José Luis León Medina

José Luis León Medina

SECIHTI Postdoctoral Researcher

CIMAT-Mérida


I am a SECIHTI Postdoctoral Researcher at CIMAT–Mérida, member of the Algebraic Topology Group since 2022. I earned my Ph.D. in Mathematics from CINVESTAV (2022) under the supervision of Jesús González, where I studied topological complexity and homotopy-theoretic invariants of non-$k$-equal spaces.

My research focuses on the intersection of algebraic topology and computation. I study configuration-type spaces and real subspace arrangements (cohomology rings, higher cohomology operations, and motion-planning complexity), while developing computational tools to translate topological structures into explicit algorithms.

I develop and maintain open-source software in Python/SageMath, including SageMath code to compute cohomology rings of real parabolic arrangements. My current collaborative work includes developing computable polynomial invariants for 3-manifolds via Heegaard diagrams (arXiv:2510.06651).

My work is supported by the SECIHTI grant CBF2023-2024-4059 (“Interacciones topológico-computacionales”). I am a member of the Mexican National System of Researchers (SNII, Candidate level) since 2023.

Download my CV.


Interests
  • Algebraic Topology
  • Homotopy Theory
  • Topological Complexity
  • Discrete Morse Theory
  • Applied Topology
  • Computational Topology
Education
  • PhD in Mathematics, 2022

    CINVESTAV

  • MSc in Mathematics, 2018

    CINVESTAV

  • BSc in Mathematics, 2016

    BUAP

Activities

.js-id-2026
CIMAT-Mérida Algebraic Topology Seminar Events
Participating in the CIMAT-Mérida Algebraic Topology Seminar as leader of the working group on “Topology and tropical geometry of neural networks ReLU: polyhedral complexes, homology and computational prototypes.” Feb-Aug 2026.
Graphs on Surfaces, Polynomials and 3-Manifolds (CIMAT) Course
I am teaching Graphs on Surfaces, Polynomials and 3-Manifolds with José Carlos Gómez Larrañaga, Spring 2026.
Algebraic and Geometric Topology Session Chair (SMM) Organization
Served as Session Chair for Algebraic and Geometric Topology at the 58th National Congress of the Mexican Mathematical Society, held October 20-24, 2025 at FCFM-BUAP.
Poster in Pisa - Topology of Arrangements Poster
I presented the poster “The Cohomology of Real Parabolic Arrangements” at the conference “Topology of Arrangements with an Eye to Applications”, University of Pisa, Italy, September 2-6, 2025.
Enhancing Machine Learning with Topological Features Talk
Talk at the MexSIAM 2025 Annual Meeting, UNACH, Chiapas, Aug 13-15, 2025.
Luis Enrique Aponte Pérez Thesis Defense Students
M.Sc. (Mathematics) thesis defense, FCFM-BUAP. Thesis: “A study of modal logic with simplicial complexes.” Jun 11, 2025.
Delfín program Students
I served as a researcher host in the Delfín program of the student Juan Sebastian Romero Burgos (Universidad Konrad Lorenz). CIMAT-Mérida, Jun 9-Jul 25, 2025.
School of Differential Geometry and Topology Talk
I gave the talk “Topology of real subspace arrangements” at the School of Differential Geometry and Topology, CIMAT, Guanajuato, Gto., April 8-11, 2025.
Topology 2 (CIMAT) Course
Topology 2 course for the M.Sc. in Basic Mathematics, CIMAT, Spring 2025.
Applied Topology School Organization
CIMAT-Mérida Applied Topology School, Nov 7-12, 2024. Mini-courses and talks on topics in applied topology, plus problem-solving workshops.
Algebraic Topology Session at 11CIMA Organization
With Jorge Aguilar (IPN), José Martín Mijangos (IIMAS-UNAM), and María Teresa Hoekstra (CIMAT) organize the algebraic topology session at the Eleventh International Conference on Mathematics and Its Applications, BUAP, Puebla, September 2-6, 2024.
Applied Topology (UADY) Course
Co-taught the Applied Topology course with José Carlos Gómez Larrañaga, UADY, Fall 2024.
Delfín program Students
I served as a researcher host in the Delfín summer program of students Abel Salvador Carvajal Escolástico (UDG), Daniel Arturo López Ponce (BUAP), Adán López Villegas (UAS) and Cesar Yosgart Mercado Luquin (UDG). Mérida, Jun 17-Aug 2, 2024.
Un Acercamiento al Análisis Topológico de Datos Events
I gave a brief introductory course to topological data analysis to students of FCFM-BUAP, Puebla, June 17-21, 2024.
Summer School in Algebraic Topology Organization
I participated in the organization of the Summer School in Algebraic Topology, CIMAT-Mérida, Yucatán, July 15-19, 2024.
CIMAT Mérida Summer School Events
Bernardo Villarreal, José Cantarero, and I gave the course “Introducción a los Métodos de la Topología Algebraica”, CIMAT-Mérida, Yucatán, July 8-12, 2024.
CIMAT Mérida Spring School Events
I collaborated with José Carlos Gómez Larrañaga giving the course “Estudio de 3-variedades usando gráficas en superficies”, CIMAT-Mérida, Yucatán, April 8-12, 2024.
GEOTOP-A conference Organization
I worked in the local organization of the GEOTOP-A conference, Mérida, Yucatán, January 8-13, 2024.
Algebraic Topology Seminar Events
I participated in the CIMAT-Mérida’s Algebraic Topology Seminar, January-December, 2023.
Pares Ordenados Lecture Program Students
I mentored the student Cristian Fernando León Sierra (Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia) in the program Pares Ordenados, August-December, 2023.
CIMAT-Mérida 2023 Summer School Organization
I co-organized the CIMAT-Mérida Summer School, July 10-14, 2023.
Summer stays Students
I hosted a group of students who worked on a summer project about reflection groups: Aldair Reyes González (UNAM), José María Castilla Cochegrus (UADY), Ramsés Alejandro García Abascal Ruíz (UNAM), June-August, 2023.

Recent Publications

(2025). The rational (non-)formality of the non-3-equal manifolds. Mathematical Proceedings of the Cambridge Philosophical Society.
(2025). 3-manifold polynomials. arXiv.
(2022). On Lusternik–Schnirelmann category and topological complexity of non-k-equal manifolds. Journal of Homotopy and Related Structures.

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