Meet the Team
Viviana Guzmán
Vivi is an astrochemist studying the chemical processes in star- and planet-forming regions, with a focus on the starting conditions for planet formation and the role of the environment in the chemistry of protoplanetary disks. She combines observations from ALMA and APEX to investigate the distribution, formation, and evolution of key molecules, exploring how external factors like radiation and cloud conditions affect disk chemistry. Her work helps determine what materials are available for building planets, which is key to understanding whether planetary systems like our own are common or rare in the universe.
Claudio Hernández Vera
Claudio is a PhD student investigating the formation and destruction of organic molecules in FUV-irradiated environments, such as photodissociation regions and protoplanetary disks. His recent work explored the distribution of H₂CO in the HD 163296 disk, and he is now analyzing H₂CO emission across a larger disk sample from the DECO collaboration. Additionally, he is studying complex organic molecules in the Horsehead PDR using ACA data. Claudio is an expert in combining ALMA and single-dish observations to uncover the chemical complexity of these regions.
Santiago Gil
Santiago is a PhD student investigating the role of submillimeter water masers in young stellar objects (YSOs). His research focuses on using these masers as tracers of accretion and ejection processes in both low- and high-mass star formation. By analyzing observations from APEX and ALMA, he aims to characterize the kinematics and physical conditions of masing regions, shedding light on mass-loss phenomena in low-mass YSOs and the formation mechanisms of YSOs.
Sidharth Aroli
Sidharth is a PhD student specializing in nitrogen isotope chemistry in protoplanetary environments. His research focuses on analyzing ALMA observations of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and its isotopologues in protoplanetary disks to investigate nitrogen fractionation processes. By studying the isotopic ratios and spatial distribution of these molecules, he aims to understand how nitrogen-bearing compounds evolve during planet formation and potentially contribute to the emergence of prebiotic chemistry.
Aquiles den Braber
Aquiles is a master's student studying the chemistry of photodissociation regions (PDRs). He is analyzing a line survey of the Horsehead PDR, focusing on the emission of small nitrogen-bearing molecules (NO, HNO, and HNCO). By comparing their distribution in the FUV-illuminated PDR and the shielded CORE, he aims to investigate their formation pathways. His work combines spectral data from the IRAM-30m telescope with high-resolution images from ACA.
Constanza Castillo
Constanza is a master's student investigating the distribution of formaldehyde (H₂CO) in protoplanetary disks. Using high-resolution ALMA observations, she derives radial distributions, excitation temperatures, and column densities to map the molecular environments where planets form. Her research extends to studying the CH₃OH/H₂CO abundance ratio in these disks, providing crucial constraints on organic molecule chemistry in protoplanetary environments.
Past Members
  • Luna Marín, MSc (2024) - Now doing a PhD at Université Paris-Saclay and Sorbonne Université
  • Michel Maluenda, MSc (2024)
  • Elizabeth Artur de la Villarmois, Fondecyt Postdoc (2020 — 2023) - Now an ESO fellow in Chile
  • Jaime Castillo, MSc (2023)
  • Daniela Soto, MSc (2023) - Now at Joint ALMA Observatory
  • Javiera Díaz, MSc (2022) - Now doing a PhD at University of Leeds
Bachelor Thesis Students
  • Ana Salas (2025)
  • Verónica Baeza (2024)
  • Nicolás Soto (2023)
  • Andrés Rodriguez (2023)
  • Constanza Castillo (2023)
  • Constanza del Canto (2023)
  • Giannina Boggiano (co-advisor) (2021)
  • Yanina Morales (2021)
  • Lucas Soazo (2020)
  • Jorge Riveros (2020)
  • Claudio Hernández (2020)
  • Alvaro Toro (2020)
  • Javiera Díaz (2019)

© Viviana Guzmán Veloso