Leader of the Galactic Centre Group at the IAA-CSIC.
Research Interests
Galactic centre, Sagittarius A*, massive black holes, star formation, nuclear star clusters, nuclear stellar discs, infrared astronomy, high angular resolution imaging, massive stars
Publications
Refereed publications on NASA/ADS
Non-refereed publications on NASA/ADS
Education
| 2000 | Diploma in Geophysics | Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany |
| 2004 | Ph.D in Astronomy | Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany |
PhD Advisor: Reinhard Genzel, Max-Planck-Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Garching bei München, Germany.
My thesis on High Angular Resolution Observations of the Galactic Center reported on the first orbits of stars around the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way, Sagittarius A*, and is intimately connected to experimental part of the the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics, awarded to Andrea Ghez and Reinhard Genzel.
Professional Experience
| 2004-2007 | Postdoctoral Researcher | University of Cologne, Germany |
| 2008-2014 | Ramón y Cajal Fellow | IAA-CSIC, Granada, Spain |
| 2014-2017 | Researcher | IAA-CSIC, Granada, Spain |
| 2017-2021 | Tenured as Científico Titular | IAA-CSIC, Granada, Spain |
| Since 2021 | Promoted to Investigador Científico | IAA-CSIC, Granada, Spain |
Institutional Roles
| Since Dec 2019 | Co-coordinator for thematic area 9 (Understanding the basic components of the Universe, its structure and evolution) of the Spanish Research Council’s (CSIC) White Book strategic initiative. | Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) |
| Since Jan 2019 | Training Coordinator | IAA-CSIC Severo Ochoa Excellence Program |
| Since Feb 2021 | Coordinator of Pillar 2 | IAA-CSIC Severo Ochoa Excellence Program |
I serve as a member of the Steering and Scientific Committees of the IAA-CSIC's Severo Ochoa Excellence Programme.
Honors and Awards
| 2005 | Otto-Hahn Medal (Max-Planck-Society) |
| 2012 | Lauren B. Leichtman & Arthur E. Levine Visiting Scholar at UCLA with Prof. A. Ghez |
| 2013 | ERC Consolidator Grant |
| 2015-2017 | PI of ESO Large Programme 195.B-0283 |