Coffee Chat

Brett and Ilsa chat about the differences between postdoc and faculty life

The Grab & GO

1. Measuring the 34S and 33S  isotopic ratios of volatile sulfur during planet formation

Booth et al. arXiv (AJ)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.03885

2. Complex Organics Surrounding the FU Ori-Type Object V1057 Cyg Indicative of Sublimated Ices

Calahan et al. arXiv (ApJ)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.04530  

3. Evidence for Surprising Heavy Nitrogen Isotopic Enrichment in Comet 46P/Wirtanen's Hydrogen Cyanide

Cordiner et al. arXiv (PSJ)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.05711

4. JWST ice band profiles reveal mixed ice compositions in the HH 48 NE dis

Bergner et al. arXiv (ApJ)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.08117

5. First map of D2H+ emission revealing the true centre of a prestellar core: further insights into deuterium chemistry

Pagani et al. arXiv
https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.10093

6. A new measurement of the Galactic 12C/13C gradient from sensitive HCO+ absorption observations

Luo et al. arXiv (A&A)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.11821

7. Rotationally inelastic rate coefficients for C7N− and C10H− anions in collision with H2 at interstellar conditions

Giri et al. arXiv (MNRAS)
https://academic.oup.com/mnras/advance-article/doi/10.1093/mnras/stae2187/7762203?rss=1

8. JOYS+ study of solid state 12C/13C isotope ratios in protostellar envelopes: Observations of CO and CO2 ice with JWST

Brunken et al. arXiv
https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.17237  

9. FAUST XIX. D2CO in the outflow cavities of NGC 1333 IRAS 4A: recovering the physical structure of its original prestellar core

Chahine et al. MNRAS
https://academic.oup.com/mnrasl/article/534/1/L48/7745508?login=false

10. Gamma-Ray-Induced Synthesis of Sugars in Meteorite Parent Bodies

Abe et al. ACS Earth & Space Chemistry
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.4c00099 

Single-Origin Brew

Interview with Samantha Scibelli

• Sam's Paper: https://arxiv.org/abs/2408.11613

Percolator

• Continuing the journey of amino acids in meteorites

Chalkboard

• Community News

  • Dr. Michael McCarthy, Deputy Director of the Center for Astrophysics, Harvard & Smithsonian, has been awarded the 2025 Laboratory Astrophysics Prize awarded by the Laboratory Astrophysics Division of the American Astronomical Society in recognition of his contributions to the field of high-resolution spectroscopy of reactive molecules relevant to astronomy, chemistry, and the atmosphere.

• Seminar News

  • The Astrochemistry Subdivision of the American Chemical Society continues to run grad-student-organized AstroCheminars.  The first of the 2024-25 series will be on Tuesday, October 15 at 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT and will feature a talk by Dr. Samantha Scibelli entitled, "Precursor Prebiotic Chemistry in Early Low-mass Star and Planet Formation."  Registration is free, but required.
    Registration:  https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_p0M4qy-MRUGQfi8_eWxZtQ
    Astrocheminar Webpage: http://astro.phys-acs.org/AstroCheminar.html 

• Job Openings

  • The University of Mississippi is hiring for a tenure track assistant professor in analytical or physical chemistry, broadly defined.  Any area or combination of astrochemistry (observation, laboratory, modeling, quantum chemistry, etc.) would be welcome; the same is true for quantum chemistry.  Questions can be sent to Ryan Fortenberry, and review begins October 15.
    
    https://careers.olemiss.edu/job/University-Assistant-Professor-MS-38677/1207006900/
    
    

  • An assistant professor position in experimental physical chemistry is open at USC in Los Angeles.  They are interested in candidates in all areas of experimental physical chemistry. 
    
    Review begins October 20.
    
    https://usccareers.usc.edu/job/los-angeles/assistant-professor-in-experimental-physical-chemistry/1209/69868632144
    
    

  • The Department of Physics at Auburn University is inviting applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Experimental Laboratory Astrophysics. We are seeking a talented and driven experimentalist to join our department and lead an innovative research program that enhances our understanding of astrophysical processes, astrochemical reactions, and the fundamental physics of atomic and molecular interactions in space environments.
    
    The ideal candidate will have expertise in experimental techniques that complement astronomical observations and space exploration, contributing to interdisciplinary research in astrophysics, astrochemistry, heliophysics, planetary science, and other related fields. This position also offers the opportunity to teach and mentor students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Review begins November 15

https://www.auemployment.com/postings/48943 

• Upcoming Meetings

  • The Spring Meeting of the American Chemical Society, to be held next March in San Diego, CA, will feature a Symposium to Honor Eric Herbst’s Contributions to Our Understanding of the Molecular Universe.
    
    Anyone who has worked in the field of astrochemistry will have come across Eric. He changed our understanding of the reactivity of molecules in the interstellar medium. He showed that interstellar molecules are not just chemical curiosities but are excellent probes of physical conditions. His influence has been felt through his mentorship and generous collaborations and the current field is populated with his former students and postdocs, now leading their own research groups in astrochemistry. This symposium will honor Eric’s immense contributions to the field, upon his retirement, by bringing together his former students, postdocs and collaborators from across the globe to discuss current state of the art and future directions in astrochemistry.
    
    Abstract submission is closed September 30th, but registration remains open.
    
    

  • Towards New Frontiers: The Astrochemical Journey from Young Stellar Nurseries to Exoplanets will be held in Garching, Germany the week of 10th March 2025.
    
    Characterising the chemical composition of young prestellar and protostellar systems and understanding their evolution is crucial to retrieve the chemical content that forming planets will inherit. In recent years, our community has taken major steps forward to understand the content of protostellar regions and their evolution. Large observational campaigns at millimeter wavelengths with facilities, such as IRAM 30m, ALMA, NOEMA, in the radio regime with GBT and VLA, as well as new results from JWST in the mid-IR provided us a wealth of information, as well as new open questions. Two of the main open questions are: i) how much of the molecular content in pre-stellar and protostellar systems is reprocessed or maintained in the subsequent stages? ii) How does the chemical characterisation of exoplanets reflect the chemical content in the early stages of their formation?
    
    This workshop aims to convene observers working on various stages of star/planet formation to investigate these pressing questions. We seek to comprehend the current state-of-the-art in chemical evolution and forge new connections within the star formation and the exoplanet communities. We aim to delineate current observational limitations and offer valuable insights to the community on the future ESO facilities and upgrades, such as ALMA Wide Sensitivity upgrade (WSU) and ELT, and new and future instruments such as ngVLA, SKA and JWST. With a multi-wavelength approach, going from infrared to centimeter, this workshop offers a distinctive and unique perspective that sets it apart from previous and forthcoming events in our field.
    
    Deadline for abstract submission is November 10th.  https://www.eso.org/sci/meetings/2025/tnf.html