About Me

“I... a universe of atoms, an atom in the universe.”
— Richard P. Feynman

Brief Bio

Dr. Devontae Baxter is a Future Faculty in the Physical Sciences (FFPS) Postdoctoral Fellow at Princeton University investigating the intricate interplay between galaxies and their local and large-scale environments across cosmic time. He completed his undergraduate studies at the Georgia Institute of Technology, majoring in Physics with a minor in Spanish. He earned his PhD in Physics at UC Irvine under the supervision of Professor Michael Cooper, where his thesis focused on merging machine learning and statistical techniques with multi-wavelength observations and cosmological simulations to elucidate the physical mechanisms driving the suppression of star formation in galaxy groups and clusters.

The Skateboarding Astrophysicist

Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, my passions for science and skateboarding ignited during my early teenage years. Before aspiring to explore the cosmos, my dream was to travel the globe as a professional skateboarder.

While my career path shifted toward the stars, the grit, creativity, and persistence I learned from skateboarding shaped how I tackle complex physics problems. Today, I’m fortunate to explore the cosmos with some of the most magnificent telescopes ever created, while still finding time to defy gravity on my skateboard.

Devontae Baxter performing an ollie on a skateboard Ollie
Kickflip

Academic Journey

2026 – PRESENT
Future Faculty in the Physical Sciences Postdoctoral Fellow — Princeton University
Currently making theoretical predictions and preparations to explore the nascent stages of galaxy cluster assembly as a member of the Grism Reionization And Cosmic Evolution (GRACE) survey team with the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.
2023 – 2026
NSF Astronomy & Astrophysics and UC Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellow — UC San Diego
Investigated the drivers of environmental quenching across cosmic time and established predictions for galaxy protocluster populations. Developed and led multiple outreach initiatives, including programming and mentoring workshops through the CARP, CRANE, and STARTAstro programs. Taught and developed materials for the Introduction to Astrophysics Part I course in the newly established Astronomy and Astrophysics Department at UC San Diego.
2017 – 2023
Ph.D. in Physics — UC Irvine
Developed expertise in observational and computational astrophysics under the supervision of Prof. Michael C. Cooper. Recipient of the Eugene Cota-Robles Fellowship, National Osterbrock Leadership Program Fellowship, and LSSTC Data Science Fellowship. My dissertation on the drivers of environmental quenching can be accessed here.
2015 – 2017
B.S. in Physics — Georgia Institute of Technology
Graduated with Highest Honors and was the recipient of the Georgia HOPE and AMC Cares Scholarships. Undergraduate research in Soft Condensed Matter Physics under the supervision of Prof. Alberto Fernandez-Nieves directly led to the discovery of the Reverse Janssen Effect in Narrow Granular Columns.
2012 – 2014
A.S. Studies — Georgia Perimeter College
Began higher education journey at Georgia Perimeter Community College before transferring to the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Hobbies and Interests

Outside of research, teaching, and mentoring, I find joy in a variety of activities that keep me inspired and grounded:

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Skateboarding

My favorite way to clear my mind and push my physical limits. You can check out some of my skate clips on YouTube and Instagram.

Languages

My passion for foreign languages stems from growing up around vibrant immigrant communities. Being multilingual has given me a deep appreciation for diverse cultures and customs, and I'm constantly learning new languages through podcasts, videos, books, and good ol' Duolingo.

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Anime & Sci-Fi

I love keeping up with my favorite manga and anime, as well as exploring fantastical worlds in sci-fi literature, TV shows, and movies. I am currently hooked on One Piece, and my favorite sci-fi book series is The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.