Chemical complexity in the interstellar medium and star formation group

The goal of my research is to study the abundance of molecules in space to better understand how they evolve.

I joined Dr. Víctor M. Rivilla in May 2025 as a postdoc and I am working on the collisional excitation of complex organic molecules for the determination of their abundances, in order to better understand how they form and evolve.

    I did my pre-doctoral studies at the University of Montpellier (France). I graduated a Bachelor in Chemistry in 2019, and a Master in Theoretical Chemistry in 2021. I started a PhD in Physics in 2021 at the Institute of Physics of Rennes (France) under the supervision of Prof. François Lique in the ERC-COLLEXISM group that I graduated in 2024.

My work focuses on the collisional excitation of molecular species in cold molecular clouds and in cometary atmospheres. I computed rate coefficients for CCS and 4 of its isotopologues (13CCS; C13CS; CC34S and CC33S) in collisions with He for cold molecular clouds. I also computed collisional rate coefficients for CS in comets, with CO and H2O as collisional partners, which is now the 5th molecules that can be accurately modelled in such media.

For my work, I employ quantum chemistry methods to compute potential energy surfaces, run scattering calculations with full quantum and statistical approaches to determine collisional rate coefficients, and use these data in non-LTE radiative transfer models to model molecular lines.

I am the author of 5 peer-reviewed scientific publications (including 4 as first authors) and 1 proceeding (as first author). I presented my work in 10 conferences and workshops as speakers, and gave 2 seminars. I was also involved in teaching, with 152 hours across the three years of my PhD, and administrative responsabilities (representative of the non-permanent staff, gender equality working group, organisation of local events).