Ivan was born in the city of Catemaco, a little town at south of the state of Veracruz, Mexico.

He studied Veterinary Medicine at the School of Biological and Agricultural Sciences in Tuxpan, Veracruz, where he focused on the transition period in dual-purpose cows in tropical conditions, under the supervision of Dr. Miguel Angel Lammoglia Villagomez.

Then, Ivan entered the Master's degree in Animal Science program at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences in the city of Veracruz. His master´s degree project focused on the in vitro production of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) embryos, the first ones produced in Mexico, under the supervision of Dr. Manuel Barrientos Morales.

Currently, Ivan works with Dr. Eduardo Ribeiro in the Department of Animal Bioscience.