Faculty

Name Research Line E-mail
Ferreira, Carlos Stellar and Galactic Astronomy carlos.ferreira@uda.cl

Haikala, Lauri (*)

Stellar and Galactic Astronomy lauri.haikala@uda.cl
Haines, Christopher Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology chris.haines@uda.cl
Lacerna, Iván Stellar and Galactic Astronomy, Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology ivan.lacerna@uda.cl
Leone, Giovanni Planetary Sciences and Exoplanets giovanni.leone@uda.cl
Morelli, Lorenzo Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology lorenzo.morelli@uda.cl
Muñoz, Marco Planetary Sciences and Exoplanets marco.munoz@uda.cl

Olivares, Felipe (*)

Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology felipe.olivares@uda.cl
Soto, Mario Stellar and Galactic Astronomy mario.soto@uda.cl
Tregloan-Reed, Jeremy Planetary Sciences and Exoplanets jeremy.tregloan-reed@uda.cl
Vieira V., Katherine Stellar and Galactic Astronomy katherine.vieira@uda.cl

 (*) at UDA until July 2024

Postdocs

Name Research Line E-mail
Rescigno, Umberto Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology umberto.rescigno@uda.cl
Choque, Nelvy Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology nelvy.choque@uda.cl

 

Students

Year of enrolling Last and First Names Research Line E-mail
2024 Nair, Aparna Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology aparna.nair.24@alumnos.uda.cl
2024 Iturra Vega, Gustavo Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology gustavo.iturra.24@alumnos.uda.cl
2024 Oyarzo-Belmar, Felipe Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology felipe.oyarzo@postgrados.uda.cl
2024 Santiago Carrasco, Danyla Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology danyla.santiago.24@alumnos.uda.cl
2023 Concha, David Stellar and Galactic Astrophysics david.conchaa.23@alumnos.uda.cl
2023 Molina, Valeska Planetary Sciences and Exoplanets valeska.molinam.23@alumnos.uda.cl
2022 Hazarika, Debasish Stellar and Galactic Astrophysics debashish.hazarika.22@alumnos.uda.cl
2022 Caviedes Cameron, Camila Planetary Sciences and Exoplanets camila.caviedes.22@alumnos.uda.cl
2021 Romero Colmenares, Maria Isabel Planetary Sciences and Exoplanets maria.romero.21@alumnos.uda.cl
2021 Rajkumar, Anitha Raj Planetary Sciences and Exoplanets anitha.raj.21@alumnos.uda.cl
2021 Belwadi Manjunatha, Amrutha Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology amrutha.belwadi.21@alumnos.uda.cl

 

Support Personnel

Nombre Cargo Correo electrónico
Guerrero, Priscilla Administrative Assistant priscilla.guerrero@uda.cl

 

PhD Alumni

Name Ph.D. defense date Thesis title Advisor
Daniela Palma 19-mar-2025

Impact of large-scale environmental effects produced by galaxy groups and clusters

Iván Lacerna
Alejandra Hernández 28-jan-2025 Supernova Type II Cosmology: Exploring host galaxy parameters to measure the expansion of the universe Lorenzo Morelli
Mario Ortigoza 21-jul-2023 Detection of halo and disks structures with t-SNE Katherine Vieira
Sangeetha Nandakumar 31-mar-2023 Analysis of TESS red-giants suitable fot Q* measurement Jeremy Tregloan-Reed
Gabriel Pinto 31-mar-2023 Conditions of formation and agglomeration of dust in the early solar system Felipe Olivares
Daniele Gasparri 22-jun-2022 Near-Infrared Spectroscopic Indices for unresolved stellar population Lorenzo Morelli

Faculty

Carlos Ferreira Lopes
PhD in Physics
INCT Research line: Stellar and Galactic Astrophysics
Specific research interests: Stellar Astrophysics, Data-Mining, Exoplanets, Time-series.
Publications: link to NASA-ADS
Current position at INCT: Assistant Professor
Previous positions
2022-2023, Assigned young researcher, Millennium Institute of Astrophysics, Chile
2022-2022, Postdoctoral researcher, Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences (IAG), Brazil
2017-2021, Postdoctoral researcher, National Institute for Space Research (INPE), Brazil
2014-2016, Postdoctoral researcher, Royal ObservatoryEdinburgh
2013-2014, Postdoctoral researcher, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
Academic Degrees
2013 PhD in Physics at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
2008 Msc in Physics at Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Brazil,
2006 BSc in Physics at Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Brazil

 

Lauri Haikala (*)
Dr.rer.Nat., Ruprecht-Karls-Universität, Heidelberg, FRG
INCT research line: Stellar and Galactic Astrophysics
Specific research interests:  Galactic structure, ISM, low mass star formation, NIR, FIR and (sub)mm astronomy, interferometry
Publications: link to NASA-ADS
Current position at INCT: Assistant Professor (*) until July 2024
Previous Positions
2011–2013 University researcher, Finnish Center for Astronomy with ESO (FINCA), FIN
2007–2011 University researcher (ESO research), University of Helsinki, FIN
2004–2007 University researcher, lecturer, University of Helsinki, FIN
1995–2003 Operations staff astronomer, ESO, SEST, La Silla, CL
1992–1995 Research fellow (ISO project) at the Observatory, University of Helsinki, FIN
1990–1991 Amanuens, Laboratory Engineer and Assistant positions, University of Helsinki, FIN
1986–1990 Heinrich-Herz stipendiat and research fellow, I. Phys. Inst. Univ. of Cologne, FRG
1984–1986 Amanuens and Laboratory Engineer positions, University of Helsinki, FIN
1981–1984 Doctorand, Max Planck Institut für Astronomie, Heidelberg, FRG
Academic degrees
1984 Dr. rer. Nat., Ruprecht-Karls-Universität, Heidelberg, FRG
1980 M.Sc. (Astronomy) , University of Helsinki

 

 

 

Christopher Haines
PhD in Astrophysics
INCT research line: Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology
Specific research interest: Galaxy evolution, Galaxy clusters, Environmental effects on galaxies, Spectroscopic surveys, Mid/far-infrared imaging
Publications: link to NASA-ADS
Current position at INCT: Assistant Professor
Previous Positions 2015-2018, Postdoc Researcher, INAF Osservatorio Astronomico de Brera, Milán, Italia
2013-2015, Postdoc Researcher, Departamento de Astronomía, Universidad de Chile, Chile
2011-2012, Postdoc Researcher, Steward Observatory, Universidad de Arizona, USA
2007-2011, Postdoc Researcher, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham, UK
2002-2007, Postdoc Researcher, INAF Osservatorio de Capodimonte, Nápoles, Italia
Academic degrees 2001, PhD in Astrophysics, University of Central Lancashire, UK
1997, Master of Natural Sciences (Physics), University of Cambridge, UK
Ivan Lacerna
PhD in Astrophysics
INCT research line: Stellar and Galactic Astrophysics, Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology
Specific research interest: Formation and Evolution of Galaxies, Local and large-scale environments, Citizen Science
Publications: link to NASA-ADS
Current position at INCT: Assistant Professor
UDA-INCT PhD Alumni advised Daniela Palma – 2025
Previous Positions 2019-present, Assigned young researcher, Millennium Institute of Astrophysics, Chile
2018-2019, Postdoctoral researcher, Universidad Catolica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
2018-2019, Assigned postdoctoral researcher, Millennium Institute of Astrophysics, Chile
2018-2019, Deputy Lead Observer of APOGEE-2 South, Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-IV), Las Campanas Observatory, Chile
2016-2019, Astronomer for APOGEE-2 South operations, Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-IV), Las Campanas Observatory, Chile
2017-2018, Postdoctoral researcher, Millennium Institute of Astrophysics, Santiago, Chile
2014-2016, Postdoctoral researcher, UC Centre for Astro-Engineering, Santiago, Chile
2014-2016, Support astronomer and operator MPG/ESO 2.2m telescope, Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, La Silla Observatory, Chile
2012-2014, Postdoctoral fellow, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
Academic degrees 2012, Ph.D. in Astrophysics, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Chile
2005, Licienciatura degree in Astronomy, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Chile
Giovanni Leone
PhD in Earth Sciences, PhD in Environmental Sciences
INCT research line: Planetary Sciences and Exoplanets
Specific research interests: Planetary volcanology and cryovolcanology, planetary geology, geomorphology, geophysics, geochemistry, planetary simulants, muography application to planetary volcanology.
Publications: link to ORCID
Current position at INCT: Associate Professor
Previous Positions 2011-2016, PhD student, ETH Zurich
Academic degrees 2016, PhD in Earth Sciences, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
2007, PhD in Environmental Sciences, Lancaster, UK
1993, MSc Geological Sciences, University of Palermo, Italy.
Marco A. Muñoz Gutiérrez
PhD in Astrophysics
INCT research line: Planetary Sciences and Exoplanets
Specific research interest: Solar System Dynamics, Trans-Neptunian Objects, Comets, Planetary Rings and Satellites, and Extrasolar Debris Disks.
Publications: link to NASA-ADS
Current position at INCT: Assistant Professor
Previous Positions
2023 CATA Postdoctoral Fellow, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
2017 – 2022 Postdoctoral Fellow, Academia Sinica, Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Taipei, Taiwan.
2016 – 2017 FAPESP Postdoctoral Fellow, Sao Paulo State University, Guaratinguetá, Brazil.
Academic degrees
2016, Ph.D. in Astrophysics, Instituto de Astronomía, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México.
2012, M.Sc. in Astronomy, Instituto de Astronomía, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México.
2010, Bachelor in Physics, Facultad de Ciencias, UNAM, México.

 

 

 

 

Lorenzo Morelli
PhD in Astronomy
INCT research line: Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology
Specific research interest: Galaxies formation en evolution, Galaxies Nuclear Structures, Unresolved stellar populations in galaxies
Publications: link to NASA-ADS
Current position at INCT: Associate Professor and INCT Director
UDA-INCT PhD Alumni advised Daniele Gasparri – 2022
Previous Positions 2007-2018, Fellowship, Università di Padova, Padova Italy
2005-2007, Fellowship, Pontificia Universidad catolica and Harvard University, Santiago, Chile
2002-2004, Studentship, ESO, Santiago, Chile
Academic degrees 2005, Ph.D in Astronomy, Università di Padova, Padova, Italy
2002, Laurea (MSc) in astronomy, Università di Padova, Padova, Italy

 

 

Felipe Olivares Estay (*)
PhD in Sciences
INCT research line: Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology
Specific research interest: Supernovae, Gamma-ray bursts, Gravitational waves, Kilonovae
Publications: link to NASA-ADS
Current position at INCT: Assistant Professor (*) until July 2024
UDA-INCT PhD Alumni advised Gabriel Pinto – 2023
Previous Positions: 2016-2019, Postdoc Researcher, Millennium Institute of Astrophysics (MAS), Departamento de Astronomia (DAS), U. de Chile, Santiago, Chile
2013-2016, FONDECYT Postdoctoral Researcher, U. Andŕes Bello (UNAB), Santiago, Chile
2012-2013, Research Assistant, Millennium Center for Supernova Science (MCSS), U. Andŕes Bello (UNAB), Santiago, Chile
Academic degrees 2013, PhD in Natural Sciences, Technische Universität München (TUM), Max-Planck-Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik (MPE), Germany
2008, MSc in Astronomy, Universidad de Chile, Chile
2005, BSc in Astronomy, Universidad de Chile, Chile
Personal Web page: http://bit.ly/foe-research-gate
Mario Soto Vicencio
PhD in Astronomy
INCT research line: Astrofísica Estelar y Galáctica
Specific research interest:  Stellar proper motions, Stellar populations, Galactic structure, Globular Clusters 
Publications: link to NASA-ADS
Current position at INCT: Associate Professor
Previous Positions 2013- 2015 Postdoctoral Fellow at the Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, USA
2010-2013 Fondecyt Postdoctoral Fellow at Universidad de la Serena, Chile
2009-2010 Postdoctoral Fellow at Universidad de la Serena, Chile
Academic degrees 2010, PhD Astronomy, Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, The Netherlands
2004, MSc Physics, Astronomy Department, P. Universidad Católica de Chile
2000, Licenciatura en Ciencias mención Física,  Universidad de Chile, Chile

 

Jeremy Tregloan-Reed
PhD in Astrophysics
INCT research line: Ciencias Planetarias y Exoplanetas
Specific research interest: Detection and characterization of exoplanets, spin-orbit alignment
of planetary systems, starspot tracking in exoplanet light curves, stellar activity, exoplanetary
atmospheres, and the impact of low Earth orbit communication satellite mega-constellations
on astronomical observatories and the dark sky.
Publications: link to NASA-ADS
Current position at INCT: Associate Professor
UDA-INCT PhD Alumni advised Sangheeta Sandakhumar – 2023
Previous Positions 2018-2020, FONDECYT Postdoctoral Fellowship, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
2014-2016, NASA Postdoctoral Fellowship, NASA Ames Research Center, Mountain View, California, U.S.A
Academic degrees 2014, PhD in Astrophysics, University of Keele, UK
2010, Master of Physics (M.Phys in physics, astrophysics and cosmology), University of Lancaster, UK

 

Katherine Vieira V.
PhD in Astronomy
INCT research line: Stellar and Galactic Astrophysics
Specific research interest: Astrometry, Proper Motions, Astrometric Reductions, Galactic Kinematics, Astrostatistics, Astrodynamics.
Publications: link to NASA-ADS
Current position at INCT: Assistant Professor
UDA-INCT PhD Alumni advised Mario Ortigoza – 2023
Previous Positions 2012-2019, Assistant Researcher, Centro de Investigaciones de Astronomía, Mérida, Venezuela
2009-2012 Postdoc Researcher, Centro de Investigaciones de Astronomía, Mérida, Venezuela
Academic degrees 2010, PhD in Astronomy, Yale University, USA
2002, MSc in Fundamental Physics, Universidad de los Andes, Venezuela
1998, BSc in Mathematics, Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado, Venezuela.

 

Postdocs

Nelvy Choque Challapa
PhD, University of Groningen, 2022
INCT research line: Astronomía Extragalactica y Cosmología
Specific research interests: Galaxies evolution in clusters, Dwarf galaxies, Recently quenched elliptical galaxies.
Publications: enlace a NASA-ADS
Previous positions n/a
Academic degrees
2022, Ph.D., University of Groningen, The Netherlands, 2022

 

Umberto Rescigno
PhD in Physics, Astrophysics, and Applied Physics
INCT research Line: Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology
Specific research interests: Cosmology, Galaxies evolution, Strong and weak gravitational lenses, Galaxies clusters, Dark Matter models, Astrobiology and Habitability, Machine Learning applications to Astrophysics.
Publications: link to NASA-ADS
Previous positions 2021-2023, Postdoctoral researcher, Astrophysics Institute, Andres Bello University, Chile.
Academic degrees
2019, Ph.D. in Physics, Astrophysics, and Applied Physics, University of Milan, Italy.
2016, M.Sc. in Astrophysics and Cosmology, University of Bologna, Italy.

 

Students

Aparna Nair
Profession: B.Sc. in Physics
INCT Research line: To be defined
Specific research interest: To be defined
Started INCT PhD: 2024
Academic degrees Master of Science (Física), University of Calicut, Kerala, India
Bachelor of Science (Física), Christ College Irinjalakuda, Kerala, India

 

Gustavo Iturra
Profession: B.Sc. in Astronomy
INCT Research line: To be defined
Specific research interest: To be defined
Started INCT PhD: 2024
Academic degrees Bachelor of Science in Astronomy, Universidad de Concepción

 

Felipe Oyarzo Belmar
Profession: B.Sc. in Astronomy
INCT Research line: To be defined
Specific research interest: To be defined
Started INCT PhD: 2024
Academic degrees Bachelor of Science in Astronomy, Universidad de Concepción

 

Danyla Santiago
Profession: B.Sc. in Astronomy
INCT Research line: To be defined
Specific research interest: To be defined
Started INCT PhD: 2024
Academic degrees Bachelor of Science in Astronomy, Universidad de Concepción

 

David Concha Astorga
Profession: B.Sc. in Physics, minor in Astronomy
INCT Research line: Stellar and Galactic Astrophysics
Specific research interest: Massive stars, Be stars
Started INCT PhD: 2023
Academic degrees MSc in Astrophysics, Universidad de Valparaíso
Bachelor of Science in Physics with a minor in Astronomy, Universidad de Valparaíso

 

 

Valeska Molina Molina
Profession: Biochemist
INCT Research line: Planetary Sciences and Exoplanets
Specific research interest: Habitability, biomarkers and biosignatures
Started INCT PhD: 2023
Publications: enlace al ADS-NASA
Academic degrees 2022 – Master in Astronomy-Astrobiology, Universidad de Antofagasta
2021 – Certificate in Scientific Outreach, Universidad de Antofagasta
2016 – Bch. of Science in Biochemistry, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

 

Debasish Hazarika
Profession: B.Sc. in Physics
INCT Research line: Stellar and Galactic Astrophysics
Specific research interest: To be defined
Started INCT PhD: 2022
Publications: ADD
Academic degrees Master of Science in Physics, Gauhati University
Bachelor of Science in Physics, Gauhati University

 

 

Camila Caviedes
Profession: Geologist
INCT Research line: Planetary Sciences and Exoplanets
Specific research interest: To be defined
Started INCT PhD: 2022
Publications: ADD
Academic degrees Bachelor of Sciences in Geological Sciences, Universidad Católica del Norte, Chile

 

 

María Romero
Profession: B.Sc. in Mathematics
INCT Research line: Planetary Sciences and Exoplanets
Specific research interest: To be defined
Started INCT PhD: 2021
Publications:
Academic degrees Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Universidad de Los Andes
Anitha Raj Rajkumar
Profession: B.Sc. in Physics
INCT Reserach line: Planetary Sciences and Exoplanets
Specific research interest: To be defined
Started INCT PhD: 2021
Academic degrees 2019 – Master of Science in Physics, University of Madras, India
2017 – Bachelor of Science in Physics, Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute, India

 

 

 

Amrutha Belwadi Manjunatha
Profession: B.Sc. in Physics
INCT Research line: Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology
Specific research interest: To be defined
Started INCT PhD: 2021
Publications:
Academic degrees 2017 – Master of Science in Physics, Christ University, India
2015 – Bachelor of Science in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, Christ University, India