Team

Our team

The HelioFísica and Space Weather group is co-led by Dr. Victor A. Pinto and Prof. Marina Stepanova, Department of Physics, Universidad de Santiago de Chile.

Principal investigators

Dr. Victor A. Pinto Abarzúa

Assistant Professor · Department of Physics, USACH

Ph.D. in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (Space Physics), UCLA 2019 (co-advisors: L. Lyons, J. Bortnik). Postdoctoral research at UNH (2020-2022). Researcher in radiation belts, ULF waves, solar wind—magnetosphere coupling, machine learning for space weather, and geomagnetically induced currents (GIC). Associate Editor of Space Weather (AGU/Wiley).

Personal site ·Google Scholar ·ORCID

Prof. Marina Stepanova

Professor · Department of Physics, USACH · Head, B.S. Astrophysics Program

Ph.D. in Astrophysics, Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University. At USACH since 1995. Researcher in space plasmas, Earth's magnetospheric dynamics, turbulence in space plasmas, geomagnetic storms and substorms, plasma configuration stability, and complex systems. Active collaborations with research groups in the US and Russia. Has supervised 8+ graduate students.

Google Scholar ·ANID PDI
Current students

Ana María Inostroza

Master of Science in Physics, USACH

Outer radiation belt dynamics and auroral phenomena

Bea Zenteno-Quinteros

Master of Science in Physics, USACH

Relativistic electron loss processes by electromagnetic waves

Dafhne Muñoz Reyes

Astrophysics Engineering, USACH

ML model for plasmapause location (Van Allen Probes)

Camila Peña Cifuentes

Physics Engineering, USACH

Deep Learning prediction of relativistic electron flux

Recent graduates

Yulissa Espitia

Master of Science in Physics, USACH (2025)

Radial evolution of ultrarelativistic electrons during enhancement events

Carlos Castillo

Master of Science in Physics, USACH (2025)

Total Electron Content characterization at high latitudes

Christopher Lara

Master of Science in Physics, UdeChile (2024)

Relationship between ULF Wave Power and changes in relativistic electron fluxes

Yerko Jelcic Iturra

Astrophysics Engineering, USACH (2024)

Deep Learning models for auroral index prediction

Paula Reyes

Master of Science in Physics, UdeChile (current)

Geomagnetic storms and their relation with solar cycle phases

International collaborators

Dr. Aaron Keesee

University of New Hampshire, USA

Ground magnetic perturbations, ML for space weather, NASA LWS

Dr. José Paulo Marchezi

INPE, Brazil

GICs, particle precipitation, CNPq Conhecimento Brasil

Prof. Elena E. Antonova

Russia

Auroral phenomena, outer radiation belt dynamics

Dr. Pablo S. Moya

USACH

Expanding plasma systems, solar and stellar winds

Dr. Daniel Mourenas

IPGP, France

Ultrarelativistic remnant belts, hiss scattering

Open positions

We are looking for master's and undergraduate students for research projects:

  • Relativistic electron dynamics in the outer radiation belt
  • Geomagnetic storm prediction with Deep Learning
  • Geomagnetically induced currents (GIC)
  • Satellite data processing (Van Allen Probes, THEMIS, GOES)
  • Turbulence and pressure balance in the magnetosphere
  • Solar wind — magnetosphere coupling

If you are a physics, astrophysics, or related science student, email us at victor.pinto@usach.cl