XAVIER’S BIOGRAPHY

Xavier is a graduate research assistant at Florida Space Institute and student at the University of Central Florida. He has received his Associates degree at Daytona State College and Bachelor’s of Science at Stetson University in Physics. During and after his time at Stetson University, he worked with on researching stellar clusters with photometry and collaborated with the Lohman Planetarium at the Museum of Arts and Science by developing shows and exhibits to educate the general public on topics within astronomy and science currently being done. Since at UCF, he has been both a teaching assistant for undergraduate physics courses and a research assistant conducting research on understanding physical properties of near-Earth asteroids. He has had work presented by himself and others at various conference throughout the nation and internationally.

Xavier’s research efforts within FSI are understanding and characterizing the physical properties and surface composition of small bodies by using photometry, radar, polarimetry and spectroscopy. Xavier’s research interests are in characterization of small bodies throughout the solar system from NEAs to Trans Neptunian Objects (TNOs).