Born in the city of Leon, Guanajuato, in 1937. He obtained his Physicist degree at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) [National Autonomous University of Mexico], a Master's degree in Science at the University of Rochester and a doctorate in optics at the same institution. He is a National Researcher of Excellence. 

Although his field of activity lies in optics in general, he has focused his studies in the area of interferometry and in testing of optical systems. He is well-known for his efforts to establish a science infrastructure in several regions of the country, beginning in the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) [National Autonomous University of Mexico], where he established the Departamento de Óptica del Instituto de Astronomía [Optics Department of the Institute of Astronomy]. Other institutions have benefited from Dr. Malacara’s initiative and creativity, for he also pioneered in establishing the Departamento de Óptica del Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica Óptica y Electrónica (INAOE) [Optics Department of the National Institute of Optical and Electronic Astrophysics] in Tonantzintla, Puebla; the Departamento de Óptica en el Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Enseñanza Superior de Ensenada (CICESE) [Optics Department of the Scientific Research and Higher Learning Institute of Ensenada] in Baja California; and he was a founder and first director general of the Centro de Investigaciones en Óptica, [Center of Optical Research] of the City of León.

He was professor of optics engineering of the optics institute of the University of Rochester. He is a member of the Consejo Consultivo de Ciencias de la Presidencia de la República (CCC) [Science Consulting Council of the President’s Office]. He is a founding member and first president of the Academia Mexicana de Óptica [Mexican Academy of Optics]. In addition, he is a member of the Sociedad Mexicana de Física [Mexican Society of Physics], as well as a Fellow of the Optical Society of America and of the International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE).

Dr. Malacara has received many honors, among them, he has received the Premio Nacional de Ciencias y Artes [National Award for Science and Arts]; the Rudolf and Hilda Kingslake scholarship at the University of Rochester; the Cátedra Patrimonial del Conacyt [Endowed Chair of the Conacyt]; Premio de la Academia Mexicana de Óptica [Mexican Academy of Optics Prize]; Premio en Ciencias Exactas de la Academia de la Investigación Científica [Exact Sciences Prize of the Academy of Scientific Research]; doctorado Honoris Causa del INAOE [Honoris Causa Doctorate from the Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica Óptica y Electrónica (INAOE) National Institute of Optical and Electronic Astrophysics]; the ICO Galileo Galilei Award, of the International Commission for Optics; SPIE A. E. Conrady Award [formerly Society of Photo-optical Instrumentation Engineers, now, SPIE].

He has published over 150 original research papers, over 10 chapters for specialized books and over 30 articles in extenso on various optics subjects. He has directed more than 35 theses for B.Sc., M.Sc. and doctoral degrees. His book, Optical Shop Testing has been translated into several languages and is now in its second edition. The book is used as a textbook in many countries and as a reference by most of the optics laboratories in the world.