The Cheminar: Jennifer Bergner, PhD

Tuesday, February 04, 2025
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Add to Calendar 2025-02-04 11:00:00 2025-02-04 12:00:00 The Cheminar: Jennifer Bergner, PhD Tuesday, Feb 4 | 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.Classroom Building 170 Astrochemistry and the formation of new worldsPlanets form within disks composed of gas, ice, and dust in orbit around young stars. The composition and distribution of volatiles (gas+ice) within these disks profoundly impacts both the chemical and physical outcomes of planet formation--including the delivery of prebiotic building blocks to new worlds. In this talk, I will describe how we are using powerful telescopes in conjunction with lab experiments to understand the chemical and microphysical behavior of volatile molecules in the extreme physical conditions that characterize planet-forming environments. We ultimately aim to assemble a more complete picture of the chemical environment which regulates the formation, composition, and potential habitability of planetesimals and planets.About the SpeakerJenny Bergner joined UC Berkeley in 2023 as an Assistant Professor and the Chevron Chair in the Department of Chemistry. Previously, she completed her PhD in Chemistry at Harvard followed by a NASA Sagan postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Geophysical Sciences at the University of Chicago. Her group combines lab experiments, telescope observations, and simulations to explore the chemistry at play in star- and planet-forming regions and how it shapes the outcomes of planet formation. 3601 Pacific Ave, Stockton, CA 95211, USA America/Los_Angeles public

Tuesday, Feb 4 | 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Classroom Building 170 

Astrochemistry and the formation of new worlds

Planets form within disks composed of gas, ice, and dust in orbit around young stars. The composition and distribution of volatiles (gas+ice) within these disks profoundly impacts both the chemical and physical outcomes of planet formation--
including the delivery of prebiotic building blocks to new worlds. In this talk, I will describe how we are using powerful telescopes in conjunction with lab experiments to understand the chemical and microphysical behavior of volatile molecules in the extreme physical conditions that characterize planet-forming environments. We ultimately aim to assemble a more complete picture of the chemical environment which regulates the formation, composition, and potential habitability of planetesimals and planets.

About the Speaker

Jenny Bergner joined UC Berkeley in 2023 as an Assistant Professor and the Chevron Chair in the Department of Chemistry. Previously, she completed her PhD in Chemistry at Harvard followed by a NASA Sagan postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Geophysical Sciences at the University of Chicago. Her group combines lab experiments, telescope observations, and simulations to explore the chemistry at play in star- and planet-forming regions and how it shapes the outcomes of planet formation.

Jennifer Bergner, PhD
Location
Classroom Building
3601 Pacific Ave, Stockton, CA 95211, USA