About
I am a mathematical statistician developing methods for complex data structures arising in health and biological sciences. My research largely has centered on creating computational tools for phylogenetics that are both mathematically rigorous and suited to the properties of empirical data.
Ultimately, I seek to improve the interpretability and reliability of object-oriented data analyses by integrating statistical methodology with applied mathematics.
Degrees
2024
PhD in Biostatistics — University of Washington
2018
Bachelor in Mathematics — Universidad de Guanajuato
Awards
School of Public Health Outstanding PhD Award in Biostatistics
Selected Publications
Published
Geometry of the space of phylogenetic trees with non-identical leaves
Valdez Cabrera, M. A., & Willis, A. D. (2026) · Advances in Applied Mathematics, 178
doi.org/10.1016/j.aam.2026.103091 →
Published
Distances Between Extension Spaces of Phylogenetic Trees
Valdez Cabrera, M. A., & Willis, A. D. (2025) · IEEE Transactions on Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, 22(2), 614–627
doi:10.1109/TCBBIO.2025.3526422 →
In Preparation
Consensus Tree Estimation with False Discovery Rate Control via Partially Ordered Sets
Valdez Cabrera, M. A., Willis, A. D., & Taeb, A. (2025)
doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2511.23433 →