This academic internship at UFRO’s Department of Computer Science and Informatics reinforces the institution’s international partnerships. It involves Colombian researcher Carlos Eduardo Orozco Garcés, who, as part of his doctoral dissertation at Universidad del Cauca, is spending two months at UFRO under the guidance of Dr. Samuel Sepúlveda Cuevas.

The internship also includes a second stage —a one-month stay at Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (Spain)— creating a valuable collaborative space among universities from Latin America and Europe that contributes to strengthening research in emerging areas of the discipline.

“I arrived in Temuco on September 18, and this is my first visit both to Chile and to UFRO. I am currently pursuing a PhD in Computer Science and working on the development of quantum software architectures, a topic that Professor Samuel Sepúlveda also researches. Together, we aim to propose a model that can help companies define this type of architecture,” explains Orozco, noting that his connection with Dr. Sepúlveda emerged from previous collaborations among researchers in Colombia, Chile, and Spain. “It was a fortunate coincidence that now allows us to strengthen our research lines and expand international cooperation,” he adds.

For his part, Dr. Samuel Sepúlveda highlights: “Our collaboration with Carlos Eduardo came about quite naturally, through joint work with Professor César Pardo, his advisor in Colombia, and with researchers Ricardo Pérez and Mario Piattini in Spain. Without a doubt, this internship is an enriching experience for both sides and reaffirms the relevance of the work we are doing from southern Chile in cutting-edge fields such as quantum computing. Opportunities like this open new paths for collaboration and demonstrate that advanced knowledge can also be generated from our region, connecting with international leaders in the field.”

He adds: “We have made sure that Carlos Eduardo fully integrates into the department’s academic environment and team. In addition to his research, he will participate in the 2025 Chilean Conference on Computing, to be held from October 28 to 30 in Valparaíso, and he has already given a talk in UFRO’s Master’s Program in Computer Engineering.”

For Carlos Eduardo Orozco, the experience at Universidad de La Frontera has been highly rewarding. “From day one, I have received a very warm welcome, both academically and personally. Temuco is a friendly city with a close-knit university community. I am very grateful to UFRO for the openness and support I have received, as well as for the opportunity to share knowledge and perspectives through lectures, academic activities, and everyday exchanges with colleagues.”

Daphne Bormann Parada
Faculty of Engineering and Sciences