Javier Bracho obtained his B.Sc. degree in mathematics from the National University of Mexico (UNAM) in 1977 and his Ph.D. degree from MIT in 1981.  Since then, he has worked at the Institute of Mathematics, UNAM, where he has been the Director since 2006.  From 1995 to 2000, he was the founding Head of the Cuernavaca Branch of the Institute of Mathematics.

His present research interests are in combinatorial and discrete geometry, but he has also worked in algebraic topology, algebraic geometry and topological graph theory.  From 2003 to 2006, he was member of the evaluation committee of the National Research System of Mexico.  His interest in science outreach includes editorial activities and the design of the mathematics section of the Science Museum at UNAM, which tries to integrate math and the arts.