Curriculum Vitae
I study how massive stars and stellar clusters assemble their mass – from parsec-scale gas flows to accretion onto individual protostellar cores – and how these flows interact with stellar feedback.
I study how the biggest, brightest stars and the star clusters around them keep growing – tracing the gas as it falls in from far outside the cluster all the way down onto the stars themselves, and seeing how that changes once the stars switch on and start blasting the surrounding gas with light.
I study how really, really big stars are born. They start as huge clouds of gas, and the gas slowly falls together to build the star, like water swirling down a drain. I want to know what happens to that gas once the star turns on and starts shining really brightly.
Positions
2026 – 2027
Predoctoral Fellow
Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, Cambridge, MA
Supported by a DAAD Research Grant
A one-year research stay in the US, funded by a German academic exchange grant, working alongside the Center for Astrophysics team.
I get to go work with scientists in America for a year, and a special grant from Germany pays for it!
2024 – present
PhD Researcher
European Southern Observatory, Garching
Expected completion April 2028
Doing my PhD research at one of the world’s leading astronomy organisations, expected to finish in 2028.
I'm doing my big science project (it's called a PhD!) at a place where lots of astronomers work together, and I should finish around 2028.
2023
Master student / intern, Menten group (Millimetre and Submillimetre Astronomy)
Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, Bonn
A research internship during my Master’s, working with a radio-astronomy research group.
I got to try out being a real scientist for a while, working with a team that studies space using giant radio dishes.
2018 – 2024
University Teaching Assistant
Scientific programming in Python, astrophysics labs and lectures
Helped teach university students computer programming and astrophysics, alongside my own studies.
I helped teach other students how to use computers for science and how space works.
Education
2025 – present
PhD Candidate
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich)
Working dissertation title: Multi-scale ACcretion aNd Ionising Feedback in a Young cluster (MACNIFY)
Officially enrolled as a PhD student at a university in Munich, while doing the actual day-to-day research at ESO.
I'm signed up at a university in Munich to get my big science diploma, even though I do most of my actual work somewhere else.
2022 – 2024
M.Sc. Astrophysics, with honours
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
Thesis: Investigating chlorine chemistry through observations of HCl in star-forming regions
Earned my Master’s degree studying the universe, graduating with honours for a thesis on chlorine chemistry in space.
I got a big diploma for studying space, and I did extra well on my final project about a chemical called chlorine in space clouds.
2017 – 2021
B.Sc. Physics
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
Thesis: Origin and evolution of counter-rotating stars in simulated galaxies
My undergraduate degree in physics, with a final project on stars that orbit the "wrong way" in simulated galaxies.
My first science diploma was in physics. For my final project, I studied pretend galaxies on a computer where some stars spin backwards!
2016 – 2017
Business Administration studies
Left after one year to pursue physics
Started out studying business, then switched to physics after a year once I realised where my real interest was.
I first tried studying business, but I missed science too much, so I switched to physics instead!
PI-led observing programs
| Facility | Proposal | Time awarded |
|---|---|---|
| ALMA | 2025.1.01454.S (2025) – From filaments to cores: tracing multi-scale accretion in W33 Main Using a powerful telescope array in Chile to zoom in on gas falling onto individual forming stars. Using giant telescopes in the desert to watch gas fall right onto baby stars. | ~10 h |
| SMA | 2025B-S036 (2025) – Magnetic fields driving or resisting OB cluster formation in the hub-filament system W33 Main Checking whether invisible magnetic fields are helping or hindering a young star cluster’s growth. Finding out if invisible magnetic forces are helping or stopping a star cluster from growing. | 1 night |
| APEX | M9517C_114 (2024) – Constraining the HCl absorption towards the nearby galaxy NGC 4945 Measuring a specific gas’s fingerprint in the dense centre of a nearby galaxy. Looking for a special gas clue in the middle of a galaxy far, far away. | ~18 h |
| APEX | M9521C_114 (2024) – Mapping the extent of HCl emission in the explosive outflow of IRAS 12326−6245 Mapping exactly where that same gas shows up in the aftermath of a rare stellar collision. Finding out exactly where that gas clue appears after a dramatic star crash. | ~6 h |
Selected talks & awards
A selection only – the complete list of conferences, schools, and seminars is in the downloadable CV.
Jan 2027
DAAD Research Grant for Doctoral Researchers
Germany
Nov 2026
IAU Symposium 412: Hub-Filament Structures in Star Formation
Mysuru, India – Contributed talk, supported by an IAU Travel Grant
Oct 2026
SAO Predoctoral Fellowship
Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, Cambridge, MA, USA
May 2026
Poster Award, The Olympian Symposium 2026
Paralia Katerini, Greece
Dec 2025
Seminar talk, Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics / UK ALMA Regional Centre
University of Manchester, United Kingdom
Sept 2025
Stellar Origins 2025
Vienna, Austria – Contributed talk
Nov 2024
Fractionation of Isotopes in Space II
Arcetri, Florence, Italy – Contributed talk
Outreach & service
2026
Stellar Nursery — browser game
Play it: a short game about how massive stars actually gain their mass
Built from the same literature behind my research, compressed into something playable
A small browser game that turns the real mechanisms behind massive star formation into something playable — the same science as the research above, just with a score attached.
A game I made about how giant stars are born — you get to be the star and decide how to keep pulling in gas!
2026 – present
Volunteer tutor
Lern-Fair e.V.
One-to-one tutoring for school students
Free one-to-one tutoring for school students who need some extra support.
I help kids with their homework for free, one-on-one.
2022 – present
Student representative
ESO, IMPRS-Astro, previously AIfA Bonn
Represents fellow PhD students’ interests and concerns to the institutes and graduate school.
I'm like a class president for the other student scientists, speaking up for them.
2024 – present
Local organising committee member
Multiple ESO workshops and conferences
Helps plan and run scientific workshops and conferences.
I help organise big meetings where scientists from all over come to share what they’ve found.
Sep 2019
Science fair host
Highlights der Physik 2019, University of Bonn
Hosted a public physics exhibit at Germany’s largest science outreach festival.
I helped run a fun physics show for the public, with cool experiments and demonstrations.
Beyond the lab
Outside astronomy, I'm usually cycling, hiking, or running – and always up for trivia, especially anything to do with music, movies, and cinema history.
I also volunteer as a tutor with Lern-Fair e.V.
