Aerospace Engineer · PhD Student · Founder

Miguel
Valdebenito

I build intelligent systems for the real world. From CubeSats to groundwater prediction, I work at the intersection of aerospace engineering, satellite remote sensing, and machine learning to solve hard problems in data-scarce environments. Based in Chile. Thinking globally.

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Current status
Position PhD StudentUniversidad del Bío-Bío
Industry Geospatial AIG-STRATA SpA
Venture FounderIDESAT · Brain Chile 2024
Location ConcepciónChile 🇨🇱
5
Conf. & Papers
2
Startups
6+
Yrs Deep-Tech
01

About me

I am an aerospace and civil engineer from Universidad de Concepcion who took the long road: satellites, startups, geophysics, and now a PhD. My work is driven by a simple conviction that engineering should solve problems that actually matter, particularly for regions where data is scarce and climate change hits hardest.

Currently a PhD candidate at Universidad del Bío-Bío, I design spatiotemporal ML architectures that fuse satellite remote sensing (MODIS, Landsat, Sentinel), seismoelectric signals, and sparse field observations to predict groundwater dynamics across Chile's agricultural zones.

I co-founded Aslight Engineering, developing the Smart Drone Chute aerospace recovery system with CORFO funding and a seat at the Draper University Hero Program in Silicon Valley. I also lead IDESAT, an educational aerospace platform selected for Brain Chile 2024. Separately, as Geospatial AI Systems Architect at G-STRATA SpA, my doctoral thesis is formally linked to the company through the competitive ANID Tesis de Doctorado en el Sector Productivo 2025 grant, bridging academic research and real-world industry application. I also represented G-STRATA at ScaleUp Labs Boston, closing with a demo at Boston Tech Week 2026.

Current position
PhD Student, Engineering
Universidad del Bío-Bío · 2025 to 2028
Location
Concepción, Chile
Research interests
Geospatial AI Physics-Informed ML Remote Sensing Hydrogeology Satellite Systems Deep-Tech Startups Water Security
Languages
Spanish (native) · English C2 Proficient (EF SET 76/100)
02

Publications

1
In preparation
Monthly groundwater level prediction under sparse piezometric monitoring in the Maule Region, central Chile, using hydrogeologically-informed machine learning
Valdebenito M. and Saldías G.
Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies
Core dissertation chapter: physics-informed ML for aquifer forecasting under severe observational sparsity
2
Preprint · SSRN 6126566
Towards surface-based hydraulic conductivity mapping using seismoelectric signals and data-driven models
Aedo R., Jiménez J., Quiero F., Salgueiro Y., Valdebenito M., Rey C. and Saldías G. (2025)
SSRN Electronic Journal
Seismoelectric signal processing with ML regression for subsurface hydraulic property estimation
3
Conference · IAH 2025
Intelligent groundwater exploration system integrating SEMq data through AI models
Aedo R., Valdebenito M., González O. and Jiménez J. (2025)
1st Chilean Hydrogeological Congress, IAH. Termas El Corazón, Chile
4
Conference · XXXVII CIE 2025
Gamification effects for learning electromagnetism in laboratory settings
Aedo R., Valdebenito M., Espinosa O., González O. and Saldías G. (2025)
XXXVII Chilean Engineering Education Congress, Universidad del Bío-Bío
5
Conference · XXXVII CIE 2025
Active learning in aerospace and space sciences with accessible hardware and operative simulation
Valdebenito M., Aedo R. and Valenzuela-Núñez C. (2025)
XXXVII Chilean Engineering Education Congress, Universidad del Bío-Bío
03

Experience

May 2022 · Present
G-STRATA SpA
Python GEE SHAP Geophysics
Geospatial AI Systems Architect
  • Lead design of AI-driven geospatial systems for groundwater intelligence, including the SEMq-1 geophysical sensor and the G-WaterLink territorial intelligence platform.
  • Build scalable ML pipelines combining satellite remote sensing (MODIS, Landsat, Sentinel), GIS, seismoelectric geophysics, and in-situ sensors, with SHAP for spatiotemporal forecasting interpretability.
  • Doctoral thesis formally linked to G-STRATA through the competitive ANID Tesis de Doctorado en el Sector Productivo 2025 grant, connecting PhD research directly to industry-scale groundwater intelligence applications.
Jun 2024 · Present
IDESAT
CubeSat Robotics Brain Chile
Founder and Technical Lead
  • Lead R&D of deep-tech aerospace systems: educational satellite platforms, robotics, and additive manufacturing.
  • Selected for Brain Chile National Deep-Tech Innovation Program (2024).
Oct 2025 · Feb 2026
Universidad de Antofagasta
Payload FRPD Outreach
Research Engineer, Satellite Technologies
  • Aerospace design, payload integration, testing and monitoring for the FRPD project Transferencia Desarrollo Regional de Tecnologías Satelitales.
  • Planned and coordinated educational workshops on satellite technologies for secondary school students.
Jun 2024 · Feb 2025
Universidad de Concepción
Fondecyt ANID
Research Development Coordinator
  • Formulated ANID competitive proposals across engineering, agronomy, and oceanography: Fondecyt Regular, Fondef, Centros Tecnológicos, and Centros de Investigación del Milenio.
Oct 2019 · Jun 2024
Aslight Engineering SpA
Aerospace CORFO Silicon Valley
Co-Founder and Systems Architect
  • Co-founded deep-tech startup developing Smart Drone Chute aerospace recovery systems. Full product cycle from concept to functional validation.
  • Secured CORFO public funding. International programs in Silicon Valley and Boston.
Jan 2017, Jan 2018
U. de Chile / SUCHAI
CubeSat MATLAB STK
Research Intern, Satellite Systems
  • Attitude control analysis for a 3U CubeSat under multiple boom/antenna configurations. Developed MATLAB simulation (roll, yaw, pitch) validated with STK.
Mar 2017 · Oct 2018
Universidad de Concepción
CubeSat EyasSat 3D Printing CANSAT
Co-Founder, GISAT (Satellite Interest Group)
  • Founded and led a university satellite engineering group focused on learning, designing and solving problems in satellite technology.
  • Designed a free-rotation support system for the EyasSat educational satellite and explored 3D printing for nanosatellite structures and CubeSat payloads.
  • Developed a proposal to design and build a CANSAT pico-satellite, integrating hardware prototyping with mission design.
04

Education

2025 to 2028 (expected)
Universidad del Bío-Bío, Chile
Ph.D. in Engineering
Specialization in Data Engineering and Hydrogeological Modeling. Supervisor: Prof. G. Saldías. Dissertation: ML architectures integrating satellite remote sensing, geophysics, and sparse field data for groundwater prediction.
2011 to 2019
Universidad de Concepción, Chile
B.S. in Civil and Aerospace Engineering
Capstone: Satellite Communication Systems for Mobile Telephony Coverage in Continental Chile.
2023
U. Técnica Federico Santa María
Diploma in Geospatial Information
Specialization in Satellite Technology within the Chilean National Satellite System (SNSAT).
05

Technical skills

Machine Learning and AI
Python PyTorch TensorFlow Scikit-learn XGBoost SHAP LSTM Physics-Informed ML
Geospatial and Remote Sensing
Google Earth Engine QGIS ArcGIS GeoPandas Rasterio MODIS / Landsat / Sentinel Spatial Kriging
Aerospace and Systems
CubeSat Design Attitude Control STK MATLAB Payload Integration Additive Manufacturing System Architecture
Scientific Computing
NumPy SciPy Pandas Matplotlib Plotly Jupyter Git / GitHub LaTeX
06

Awards and service

🏛️
ANID: Tesis de Doctorado en el Sector Productivo
Competitive national grant linking doctoral research to industry. G-STRATA SpA as partner company. Awarded by Chile's National Research and Development Agency.
2025
🧠
Brain Chile
National Deep-Tech Innovation Program. Selected as founder of IDESAT.
2024
🚀
CORFO Funding
Public competitive funding secured for aerospace recovery systems at Aslight Engineering SpA.
2021
🏔️
Draper University Hero Program
Selected for the Draper University Hero Program in Silicon Valley with Aslight Engineering SpA and the Smart Drone Chute emergency aerospace recovery system.
2021
🌎
ScaleUp Labs Boston
Participated in ScaleUp Labs Boston as part of G-STRATA SpA, closing with a demo week in the Boston Tech Week 2026.
2022
💧
ISO 14046 Water Footprint
Certified Level C. Water Footprint Assessment Standard.
Certified
🤝
Community Service and Outreach
4+ years of volunteer work with Misión País, Trabajo País, and Desafío Levantemos Chile, leading workshops and community activities for youth and vulnerable populations in Arauco, Chile.
2013 to 2017