Hey! my name is

Francisco J. Mercado

Theoretical & Computational Astrophysicist

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About Me
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I was born and raised in Southern California. I received my B.S. in Physics from Cal Poly Pomona in 2017, and subsequently earned my M.S. in 2019 and Ph.D. in 2023 in Physics from UC Irvine.

I am currently an NSF MPS-Ascend Postdoctoral Fellow at Pomona College. I use large, state-of-the-art cosmological simulations to study the formation and evolution of galaxies, with a particular focus on how internal and external processes shape the structure and observable properties of low-mass galaxies. Beyond my research, I enjoy teaching physics, astronomy, and mathematics, and I am deeply committed to supporting students from marginalized backgrounds in the academic and scientific community.

I also lead Cosmos & Coffee, an NSF-supported public astronomy program that brings accessible science conversations to local libraries, community centers, and public spaces across Southern California. Through this program, I invite astronomers to share their work with the broader public in welcoming, informal settings, while partnering with local small businesses to create community-centered events.

In my spare time, I enjoy playing video games, working out, and reading science fiction and epic fantasy novels.

Research Interests
In my research, I use cosmological simulations to study galaxy formation and evolution. My work focuses on low-mass galaxies, galaxy kinematics and dynamics, chemical abundances, stellar structure, and machine learning applications. I am particularly interested in understanding how internal processes, such as stellar feedback, and external processes, such as cosmological environment, shape the interiors and observable properties of galaxies. I approach these questions by studying how galaxies populate and evolve along key scaling relations, which provide a powerful bridge between simulations, observations, and the physical mechanisms that drive galaxy evolution.
More about my research here