Francisco Martinez is an honors freshman majoring in physics and astronomy.  His current interests are many: to learn about the universe and how we play a part in the ever changing world around us, to understand how galaxies evolve with time, and how black holes play in shaping our universe in stellar formation.  These interests have lead Francisco to pursue, after graduating from Georgia State, a Ph.D. in astrophysics and to work for NASA, in order to develop the next generation of space craft going into space or to do theoretical modeling of the universe.  In addition, “I wish to serve as a mentor to other students and help them publish their research findings, find internship opportunities, and find their true passion in the sciences.”  Francisco is a Co-Founder and CEO of the Georgia First Generation Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides resources for first generation high school and college students to be successful in their collegiate and professional careers.  In his free time, “I enjoy running in the parks…it’s during this time that I can really think and bask in the universe.”

This summer, Francisco will attend a 10 week summer research program at the University of Alabama.  Students in the program will engage in cutting edge heliophysics research with astrophysicists from UAH or NASA.  They will be paired with mentors who specialize in heliophysics research from the solar interior to the heliopause, including theory, modeling, computer simulations, data analysis, and instrument design.