Bio

I am an experimental physicist with a passion for understanding the chemistry of space. I earned my Ph.D. at IRAP (Institute for Astrophysics and Planetology Research) in Toulouse, France, where I investigated how cosmic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) interact with ultraviolet and infrared light. My work focused on exploring the relaxation processes of these energized molecules in the gas phase, shedding light on their role in astrophysical environments.

After completing my Ph.D. in 2020, I moved to Aarhus, Denmark, to apply my surface science background from my B.Sc. and M.Sc. to the study of functionalized PAHs on astrochemically relevant surfaces and in ices. With the first unambiguous detections of PAHs in the interstellar medium, I shifted focus once again and joined the McGuire lab in October 2022. There, I designed and built Tweety, our compact-chamber chirped-pulse Fourier transform microwave (CP-FTMW) spectrometer. This instrument enables broadband rotational spectroscopy, allowing us to gather data on astrochemically significant molecules.

In addition to my work in the McGuire lab, I hold a visiting scientist appointment at the Center for Astrophysics (CfA) | Harvard & Smithsonian in the McCarthy group. There, I use high-resolution cavity-enhanced FTMW spectroscopy to complement our broadband measurements.

Through my research, I am excited to contribute to the ongoing efforts to detect and characterize molecules—especially PAHs—throughout the cosmos.