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Rodrigo Mercado Fernandez

Assistant Professor

Rodrigo Mercado Fernández is an Assistant Professor at Loyola University Chicago in the School of Environmental Sustainability and a Fulbright Scholar. He holds a PhD in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Rodrigo’s research focuses on sustainable energy pathways, the integration of renewable energy, and energy policy and decision-making. His work has been published in journals such as Energy and Climate Change and Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition, where he has explored expansion plans for the Mexican electrical grid to support decarbonization goals and analyzed the sustainability implications of various decarbonization pathways.

Currently, Rodrigo leads a collaborative project with faculty from Appalachian State University focused on quantifying the impacts of power outages on health outcomes, examining how geographic and socioeconomic factors influence vulnerability. This research aims to support marginalized communities and guide equitable policy responses to climate change. His academic work integrates equity, justice, and sustainability, with a commitment to addressing global energy challenges.

Education

  • PhD in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, September 2020, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department – Amherst, MA
  • BS in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Universidad de Guadalajara, Department of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering – Guadalajara, Mexico

Professional/Community Affiliations

  • Member, Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS)

Courses Taught

  • ENVS 273: Energy and the Environment
  • ENVS 398: Introduction to Energy and Power Systems

Publications/Research Listings

  • Rodrigo Mercado Fernandez and Erin Baker, “The sustainability of decarbonizing the grid: A multi-model decision analysis applied to Mexico,” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition, vol. 2, no. October 2021, p. 100020, 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.rset.2022.100020.
  • Rodrigo Mercado Fernandez, Erin Baker, and J. H. Galicia, “Regional Power Planning Robust to Multiple Models: Meeting Mexico’s 2050 Climate Goals,” Energy and Climate Change, vol. 3, p. 100076, 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.egycc.2022.100076.
  • Taylin Spurlock, Kelly Sewell, Margaret M. Sugg, Jennifer D. Runkle, Rodrigo Mercado Fernandez, Jennifer Schroeder Tyson, Jamie Russell, “A spatial analysis of power-dependent medical equipment and extreme weather risk in the southeastern United States,” International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, vol. 95, no. July, p. 103844, 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103844.