Chemical complexity in the interstellar medium and star formation group

Born in 1995 in Valladolid (Spain), he graduated top of his class from the Universidad de Valladolid with two Extraordinary Awards in the Chemistry Degree (2017) and the M.S. Advanced Techniques in Chemistry (2018). He then completed a Ph.D. in Chemistry at UVa under the supervision of Prof. José L. Alonso and Prof. Carmen Barrientos. His research focused on interstellar molecules and biomolecules, combining high-resolution rotational spectroscopy with quantum-chemical computations, receiving his third Extraordinary Award for the best doctoral thesis in Chemistry from UVa (Cum Laude, Int. Mention, 2022). Currently, as a Juan de la Cierva Fellow at the Centro de Astrobiología (CAB, CSIC-INTA), Sanz-Novo investigates molecular complexity in space, aiming to disclose the intricate chemical reservoir of the interstellar medium and its connection with the origin of life.

He has published 44 research papers (17 as first author and 15 as second author), including:

• Discovery of interstellar carbonic acid (HOCOOH), the first species with more than two oxygen atoms in space.

• First detection of an interstellar isomer of glycine (glycolamide), the simplest amino acid. 

• Discovery of dimethyl sulfide (CH3SCH3, DMS) in the interstellar medium, which stands as the largest S-bearing species detected so far.

• Discovery in space of HNSO, the first interstellar molecule containing nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen.

• Discovery in space of 2,5-cyclohexadien-1-thione, a six-membered sulfur-bearing cyclic hydrocarbon.

• First detection of O-protonated carbonyl sulfide (HOCS⁺).

• New detections (confirmation) of trans-methyl formate (trans-CH3OCHO) in the ISM.

• Tentative detection of 3-hydroxypropanal in G+0.693.

Overall, Sanz-Novo has either led or contributed to the detection of over new dozen interstellar molecules in the last 3 years. Moreover, he has coordinated several research works with International Institutions such as MPIfR and MPE (Germany), MIT and NRAO (USA), University of Cologne (Germany), University of Chemical Technology (Czech Republic), among others, and he is also a regular visitor of various world-class laboratories around the globe, such as the Center for Astrochemical Studies (MPE, Garching), or the Star and Planet Formation Laboratory at RIKEN (Tokyo, Japan). Beyond astrophysics, Sanz-Novo's work in rotational spectroscopy has influenced physical chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry (highlighting the study of barbaralones, an archetypical fluxional molecule, Front Cover in Angewandte Chemie Int. Ed.).

Throughout his early career, Sanz-Novo has fully funded his research activity, securing more than 225,000 € through competitive national calls (FPU, Margarita Salas, and Juan de la Cierva). He has also participated as a member of the research team in 7 projects funded by various institutions: ERC-Synergy (international), Spanish agencies and ministries (national), and JCyL (regional), with a total budget of over 1,755,660 €. Moreever, Sanz-Novo has received various national and international awards, including:

• Miller Prize (ISMS 2025)

• Jon Hougen Memorial Award (ISMS 2023)

• ASEVA Best Doctoral Thesis Award (2023)

• Best Article by a Young Researcher in Atomic and Molecular Chemistry/Physics (RSEF/RSEQ, GEFAM, 2023)

He has been invited to give talks at major conferences like ISM (Sapporo, Japan, 2025), COSPAR (45th edition, Busan, South Korea, 2024), "Astrochemistry: From Quantum to Cosmos" (Nijmegen, The Netherlands, 2025), and the International Conference on Thin Films (ICTF-2023) and taught over 250 hours in the Chemistry Degree at UVa (2018-2023) while co-supervising seven Chemistry degree & Master theses (one ongoing). Since 2022, he also holds ANECA accreditation as Profesor Ayudante Doctor and Profesor Contratado Doctor. Sanz-Novo is also a regular referee in Astronomy & Astrophysics, The Astrophysical Journal, Nature Communications, The Journal of Physical Chemistry and Molecules, among other journals.