About Me

Hello! My name is Alejandro J. Olvera (he/him/his). I am a fifth-year astrophysics PhD candidate in the School of Earth and Space Exploration (SESE) at Arizona State University (ASU). I am also a recipient of the National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP). My research focuses on understanding how galaxies in our local universe grow. I use spectra and images taken in the optical and radio to do this. If you'd like to know more, please visit my research page.

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I was born and raised in South Texas. For my undergraduate education, I attended the University of California, Berkeley, and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Astrophysics. Currently, I am attending graduate school at ASU, and I intend to graduate in Spring 2027. 

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I am also passionate about science communication and outreach. I currently present The Nature of Light, a planetarium show at the Marston Exploration Theater that explores the electromagnetic spectrum, how we interact with light, and how astronomers use light to understand the cosmos. I designed this show as part of my qualifying exam at ASU. During my time at Berkeley, I worked as a planetarium presenter at the Lawrence Hall of Science for two years.

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Besides being a nerd in school, I am a nerd in real life, too.  I love all things related to Star Wars and Marvel in all forms of media, including TV shows, movies, books, comics, and video games.