Francesc Ferrer

Francesc Ferrer is an Associate Professor of Physics at Washington University in St. Louis, affiliated with the McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences. His research focuses on theoretical cosmology, astroparticle physics, and the intersection of particle physics models with observational cosmology. He investigates dark matter candidates, dark energy modifications to gravity (e.g., string gas cosmology), and topological defects like cosmic strings. His work includes studying cosmic ray origins with the Pierre Auger Observatory and analyzing gamma-ray emissions from galactic centers.

• PhD: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
• Research Interests: Dark matter halos, dark energy, cosmic magnetic fields, superconducting cosmic strings, and ultra-high energy cosmic rays

He teaches courses such as Introduction to Astrophysics (Physics 312) and From Black Holes to the Big Bang (Physics 478), covering general relativity and cosmological models. Ferrer has received awards including the Marie Curie Fellowship (2001–2003) and the Jordi Porta i Jué Award (1999).

His collaborative projects include the 511-CAM mission for gamma-ray detection and contributions to the Pierre Auger Observatory. Research trends in his articles emphasize gravitational wave signatures from axions, axion-like particles, and cosmic string networks, alongside experimental techniques for dark matter detection.

• Grants & Collaborations: McDonnell Center affiliations, Pierre Auger Observatory participation

Labs/Teams: Active in the McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences, focusing on interdisciplinary space and astrophysics research.