Tribute to Dr Mario Gutiérrez-Roig

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of our colleague Dr Mario Gutiérrez-Roig on 13 April 2023 while on holiday in the south of Spain, following an unexpected cardiac incident.

Mario joined Essex as a Lecturer in Data Science and Statistics in April 2020, following a research position at the University of Warwick. Mario obtained his PhD in physics at the Universitat de Barcelona in 2016, having also studied at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.

Mario’s research combined complex systems and data science methodologies to understand and model human behaviour and its dynamics at the collective level, particularly in the context of both urban and online environments. He was particularly keen on working with companies through opportunities such as Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, as well as public institutions such as the United Nations Development Programme and Essex County Council. He was an advocate of open-source, and he was happy to support his peers whenever possible.

He was instrumental in driving forward the highly successful conversion MSc courses in Data Science and its Applications and Applied Data Science, acting as the Course Director and Admissions Officer, at a time when student numbers were growing exponentially. He helped create and develop multiple innovative modules, including those on topics such as artificial intelligence and network analysis. He was a very popular lecturer and supervisor amongst all students.

In his free time, Mario enjoyed playing squash, running and exploring the Essex countryside. He was fond of British humour and spending time with friends and family, always happy to have a coffee or a drink. He recently became an uncle for the first time.

Mario was a warm and kind individual, always helpful to peers and students and a very close friend to many. He will be greatly missed.

Mario is survived by his long-term partner, parents and brother.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

Dr Joseph Bailey, Dr Felipe Maldonado and Dr Jesus Martinez Garcia, Department of Mathematical Sciences