Rodrigo was born in Toluca, México, where he spent his childhood. He moved with his family to the city of Querétaro, where he attended college before moving to the United States in 2005 to work at Los Alamos National Laboratory as a research intern.

In 2007, Rodrigo started his Ph.D. studies in physical chemistry with Prof. Simon North at Texas A&M University, and graduated in 2012 with a dissertation on “Advanced Laser Diagnostics Development for the Characterization of Gaseous High-Speed Flows,” resulting from his involvement in multidisciplinary research activities between the Chemistry and Aerospace Engineering Departments. His subsequent postdoctoral appointments at the Fuels, Engines, and Emissions Research Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the National Aerothermochemistry Laboratory at Texas A&M increased his  interests in the study of energy transfer and the development of laser diagnostics to explore complex environments.

In the Fall of 2015, Rodrigo joined the Chemistry Department at St. Olaf College, where he established the Laboratory of Energy and Advanced Diagnostics. He splits his teaching time between physical chemistry and the first year chemistry program.