The Cheminar: Jennifer Bergner, PhD
The Cheminar: Jennifer Bergner, PhD
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
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.
