Dr. Theo Richardson - Young Stellar Object Models

PhD Thesis: "Protostellar Evolution Models and Synthetic Observations" (2025)
Key Publication: Updated Grid of YSO Models (Robitaille Grid)
Research Focus: Theory, protostellar evolution models, synthetic observations

Theo's updated and improved theoretical models of young stellar objects (YSOs) that are essential for interpreting observational data. His updated Robitaille grid provides crucial tools for the astronomy community to understand how protostars evolve and what we should expect to see with current and future telescopes.


Figure 9: Temperature correction factors for 'typical' YSO models
(Figure 9 from: Richardson et al. 2024, ApJ, 961, 188)

Dr. Desmond Jeff - Hot Cores in Sagittarius B2

PhD Thesis: "Star Formation in the Central Molecular Zone" (2025)
Key Publication: Ten New Hot Cores in Sgr B2 DS
Research Focus: ALMA observations, hot cores, chemistry, Sgr B2 DS

Desmond discovered ten new hot cores (high-mass protostars) in the Deep South region of Sagittarius B2, the most massive star-forming cloud in our Galaxy's center. This work helps us understand how star formation differs in the extreme environment of the Galactic Center compared to our local neighborhood.


Hot cores in Sgr B2 Deep South
(Figure from: Jeff et al. 2024, ApJ, 962, 48)

Alyssa Bulatek - Molecular Line Surveys in The Brick

Key Publication: Methanol Dasar in G0.253+0.016 ("The Brick")
Research Focus: ALMA observations, chemical line survey, The Brick

Alyssa identified a methanol line as a "dasar" (the opposite of a maser - absorption instead of emission) in The Brick, a dark cloud in the Galactic Center. She surveys the chemistry of this extreme environment through a comprehensive molecular line survey.


Methanol dasar absorption against the cosmic microwave background in The Brick
(Figure from: Bulatek et al. 2023, ApJ, 956, 78)

Nazar Budaiev - Young Stellar Objects in Sgr B2

Key Publication: Hundreds of YSOs in Sgr B2
Research Focus: Sgr B2 star formation at high-resolution with VLA, ALMA, and JWST

Nazar discovered hundreds of young stellar objects in Sgr B2 using multi-wavelength observations. He leads a JWST Cycle 3 program to map Sgr B2, providing unprecedented infrared views of star formation in the Galactic Center.


High-resolution ALMA observations showing hundreds of protostellar cores in Sgr B2
(Figure from: Budaiev et al. 2024, ApJ, 961, 4)

Savannah Gramze - Galactic Bar Structure

Key Publication: Colliding Gas Flows Along the Galactic Bar
Research Focus: Structure of the Galactic Center and bar with ALMA

Savannah found evidence of colliding gas flows along the Galactic bar, revealing how our Galaxy's structure channels material toward the center and influences star formation throughout the disk.


Figure 8: Position-velocity diagram showing evidence of cloud-cloud collision in G5
(Figure 8 from: Gramze et al. 2023, ApJ, 959, 93)

Taehwa Yoo - Pre-IMF Measurements in W51

Research Focus: W51 cores at high resolution with ALMA

Taehwa is measuring the pre-initial mass function in W51, one of the most massive star-forming regions in our Galaxy. He leads a JWST Cycle 3 program to measure the (pre)IMF in W51 using infrared observations.


Multi-line ALMA observations of W51 showing molecular gas and star formation tracers

Dr. Miriam Garcia Santa-Maria

Research Focus: Astrochemistry, salt, cosmic rays, Galactic Center

Miriam specializes in astrochemistry and the effects of cosmic rays on molecular chemistry in extreme environments like the Galactic Center. Her work builds on the group's discoveries of salt molecules around high-mass protostars.

🌟 High-Mass Star Formation

Our group studies how the most massive stars in the Galaxy form, using observations from ALMA, JWST, and VLA to probe the earliest stages of stellar birth in extreme environments.

🧪 Astrochemistry

We investigate the complex chemistry in star-forming regions, from simple molecules to complex organic compounds, including the discovery of salt molecules around massive protostars.

🌌 Galactic Center Physics

The center of our Galaxy presents unique conditions for star formation. Our team studies how the extreme environment affects the formation of stars and the evolution of molecular clouds.

📊 Stellar Initial Mass Function

Understanding how stellar masses are set during formation is crucial for galaxy evolution models. We measure the proto-IMF in various environments to test theoretical predictions.