2017
Selected Publications
[1]
Perone L. Improvising With and In Higher Education: All Together Now. Palgrave Studies In Play, Performance, Learning, and Development. Springer Nature Switzerland; 2025. (Contributed chapter)
books.google.com/books?id=kC790AEACAAJ
books.google.com/books?id=kC790AEACAAJ
[2]
Morales-Almazán P. Improv Practices in Mathematics Active Teaching. PRIMUS. 2022;32(9):1013–28.
doi.org/10.1080/10511970.2021.1978604
doi.org/10.1080/10511970.2021.1978604
[3]
Dougherty S, Oggier F, editors. Discrete Mathematics Resources [Online Book]; 2022. (Contributed chapter)
sites.google.com/view/discretemathematicsresources
sites.google.com/view/discretemathematicsresources
[4]
Graham C, Kirsten K, Morales-Almazán P, Streit BQ. Functional determinants for Laplacians on annuli and elliptical regions. Journal of Mathematical Physics. 2018;59(1).
[5]
Cardona A, Morales P, Ocampo H, Paycha S, Lega AFR. Quantization, Geometry and Noncommutative Structures in Mathematics and Physics. Springer; 2017.
[6]
Morales-Almazán P. A geometrical approach to measure irrationality. Functiones et Approximatio Commentarii Mathematici. 2017;56(2):165–79.
Grants
Building Data Science Communities PI
California Learning Lab
2024–2026
$350,000
Educational professional development grant with 6 programs: a year cohort of foundation scholars, interdisciplinary fellows, a course redesign mentorship program, an online resource for course redesign, a lecture series, and a webinar series. Host: UCSC · Sub-award: CSU Monterey Bay.
Improving Calculus Learning Outcomes for Student Success in Engineering co-PI
California Learning Lab
2022–2024
$99,000
Seed grant for incorporating active learning in secondary sessions paired with supplemental instruction, and experiential learning through group application projects in engineering.
Monterey Bay Area Math Project PI
Multiple agencies
2019 – Present
Series of grants supporting professional development of K–12 math teachers in the Monterey Bay Area.
Scholarship
Undergraduate Lower Division Online Course Redesigns
2023–2025
Coordinated redesign of four lower division mathematics courses in semi-flipped problem-based synchronously remote modality. Coordinated 4 graduate student fellows using research-based design strategies.
Calculus with Applications Course Redesigns
2020–2024
Coordinated redesigns for two courses incorporating project-based learning for high-stakes assessment focusing on life science and physical science applications.
Mathematical Problems in Data Science — Course Design
2022–2023
Created a new course on Mathematics in Data Science focusing on problems and theory arising from applications in data science.
Industrial Mathematics — Course Design
2019–2020
Created a new course on Industrial Mathematics using experiential learning and group project-based learning, covering topics and techniques relevant for industry.
Pedagogy of Mathematics for Instructors — Course Design
2018–2019
Created a new course on Pedagogy of Mathematics for graduate student instructors of record, covering research-based course design and teaching methodologies.
Pedagogy of Mathematics for Teaching Assistants — Course Design
2018–2019
Created a new course on Pedagogy of Mathematics for graduate student teaching assistants, including research-based teaching strategies and class management skills.
Service
AI Council, Campus-wide
UC Santa Cruz
2025
Discussed, identified, and created Policies, Guidelines, and FAQs for AI usage on campus relevant to academic affairs, research, and administration.
Visiting Assistant Professor Search Committee, Mathematics Department
UC Santa Cruz
2024–2025
Created a search plan and conducted the search for Visiting Assistant Professors with more than 150 applicants.
Board of Directors, Center for Reimagining Leadership
UC Santa Cruz
2024 – Present
Teaching Professor Search Committee, Physics Department
UC Santa Cruz
2023–2024
Part of the search committee for a tenure-track teaching professor position with approximately 100 applicants.
Teaching Professor Search Committee, Applied Mathematics Department
UC Santa Cruz
2023–2024
Part of the search committee for a tenure-track teaching professor position with approximately 100 applicants.
Competitions Editor, American Mathematics Competitions
Mathematical Association of America
2020 – Present
Member of the editorial board of the AMC.