Main areas of current research:
◉Atmospheres of planets in the far-infared and submm/mm wavelengths – Theory, Observations & modeling – Atmospheric Remote Sensing – Radiative transfer
◉ Far-infrared and sub-mm/mmm wavelength studies of small objects in the solar system
◉ Radio- and (sub)millimeter-wavelength observational techniques
◉Space based observations and related science on instruments onboard Herschel, Rosetta, JUICE, and coordinated ground-based observations in support of these and other missions.
◉ Data processing, calibration and archiving
◉ Emission (sub-mm) from protostars and young stellar objects
Past areas of research:
◉ Globular Clusters as an “age-chronometer” of the Universe
◉ Optics and Fluid mechanics
Professional activities/ Research Programs / Collaborations
◉Member of the Working Group: ARIEL and Solar System synergies. Since 2019
◉ Participating Scientist of the CRyogenic high-resolution InfraRed Echelle Spectrograph (CRIRES)+ consortium
◉Participating Scientist of the German Research Foundation (DFG) Priority Programme “Exploring the Diversity of Extrasolar Planets” (SPP 1992). Since 2013
◉PI of Project: “The key physical-chemical processes determining the Composition and Temperature of (exo)planetary atmospheres”, funded by the DFG . 2017-2022
◉Astronomy Co-Investigator, JUICE-SWI (Submillimetre Wave Instrument), of the ESA JUICE mission, since 2008. SWI Documentation and Configuration Management Head. Since 2013. Member of the SWI Science and Instrument boards.
◉Participating Scientist and National Project Manager of the ESA “Atmospheric Remote‐sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large‐survey” (ARIEL) M4 Mission. Since 2014
◉Proposer of the White paper in response to the 2020 Planetary Science Decadal Survey: New Frontiers Titan Orbiter. 2021
◉ISSI international team member "Towards a Self Consistent Model of the Thermal Structure of the Venus Atmosphere". Expert participant. Since 2013
◉Proposer of the White papers in response to the ESA L2-L3 calls: Planetary Science Infrared Observatory, The Exploration of Titan from an Orbiter and Lake-Probe, The Exploration of Titan and its Seas, In Situ Exploration of Giant Planet Atmospheres. 2013
◉ Participating Scientist of EChO (Exoplanet Characterisation Observatory), ESA Cosmic Vision 2015-2025. 2011-2014
◉Astronomy Co-Investigator, Herschel-HIFI (Heterodyne Instrument for the Far Infrared), of the ESA Herschel mission. Member of the HIFI Instrument Control Center (ICC): Herschel-HIFI Calibration Scientist. 2008- 2016
◉Co-Investigator and Member, International Science Team HssO, Herschel Guaranteed Time Key Program "Water and Related Chemistry in the Solar System", led by P. Hartogh (MPS, Germany). Since 2019
◉Member, International Science Team “TNOs are Cool”, Herschel open Time Key Programm, led by Th. Müller (MPE, Germany). Since 2010
◉Member, International Science Team “HCl, HF and H2O+ in comets: probing solar nebula and coma chemistry”, Herschel open Time Programm, led by D. Bockelee-Morvan (LESIA, France). Since 2010
◉Member, International Science Team “Probing the Enceladus torus with Herschel, Herschel open Time Programm, led by E. Lellouch (LESIA, France). Since 2010
◉Co-PI, Member, International Science Team “"Probing the extremes of the outer Solar System: short-term variability of the largest, the densest and the most distant TNOs from PACS photometry” Herschel open Time Programm, led by E. Vilenius (MPE, Germany). Since 2010
◉Member, International Science Team “Confirmation of the first detection of HNC on Titan", Herschel open Time Programm, led by R. Moreno (LESIA, France). Since 2010
◉Member, International Science Team “Probing the atmospheres of Uranus, Neptune and Titan with CH4 lines”, Herschel open Time Programm, led by R. Moreno (LESIA, France). Since 2010
◉Member, International Science Team OSIRIS (Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging Sensing) onboard Rosetta spacecraft, led by MPS, Germany. 2006 - 2008
◉Support the Titan and Saturn future exploration, TSSM, ex TandEM and Titan Explorer, led by LESIA, France. 2009
◉Proposer member of the Cassini-Huygens Solstice Mission. 2009
◉Proposer member of Triple F – Comet Sample Return, Cosmic Vision Proposal, led by MPS, Germany. 2009
◉Proposer member MIMO, Mikrowellen-Instrument für einen Mondorbiter. 2008
◉Support Investigator (S.I.), ESA VENUS EXPRESS mission on “Ground-based observations of Venus’ mesosphere”. 2008
◉Member of the observing team pool on the IRAM 30-m telescope during several observing runs bolometer and heterodyne modes for different projects of the astronomical community. 2002
◉Member of the QUEST project (Quasar Equatorial Survey Team, a collaboration between groups from Yale University, Indiana University, CIDA and Universidad de Los Andes (Mérida, Venezuela). 1998 - 2000.