School of Social and Political Science

Background

I am a Tutor in the Department of Politics and International Relations in the School of Social and Political Science at the University of Edinburgh and an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (Advance HE). I hold a PhD in Politics from the University of Edinburgh, UK and a Master's degree in International Relations from the University of Melbourne, Australia. I have a professional background in international cooperation and policy dialogue in science, technology and energy based at a number of organisations in the Chilean civil service.

My research examines the intricate interplay between humanitarianism and the reproduction of war, through the prism of the humanitarian approach to the regulation of autonomous weapons. In my PhD, I conducted a political ethnography of the contentious talks on lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS) held at the UN in Geneva. My focus was on the efforts of humanitarian and human rights NGOs, experts and like-minded countries who advocate for regulating LAWS in line with the paradigm of in/humane violence. Building on this research, I am writing my first monograph with Edinburgh University Press. The book, currently entitled 'Humanising War: Killer Robots, the United Nations and the Paradoxes of Humanitarianism', will be published in the series Advances in Critical Military Studies.  

Teaching Experience

Tutor, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, UK

• International Security (PGSP11162) | Sem 2, 2024/2025
• Research Design in Politics and International Relations (PLIT10106) | Sem 1, 2024/2025; Sem 1 2023/2024; Sem 1, 2021/2022
• Politics and International Relations 1A: Concepts and Debates (PLIT08017) | Sem 1, 2024/2025
• War and Justice (PLIT10021) | Sem 2, 2023/2024; Sem 2, 2021/2022

Guest Lecturer, School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Law, University of Dundee, UK

• Global Challenges (PO12004) | Sem 2, 2024/2025
• International Relations (PO21001) | Sem 2, 2024/2025
• Politics and Public Policy (PO11001) | Sem 1, 2024/2025

Teaching Assistant, Division of History and Politics, University of Stirling, UK

• People, Power and the State: An Introduction to Politics (POLU9A1) | Sem 1, 2023/2024

Facilitator, University of Edinburgh, UK 

• Insights Programme | Sem 2, 2020/2021

Education

• PhD Politics, University of Edinburgh, UK | 2024
• Master of International Relations, University of Melbourne, Australia (First Class Honours) | 2015
• BSc Public Administration and Political Science, Major in Political Science, Universidad de Concepción, Chile (Highest Distinction) | 2011 

Funding and Awards

• Nominee: Teacher of the Year, Edinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA) Teaching Awards | March 2025
• Nominee: Teacher of the Year (Social Sciences), Stirling University Students' Union Recognising and Advancing Teaching Excellence (RATE) Awards | May 2024
• IntroAP, Institute for Academic Development (IAD), University of Edinburgh, UK | January 2024
• PhD Research Support Fund, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, UK | November 2021
• PhD Research Support Fund, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, UK | June 2021
• International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP), US Department of State | June 2019
• Scholarship for PhD Studies Abroad, Becas Chile, Grant No 72200258 | June 2019
• Scholarship for Master's Degree Studies Abroad, Becas Chile, Grant No 73140416 | June 2013
• Excellence Scholarship, Universidad de Concepción, Chile | March 2011

Membership

• Associate Fellowship, Advance HE (AFHEA)
• International Relations Research Group (IRRG)
• Centre for Security Research (CeSeR)
• Political Studies Association (PSA)
• European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR)