Research Interests
Research
My work spans observational space physics and data science, focusing on understanding how Earth's radiation belts respond to solar wind driving and developing machine learning tools for space weather forecasting.
Research Lines
1. Radiation Belt Dynamics
Studying energization, transport, and loss of relativistic electrons in the Van Allen belts. Key questions: what drives enhancement and dropout events? How do ultrarelativistic remnant belts form and decay? How do auroral phenomena couple with radiation belt electron dynamics?
Data: Van Allen Probes (MagEIS, REPT, EMFISIS, EFW), GOES, THEMIS
2. ULF Waves & Magnetospheric Turbulence
Investigating the role of ultra-low frequency electromagnetic waves in trapped particle dynamics. Studying magnetospheric turbulence, pressure balance, and solar wind dynamic pressure effects on inner magnetospheric processes.
Data: Magnetometers (SAMBA, MACCS, THEMIS GBO, CARISMA), SuperDARN, THEMIS
3. Machine Learning for Space Weather
Developing deep learning models (RNN, LSTM, CNN) for near-real-time forecasting of ground magnetic field perturbations and geomagnetically induced currents (GIC) from solar wind inputs. Participated in the GEM Ground Magnetic Field Perturbations Challenge.
Tools: Python, TensorFlow-Keras, PyTorch, FastAI, Scikit-learn
Active Grants
FONDECYT Iniciación 2025
PI
"The Role of Electromagnetic ULF Waves on the Dynamics of Trapped Charged Particles in the Earth's Radiation Belts"
2025-2028 · ID: 11251905 · CLP 90M
FONDEQUIP 2023
PI
"Expansion de las Capacidades de Cómputo de Alto Rendimiento con Enfoque en Ciencia de Datos, Simulaciones y Modelamiento Numérico"
2024-2027 · ID: EQM230160 · CLP 321M
FONDECYT Regular 2025
Co-I
"Turbulence and total pressure balance in the interconnected dynamic magnetosphere"
2025-2029 · ID: 1252149 · CLP 230M
FONDEF IDEA I+D
PI/Co-I
"Desarrollo e Implementación de Plataforma de Meteorología Espacial en Chile"
2025-2027 · ID: ID22I10153 · US $250k
FONDECYT Regular 2024
Co-I
"The macro and micro physics of expanding plasma systems: implications for solar and stellar winds"
2024-2028 · ID: 1240281 · CLP 231M
NASA LWS
Int'l Collaborator
"Foreshock Transients Impact on Magnetospheric Perturbations and Plasma Population"
2023-2026 · ID: 22-LWS22_2-0027
Research Infrastructure
HPC Platform — USACH Physics Dept
High-performance computing infrastructure for data science, simulations, and numerical modeling. PI of FONDEQUIP EQM230160.
Chilean Space Weather Platform
Chile's first national pilot platform for real-time space weather monitoring and early warnings. Developed with Universidad Adventista de Chile (FONDEF IDEA).