Research

Research

I study merger-driven gamma-ray bursts with Prof. Floor Broekgaarden, using COMPAS population synthesis to predict BNS/BHNS merger rates, short-GRB class fractions, and host-galaxy offset distributions. My work combines large-scale simulation analysis, cosmic-integration modeling, and statistical validation against LVK, GRB, and kilonova observational catalogs.

Current Position

Gravitational Wave Paleontology Lab

Feb 2026 - Present

Undergraduate Researcher

Researching gamma-ray-burst classification, compact-object merger rates, and host-galaxy offsets with COMPAS populations.

Analyzed 40 large-scale astrophysics simulation datasets (millions of simulated star mergers) to classify which mergers produce gamma-ray bursts, building a multi-step physics model and correcting a known bias in the underlying data before classification.

Calculated cosmic event rates by modeling how merger rates change with time and galaxy environment, then validated predictions against real telescope and gravitational-wave observations.

Tested how sensitive the findings were to different modeling assumptions across 20 alternative scenarios, and statistically confirmed which results held up versus which were assumption-dependent.

Open to full-time work starting June 2027

josephrodriguez63638@gmail.com

Open to full-time work starting June 2027

josephrodriguez63638@gmail.com