Fredson Aguiar earned his master’s degree in August and, next month, will travel to Germany to take part in a six-day immersion that brings together some of the brightest minds in mathematics and computer science.

During his master’s program, Fredson conducted research on the application of Control Theory to epidemiology | Photo: Personal archive

As the song by Chico César says, “the path is known by walking it,” and Fredson Aguiar has been following a journey that allows him to broaden his horizons with each step. Coming from Macau, a small town in the interior of Rio Grande do Norte, the master’s student at the School of Applied Mathematics of the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV EMAp) is preparing to cross the ocean to Germany, where he will take part in the 12th edition of the Heidelberg Laureate Forum (HLF). The event, taking place from September 14 to 19, will bring together 200 young researchers for a scientific immersion featuring lectures, panels, and workshops alongside laureates of the Abel, Fields, and Turing prizes, considered the most prestigious in these fields.

“It will be a unique opportunity to exchange ideas with scientists I deeply admire, such as Richard Sutton, a major reference in reinforcement learning. I want to learn from these people and understand what the most urgent problems of our generation are from a scientific standpoint,” says Fredson.

Juliana Carvalho, a former FGV EMAp student, will also be one of Brazil’s representatives at this edition of the HLF. Juliana completed a double degree in Applied Mathematics in 2023 and in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence in 2024, and is currently pursuing her master’s at Paris Dauphine University in France.

“FGV EMAp played a key role in this achievement. It was there that I developed my interest in machine learning, because the courses offer not only theory but also practical applications, with code and projects. This is a major advantage compared to many universities abroad, which focus solely on theory,” explains Juliana.

The application process for the HLF involved, among other requirements, submitting a résumé, a description of research interests, social engagement and interest, as well as a motivation letter and a recommendation letter. Fredson received support from his advisor, Professor Maria Soledad Aronna, and from the director of FGV EMAp, César Camacho.

“I believe my interests align with the event’s focus on developing research, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. In addition, I also think that my previous international experiences, such as participating in the Condor Camp last year, were important factors in my selection,” he points out.

“I am very grateful to have been guided by Professor Maria Soledad, one of the national and global references in control theory,” emphasizes Fredson Aguiar | Photo: Personal archive

Journey

Fredson’s journey so far has been anything but obvious. Raised in the Ponta do Tubarão Sustainable Development Reserve, in Rio Grande do Norte, in a home without full internet access, he was encouraged to focus on his studies. Although his parents did not have advanced formal education, they valued the education of their four children, fostering an environment in which studying was a priority. “If we were studying, we were excused from doing household chores, for example,” he recalls.

Like his older siblings, Fredson enrolled at the Federal Institute of Rio Grande do Norte (IFRN), where he completed high school and graduated as an IT technician. It was also during this time—now with more resources available, such as books and computers—that he began to excel in mathematics Olympiads, earning silver and gold medals. His talent drew attention, and while still in high school, he was invited by the Center for the Development of Mathematics and Science (FGV CDMC) to take the FGV entrance exam, with the possibility of receiving a full scholarship, housing, and a living allowance.

“It was something unthinkable, because I was in the very first Talent Selection class. I thought I was going to be kidnapped,” he says, laughing. “That’s where it all began.”

At FGV EMAp, he studied Applied Mathematics and immersed himself in a routine of academic work and extracurricular activities. He served as a teaching assistant, volunteered to teach in the Amplia FGV project, tutored in the Talent Selection preparatory course, interned at a bank, and soon became involved in research. In his master’s program, which he defended last week, the researcher developed a study in control theory with applications in epidemiology.

“The work seeks to understand how non-pharmaceutical strategies—such as testing, quarantine, and social isolation—can be optimized to contain epidemics, especially in situations where no vaccine is available,” he explains.

In addition to modeling the behavior of epidemics, Fredson works with realistic scenarios in which available data is limited. He considers, for example, contexts where the only accessible information comes from hospital reports, such as the number of people in quarantine, testing levels, and general observations of disease progression. From this data, the model estimates the infected population and generates recommendations for decision-making.

Although the main focus of his research is mathematical, Fredson also makes use of machine learning tools, such as neural networks, to improve scenario forecasting. He emphasizes that artificial intelligence (AI) is used as an ally, but always in service of the mathematical problem he is investigating.

“I use machine learning as a tool. My focus remains the decision-making problem: how to intervene, how to predict, how to control. And control theory provides the foundations for that.”

Fredson was part of the first class of the CDMC Talent Selection program and now helps promote the initiative, as he did during the edition held in Natal last year | Photo: Personal archive

More recently, he and his advisor have begun to consider another research avenue, exploring a reverse approach: applying control theory to improve AI itself. “Control theory is, by nature, a problem of intelligent decision-making. This is a problem that resembles certain aspects of AI. So I believe we have enormous potential to contribute at this intersection between these fields.”

At his dissertation defense, Fredson was accompanied by professors Alexandre Madureira (FGV EPGE) and Roberto Guglielmi (University of Waterloo), members of the evaluation committee, as well as his advisor, Professor Maria Soledad | Photo: personal archive

After defending his master’s thesis, Fredson already has his next steps planned. In September, he will begin a second master’s degree at Sorbonne Paris Nord University in France, focusing on data science: “I want to complement my education. Today, it’s more focused on mathematics; in France, I will deepen my knowledge of mathematics with a focus on data, and then move on to a PhD.”

Fredson’s journey has also drawn the attention of international researchers. He has already received invitations from institutions such as the Max Planck Institute in Germany, as well as from Professor Enrique Zuazua, a world-renowned expert in applying control theory to AI.

And if education expanded his world and gave him the chance to choose paths once unimaginable, it is to education that Fredson intends to give back. Upon completing his PhD, his desire is to repay all that he has received by dedicating himself to training new generations of students—especially those who, like him, come from backgrounds where access to knowledge is still a privilege.

“I believe in the transformative power of education because it happened to me. If I’m here today, it’s because many people helped me along the way. And I want to give back, whether through research or teaching,” he concludes.

Fredson, newly graduated with a master’s degree, received support from colleagues and researchers at FGV EMAp: Isaque Pim, Débora Medeiros, and Lucas Resck | Photo: Personal archive

Postgraduate applications now open

Applications for postgraduate courses at FGV EMAp are open until September 30. The school offers Master’s and Doctoral programs in Applied Mathematics and Data Science, aimed at those who wish to deepen their knowledge in research, mathematical modeling, and innovative applications across a wide range of fields.