Coffee Chat

Brett and Ken Kellerman

The Grab & GO

1. Millimeter and submillimeter spectroscopy of methylallene, CH3CHCCH2

Muller et al. arXiv (Mol. Phys.)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.22872   

2. Broadband infrared spectroscopy of methanol isotopologues in pure, H2O-rich, and CO-rich ice analogues

Vyjidak et al. arXiv (A&A)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.03651       

3. Automated Exploration of Radical-molecule Chemistry: The Case of Oxirane + CH in the Interstellar Medium

Bensberg et al. ApJ
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/ae2d0a     

4. Atom Addition Formation of Thionylimide (HNSO) on Interstellar Dust Grains: Chemical routes requiring oxygen and nitrogen atom surface diffusion

del Valle et al. arXiv (ACS E&SC)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.04374         

5. A gas-phase "top-down" chemical link between aldehydes and alcohols

Shingledecker et al. arXiv (Frontiers)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.03989     

6. AB Aur, a Rosetta stone for studies of planet formation (IV): C/O estimates from CS and SO interferometric observations

Rivière-Marichalar et al. arXiv
https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.06551          

7. Carbon from Interstellar Clouds to Habitable Worlds

Bergin et al. arXiv (ARA&A)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.10308
  

8. From chemical space to observational priority: Predicting detectable molecules in IRC+10216

Li et al. A&A
https://www.aanda.org/component/article?access=doi&doi=10.1051/0004-6361/202558794          

9. Interstellar Formation of Thioethanal (CH3CHS). Gas-Phase and Ice-Surface Mechanisms involving Secondary Sulfur Products

Rani et al. arXiv
https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.17551             

10. PRODIGE - envelope to disk with NOEMA: VII. (Complex) organic molecules in the NGC1333 IRAS4B1 outflow: A new laboratory for shock chemistry

Busch et al. arXiv (A&A)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.17177         

Single-Origin Percolated Brew

Alana Nisperos and Miguel Sanz-Novo

Miguel's Paper: https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.07365

Chalkboard

• Upcoming Meetings

• • There is a conference, Exploring the Aromatic Universe in the JWST Era, to be held July 6-10 in London, Ontario. This symposium will bring together experts from observational astronomy, laboratory astrophysics, theoretical modeling, and quantum chemistry to explore the latest discoveries and future frontiers in PAH and fullerene research. With a special emphasis on extragalactic PAH studies, participants will discuss how new observational capabilities (e.g., JWST, SPHEREx) and cutting-edge theoretical and experimental approaches can expand our understanding of these key interstellar species.  https://www.aromaticuniverse.space/
    
    

  • There will be many astrochemistry sessions at the International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy June 22-26 in Champaign-Urbana, IL.  Abstract submission will open in February with a deadline at the beginning of March.
    
    

  • There will be a session at COSPAR 2026 entitled: “Interstellar Chemistry, Interstellar Origins: Observations, Experiments, Models and Theory of the Molecular Evolution of the Universe.”  COSPAR will be August 1-9 in Florence, Italy.
    
    

  • It looks like the 2026 European Conference on Laboratory Astrophysics will be held 21-25 September, 2026, in Heidelberg.
    
    

  • Save the date for “Cosmic rays 4: The salt of the star formation recipe” October 5-9 in Pisa, Italy.

• Job Opportunities
  
  

  • PhD position in computational astrochemistry at University College Dublin.  They invite applications for a PhD position in computational astrochemistry at the School of Physics at University College Dublin, Ireland. You will work with Dr Marie Van de Sande on the ERC Starting Grant ASHES on dust formation in the outflows of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. 

Most stars will go through an AGB phase near the end of their lives, losing their outer layers by means of a stellar outflow and enriching the interstellar medium (ISM) with the building blocks for the next generation of stars and planets. This outflow is driven by dust formation. Despite the importance of dust, we still do not know exactly how it is formed. 

You will extend a large chemical reaction network to include dust nucleation, using the results of quantum chemical calculations, and calculate the first 1D bottom-up dust growth models. As a next step, you will create 3D chemical models by post-processing hydrodynamical models, helping to close the gap between theory and observations. As part of the ERC Starting Grant ASHES, there are ample opportunities for attending conferences, workshops, and research stays. 

This project would be suitable for a student with a degree in chemistry, physics or astronomy who wants to build on their skills in coding (python and Fortran), data analysis and visualisation, and would like to work in chemical kinetics modelling. 

Application instructions

Applications should include a CV (including personal data, education, skills, and expertise), a one-page motivation letter, and the names and contact details of two references. Please send the documents to mvdsande@strw.leidenuniv.nl before 15 March 2026.