This inaugural call received an outstanding response, wit 52 candidates from 10 Latin American countries, representing a remarkably diverse range of academic and professional backgrounds — including ergonomics and human factors, medicine, physical therapy, industrial engineering, occupational health and safety, psychology, and other related fields.
The quality of the applications made the selection process highly competitive.
Candidates proposed using Ergoyes to support:
- Research and thesis projects
- Teaching and university education
- Laboratory and student projects
- Healthcare and hospital applications
- Workplace ergonomic interventions
- Occupational health and safety programs
- Professional practice and consulting
One of the strongest aspects of the applications was their potential for multiplier impact — extending the value of the scholarship beyond the individual recipient to students, workers, research groups, organizations, and professional communities across Latin America.
Congratulations to the ten 2026–2027 scholarship recipients:
- Elmer Mendoza — Mexico
- Vanessa Rodríguez Reyes — Cuba
- Jhonnatan Ramón — Colombia
- Juan Lázaro González Narváez — Mexico
- Jaime Rodarte Martínez — Mexico
- Sonia Raquel Vargas Véliz — Ecuador
- Grober Eduardo Paucar Ancori — Peru
- Marisol Ramírez — Colombia
- Isabela Combatt Montoya — Colombia
- Víctor Jesús Ochoa Ortiz — Peru
The breadth and quality of the applications reflect the growing strength, diversity, and potential of the ergonomics and human factors community in Latin America.
Through this initiative, the International Foundation for Professional Ergonomics (IFPE) and Ergoyes aim to:
- expand access to professional ergonomics tools
- support education and research
- strengthen knowledge transfer
- create new professional development opportunities
- contribute to better working conditions across the region
We look forward to seeing the research, teaching, projects, and practical impact that these scholars will generate over the coming year.
A special thank you to Ergoyes and to the professional societies and organizations that helped share this opportunity throughout Latin America.