Gagik Tovmasian (Tovmassian in scientific articles) was born in Yerevan and graduated from the physics department of Yerevan State University (YSU). He obtained his PhD from the Byurakan Observatory. Since 1994, he has continued research in astrophysics at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM). He has authored about 200 scientific articles, half of which have been published in highly regarded, refereed international magazines. He currently teaches post-graduate courses at the UNAM and has directed several students in obtaining masters and PhD degrees.