01
Planet-forming disks
Chemical evolution of the solar nebula and protoplanetary disks, including the physical processes controlling molecular abundances and distributions.
01 / About
From molecules
to planetary systems.
I am a guest scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg and a senior post-doc researcher at the ZAH / Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics at Heidelberg University.
My work combines astrochemical modeling with infrared and radio observations to understand the physical and chemical evolution of star-forming regions and protoplanetary disks.
I develop numerical models and tools for disk chemistry, reaction networks, and observational interpretation, with a particular interest in complex organic molecules and chemical inheritance.
“Astrochemistry and planet formation lie at a crossroad between molecular astrophysics, planetary science, and the origin of life.”
02 / Research
Four key questions
drive my scientific work.
Coupled evolution of matter, radiation, and chemistry during the formation of stars and planetary systems.
02
Isotopic & dust grain chemistry
Isotopic fractionation, surface chemistry, ice evolution, and the chemical inheritance of forming planetary systems.
03
Molecular observations
Interferometric and single-dish observations at (sub-)millimeter wavelengths and the interpretation of molecular emission as a diagnostic of disk physics and chemistry.
04
Organic chemistry & origins
Formation and evolution of simple and complex organic molecules in space and their possible links to prebiotic chemistry.
03 / Scientific tools
Models, networks,
& data products.
Astrochemical modeling
ALCHEMIC code / chemistry benchmark
A gas–grain astrochemistry framework and benchmark resources for chemical evolution in astrophysical environments.
Chemistry benchmark between two gas-grain codes →Reduced network
Rednet
Reduced reaction network for modeling ionization and chemistry in disks.
Rednet →Dust & radiative transfer
Optical constants
The Heidelberg–Jena Database of Optical Constants for astrophysical materials.
Opacity database →04 / Career & research timeline
Two decades of astrochemistry
and planet-formation research.
A compact view of the main stages in my research career, teaching, grants, and community activity.
2000–2005
PhD · Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Doctoral work on dust and gas in protoplanetary discs.
PhD awarded in 2005 · supervisor: Thomas Henning2005–2017
MPIA · Planet and Star Formation
Postdoctoral research on disk chemistry, astrochemical modeling, molecular observations, and the development of ALCHEMIC.
Granted PI observing time at IRAM/PdBI/NOEMA and later ALMA.2012–present
Molecular Astrophysics · Heidelberg University
Annual lecture course in molecular astrophysics and astrochemistry.
Teaching with Holger Kreckel and collaborators.2018
Cozzarelli Prize · PNAS
Co-recipient of the Cozzarelli Prize for one of the best PNAS articles of 2017.
2018–2025
MPIA · Planet and Star Formation
Research on protoplanetary-disk physics and chemistry, large observing programmes, supervision, and international collaborations.
2025–2028
DFG project · Protoplanetary disks in the era of JWST and ALMA
Principal investigator of an individual DFG grant focused on the new observational era for planet-forming disks.
SE 1962/7-12025–present
Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics · Heidelberg University
Continuing research on astrochemistry, disk evolution, and molecular diagnostics while maintaining close links with MPIA.
05 / Resources
Quick access to core academic material.
06 / Selected papers
A few highlighted papers
AB Aur, a Rosetta stone for studies of planet formation
A recent study framing AB Aur as a key system for understanding multiple facets of disk structure and planet formation.
The converging gas flow around the infrared dark cloud G28.37
A recent example of work connecting physical gas flows, structure formation, and chemically relevant environments.
Complete scientific library
Your public NASA ADS library remains the canonical destination for the full, current, and curated publication record.
07 / Latest papers
Latest publications,
updated automatically.
This feed queries Crossref for works registered with my ORCID and sorts them by publication date. Because ORCID metadata are not present in every publisher deposit, my public NASA ADS library remains the complete bibliography.
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08 / Teaching
Molecular astrophysics
from theory to observation.
Together with PD Dr. Holger Kreckel (MPIK) and Dr. Caroline Gieser (MPIA), I teach astrochemistry and molecular astrophysics at Heidelberg University, with course material covering the physics, chemistry, and observational diagnostics of molecules in space.
9 / Contact
Let's talk science.
Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg · Zentrum für Astronomie · Institut für Theoretische Astrophysik · Albert-Ueberle-Str. 2 · 69120 Heidelberg · Germany
Max Planck Institute for Astronomy · Königstuhl 17 · 69117 Heidelberg · Germany