Current group members:
Postdoctoral research scientist: Nicolas Suas-David
On April first 2019 Nicolas Suas-David started as a postdoctoral research scientist in the Laboratory for
Astrophysics. Nicolas works on the infrared and near-UV/VIS spectroscopic characterization of hydrocarbon radicals formed in a plasma-jet expansion. To achieve this, two sensitive techniques are employed, namely
incoherent broad-band cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy (near-UV/VIS) and cavity ringdown absorption spectroscopy using IR radiation to probe the C-H stretching modes around 3 micrometer.
PhD student: Morgan McCabe
On April first 2019, Morgan McCabe started as a PhD student in the Laboratory for Astrophysics. Morgan works on a combined experimental and computational study of gas phase radical-neutral chemical reactions that lead to complex (polycyclic) organic molecules under interstellar conditions. The main goal is to supply isomer specific identifications and branching information that are crucial for astrochemical modeling and to gain fundamental insight into the reaction mechanisms at play. To achieve this, Morgan characterizes chemical reactions by means of an imaging photoelectron photoion coincidence (i2-PEPICO) spectrometer connected to a synchrotron. Supplementary quantum chemical computations are performed to make isomeric identifications and to yield insight into the reaction paths. The research is conducted in close collaboration with beamline scientists (Drs. Bodi & Hemberger) at the Vacuum Ultraviolet Beamline of the Swiss Light Source at Paul Scherrer Institute.
PhD student positions and internships
Openings for undergraduates:
We are looking for MSc or BSc students to investigate the dissociation characteristics of benzonitrile. Benzonitrile is a small nitrogen-bearing aromatic molecule that has recently been identified in the molecular cloud TMC-1 through rotational spectroscopy. Little is known about the stability of this molecule. The student will characterize the (dissociative) ionization of interstellar benzonitrile by means of a combination of photoelectron-photoion coincidence spectrometry and quantum chemical computations.
Currently, we do not have openings/projects for PhD students.
Former group members
Masters students at Leiden University
Irene Haasnoot - VUV induced dissociation of interstellar complex organic molecules (Feb. 2018 - December 2018). Currently full stack developer at NEXUS
Bachelor students at Leiden University
Jeger Broxterman - Formation of aromatic molecules under interstellar conditions (Feb. 2020 - June 2020). Currently master student at Leiden University
Jerry Kamer - Light induced dissociation of coronene cations (Feb. 2018 - June 2018). Currently master student at Delft University
Merel Donker - Ionization and dissociation of interstellar benzonitrile (Feb. 2019 - June 2019). Currently master student at Leiden University
Master students at Radboud University
Johan Pastoors - Pyrolysis and dissociative ionization of cyclopentanone. (Nov. 2015 - Nov. 2016)
Arjen J. de Haas - Structural identification of the HCN-loss products formed in the dissociative ionization of phenanthridine and acridine. (Feb. 2015 - May 2016). Currently consultant at ALTEN Netherlands
Bachelor students at Radboud University
Femke Bangma - Product formation in ion-neutral chemical reactions (2015)
Stefan Horst - Spectroscopy of the adamantane cation and its fragments (2016)
Stijn Janssen - Ion neutral chemistry in a quadrupole ion trap (2016)