My research interests span planetary science, astrophysics education research, and community-engaged STEM fieldwork, unified by the goal of advancing understanding of planetary system evolution while broadening participation in astrophysics. My planetary science research focuses on dynamical interactions between planets and satellites in Solar System and exoplanetary environments. I use numerical simulations to investigate orbital stability in planet–moon and multi-moon systems, particularly under tidal forces, resonances, and multi-body gravitational interactions. My work contributed to developing general stability limits for planet–moon and moon–moon systems (Rosario-Franco et al. 2020), which provide theoretical constraints on long-lived satellite architectures and inform strategies for exomoon detection. I also investigate how orbital evolution influences detectability through magnetospheric and plasma interactions, particularly via radio emission signatures. More recently, I have collaborated on studies providing dynamical context for JWST exoplanet observations (Wachiraphan et al. 2025). My astrophysics education research examines recruitment, retention, and identity development among students from historically underrepresented communities. Previous work (Sherr et al. 2020) explored how isolation and departmental climate influence graduate student persistence. I currently co-advise the GRAVITAS project (B.Hilliard Et al. in perp), which evaluates how community-engaged outreach programs influence STEM identity and academic trajectories. Currently, I am PI of AstroSenderos, a community-led astronomy certification program developed with Explorando Senderos, Fiske Planetarium, and Sommers-Bausch Observatory. Integrating the principles of (Gonzalez, 2019), we aim to empower the community to lead their scientific experiences and train students in best practices for equitable outreach/community engaged work (M.Rosario-Franco, in prep.).
keywords
planets, moons and satellites, radioastronomy, physics education research, science education, science outreach, community engagement
