University Education
◉ Ph.D. in Astrophysics (Dr. rer. nat).
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, Jena - Germany (2004)
Thesis title: “Unveiling the hidden life of stellar embryos”, under the supervision of Prof Dr. A. Hatzes and Dr. J. Eislöffel (TLS-Tautenburg, Germany).
◉ Magister Scientiae in Fundamental Physics.
Universidad de Los Andes (ULA), Mérida - Venezuela (2000)
Thesis title: “Estimation of the age of Globular Clusters from Color-Magnitude Diagrams”, under the supervision of Dr. G. Bruzual (CIDA, Venezuela).
◉ Bachelor of Science (Licenciate) in Physics.
Universidad Simón Bolívar (USB), Caracas - Venezuela (1996)
Thesis title: “Caustics of plane curves on Hydrodynamic Waves studies” under the supervision of Prof. Dr. G. Da Costa (USB, Venezuela).
Professional Experience
Current Occupation
◉ Senior Scientist (researcher since 2007) / (Jupiter ICy moon Explorer (JUICE)/SWI (Submillimetre Wave Instrument) Documentation and Configuration Management Head (since 2013). JUICE/SWI Scenario Operator (since 2023).
Max-Planck-Institute für Sonnensystemforschung. Göttingen. Germany
Past Occupations
◉ High-technology senior engineering Consultant for the Jason-CS Programme (May 2017 – January 2018)
Senior Consultant to European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT). Solenix GmbH. Darmstadt. Germany
◉ Herschel-Heterodyne Instrument for the Far-Infrared (HIFI Calibration Scientist) (offsite) (April 2014 – April 2016)
Senior Consultant to European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC). Madrid. Spain. Vega Telespazio UK & BeOne Hamburg GmbH, Germany.
◉ Researcher / Herschel-Heterodyne Instrument for the Far-Infrared (HIFI) Calibration Scientist (July 2007 – December 2014)
Max-Planck-Institute für Sonnensystemforschung. Göttingen. Germany.
◉ Max-Planck Post-doctoral Research Fellow (October 2005- July 2007)
Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung. Katlenburg-Lindau. Germany. Supervisor: Dr. Michael Küppers / Dr. Uwe Keller
◉ Post-doctoral Visitor Research Associate (March 2005 – May 2005 )
European Southern Observatory (ESO). Garching. Germany. Supevisor: Dr. Fernando Comerón
◉ Post-doctoral Research Fellow (June 2004 – October 2004)
Thüringer Landessternwarte Tautenburg. Tautenburg. Germany. Supervisor: Dr. Jochen Eislöffel / Prof. Dr. Artie Hartzes
◉ German Research Foundation (DFG) Research Fellow (August 2000 – August 2003)
Thüringer Landessternwarte Tautenburg. Tautenburg. Germany. Supervisor: Dr. Jochen Eislöffel / Prof. Dr. Artie Hartzes
◉ CONICIT (Council National of Scientific and Technological Research) Research Fellow (September 1997 – September 1999)
Centro de Investigaciones de Astronomía (CIDA). Mérida, Venezuela. Supervisor: Dr. Gustavo Bruzual.
◉ Physics Teacher for Research and Development (October 1995 – March 1997)
Fundación Centro Nacional para el Mejoramiento de la enseñanza de la Ciencia (Fundación CENAMEC). Physics Department. Caracas, Venezuela.
◉ Physics Teacher Assistant (January 1994 – December 1995)
Simón Bolívar University. Physics Coordination and Physics Department. Caracas-Venezuela.
Awards & Prizes
◉Physicist of the Week 2020. Recognizion by the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (DPG)
◉Recognition for valuable participation in the III Career Exposition. Physics Career Award. Universidad Simón Bolívar. Caracas, Venezuela (1995)
◉ Best academic average during the studies (Diplom). U.E.N. Juan de Escalona. Caracas, Venezuela (1989)
◉ Medal “Honor al Mérito” for academic studies. U.E.N. Juan de Escalona. Caracas, Venezuela (1989)
◉ Best Thesis Project (Diplom). U.E.N. Juan de Escalona. Caracas, Venezuela (1989)
◉ The highest excellence in the studies (Diplom). U.E.N. Juan de Escalona. Caracas, Venezuela (1987)
◉ The highest excellence in the studies (Diplom). U.E.N. Juan de Escalona. Caracas, Venezuela (1983)
Research & Travel Grants
◉ Max-Planck Research Fellowship at Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS). Germany (2005 - 2007). Supevisors: Dr. Uwe Keller and Dr. Michael Küppers
◉ Post-doctoral Visitor Research grant (March 2005 – May 2005). European Southern Observatory (ESO). Garching. Germany. Supevisor: Dr. Fernando Comerón
◉ Research honorarium by DFG (German Research Foundation) at TLS Tautenburg/Uni Jena. Germany (2003)
◉ PhD Research grant by Friedrich-Schiller Universität. Germany (2003). Advisors: Prof. Dr. Artie Hatzes and Dr. Jochen Eislöffel / Prof. Dr. Ralp Neuhäuser
◉ Research grant by DFG (German Research Foundation) at TLS Tautenburg. Germany (2000 - 2003). Prof. Dr. Artie Hatzes and Dr. Jochen Eislöffel
◉ Research grant by German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) at the Max-Plank-Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik MPE, Germany (1998). Advisors: Prof. Dr. Ralp Neuhäuser & Dr. Matilde Fernández
◉ Research grant- credit by CONICIT (Council National of Scientific and Technological Research) at ULA & CIDA, Venezuela (1997 - 1999). Advisor: Prof. Dr. Gustavo Bruzual.
◉Travel grant by the German Astronomical Society (AG) to attend the IAU Symposium 207 “Extragalactic Star Clusters”,Chile, 2001
◉ Travel grant by IRAM to attend the Summer School in mm techniques, Spain, 2001
◉ Travel grant by ESO to attend the workshop “The first stars” in Germany, 1999
◉ Travel grant by IAC to attend the X Canary Islands Winter School of Globular Clusters, Spain, 1998
Research Funds
◉ PI. Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) in the framework of the Priority Programme “Exploring the Diversity of Extrasolar Planets” (SPP 1992) (300K €). Project: “The key physical-chemical processes determining the Composition and Temperature of (exo)planetary atmospheres”. 2017-2023
Memberships/ Networks
◉International Astronomical Union (IAU)
◉Astronomische Gesellschaft (German Astronomical Society)
◉American Astronomical Society. Division for Planetary Sciences
◉European Geosciences Union (EGU)
◉Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (AOGS)
◉NASA Lunar Science Institute (NLSI)
◉German Network for Lunar Science and Exploration
◉Minerva FemmeNet - Mentoring programme of the Max Planck Society offering support to all female scientists
◉LeadNet, community of senior researchers in the Max Planck Society
◉Member of the directory of women referents of Venezuelan digital media for the spokesperson and authorized sources in journalistic contents
Executive Council and Boards
◉Vice-President of the IAU Commission Organising Committee F2, Exoplanets and the Solar System (2021-2024)
◉Chief Editor of the Planetary Science section of Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences (since 2020)
◉Deputy Chairperson of the Commision Planets and Smal Bodies of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Extraterrestrische Forschung (AEF) / Extraterrestrische Physik (EP) of the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (DPG) (since 2021)
◉Ariel Complementary Scientist, Member of the Ariel Science Advisory Team at ESA (since 2021)
◉Expert evaluator of “Ramón y Cajal” Program, Ministerio de Ciencias e Innovación, Spain 2022
◉ALMA Science Assesor, ALMA Review Panel 2019, 2021
◉Expert evaluator of proposals for the Horizons 2021 Space, 2022, European Commision
◉Expert evaluator of proposals for the H2020 Space 2018, European Commision
◉Member of examination committees for PhD thesis in Astrophysics at the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Germany. Since
◉Expert evaluator of research candidates to promote/appoint to research faculty ranks in American academic/research institutions (since 2018)
◉Expert evaluator of other diverse projects (DFG, DiRAC Resource, etc.)
◉Expert evaluator of NASA Postdoctoral Program Proposals (2016-2022).
◉Scientific Evaluation member panel of the French ARN (the French National Research Agency) program (since 2014)
◉ESA's X-ray space observatory XMM-Newton member panel (2014)
◉European Southern Observatory (ESO) Observing Programmes Committee (OPC) member panel (Panel C). (2011-2012, 2020, 2021)
◉Member of the thesis advice committee of students of the International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) (since 2010)
◉International Time Allocation Committee (ITAC) for the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) (2008)
◉Herschel/HIFI Editorial Board - Herschel (2008-2017)
◉Member of the Scientific Committee for assistance to the XVIII National Meeting of Amateur Astronomy (ENA). Humboldt Planetarium. Caracas, Venezuela (1998)
Conference Organization
◉ SOC of the session for the inter-commission B2-B5 WG meeting for Busan IAU GA, 2022
◉ Convener of the Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (AOGS) session: “Isotope Ratios Across The Solar System: Origin And Evolution Of Planetary Bodies” - China (2016)
◉ Convener of the Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (AOGS) session: Studies of Small Bodies in the Solar System and Insights into Planetary System Formation – Japan (2014)
◉ Convener of the Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (AOGS) session: Studies of Small Solar System Bodies and Insight into Planetary System Formation – Australia (2013)
◉ Convener of the European Geosciences Union (EGU) session: 'Dwarf planets and TNOs’, Austria (2010)
◉ Organizer of several Herschel Solar System Observations (HssO) meetings (since 2009)
Refereeing Duties
◉New Astronomy
◉Icarus
◉Open Astronomy
◉Planetary and Space Science
◉Advances in Geosciences
◉Astrophysical Journal Letters
◉Life
◉Acta Astronautica
Observational Experience
Awarded observing time at major observatories as PI and Co-I for several cycles. Some approved programs lead as Principal Investigator:
◉SOFIA Cycle 7 project "Investigating the composition of Titan's stratosphere with SOFIA: time variability & intriguing unidentified signatures” . Follow-up
◉SOFIA Cycle 4 project "Investigating the composition of Titan's stratosphere with SOFIA: time variability & intriguing unidentified signatures”
◉ALMA Cycle 0 project 2011.0.00897.S "Physical properties of two special trans-neptunian objects and a retrograde Centaur", ranked as "filler" project
◉ESO APEX E-089.C-0984A-2012: HCN Submm Remote sensing of the Titan Atmosphere in support of a Guaranteed Key Program on Herschel
◉IRAM30m/EMIR (145-10): HCN Submm Remote Sensing of the Titan Atmosphere in support of a Guaranteed Key Program on Herschel”
◉ ESO, APEX/APEX-2 and T2 (085.C-0910(A)): HCN Submm Remote sensing of the Titan Atmosphere in support of a Guaranteed Key Program on Herschel
◉ESO, APEX/APEX-1 (081.F-9812(A)): Exploration of the atmosphere of Titan in preparation for Herschel: vertical distribution of CO, HCN, HC15N, C2H2 AND HC5N
◉ARO, SMT/2mm and 1mm JT SIS, 345 GHz SIS, 460 GHz SIS, ALMA band -9: Venus Temperature and Wind measurements in support of Venus Express (2nd ground-based campaign)
◉ESO, SEST/IRAM 115 and 230, SESIS 100 and 150: Testing the Kinematics of the Internal Structures of Class 0 sources
Conducted observation with the following telescopes/instruments:
◉SOFIA FIFI-LS and GREAT
◉Herschel HIFI, PACS, and SPIRE, including HIFI calibration
◉APEX, instruments: APEX-1, APEX-2, APEX-T2, CHAMP+, FLASH
◉ARO, SMT, instruments: SIS ALMA 1.3mm, SIS 2mm, 345 SIS receivers
◉OSIRIS/NAC and WAC (instrument in the ESA Rosetta mission) during Deep Impact and the subsequent scientific data analysis that includes the performance verification and calibration of OSIRIS.
◉SCUBA at the 15-m JMCT on Mauna Kea, Hawaii (jiggle and scan modes)
◉Swedish-ESO Submillimetre Telescope (SEST) at La Silla, Chile, heterodyne receivers
◉30-m telescope (IRAM, Spain), MAMBO bolometer and the heterodyne receivers.
◉1-m Schmidt telescope at the Venezuelan National Astronomical Observatory using a large-area CCD Camera (the camera is optimized for drift-scan photometry and objective-prism spectroscopy).
◉2.2-m telescope on Calar Alto, Spain
◉2-m Schmidt telescope at the TLS Landessternwarte Tautenburg using the Coudé spectrograph.
Software and Data reduction
◉Operating Systems: UNIX (Linux), Windows 2000/XP/Vista, Mac OS X
◉Familiarity with radio-astronomy reduction packages (HIPE (Herschel Interactive Processing Environment), GILDAS/CLASS) and with general astronomy reduction packages (MIDAS, IRAF)
◉Experience in data analysis of large data, and management and archiving of data inside scientific programs
◉Experience in data analysis focused on Herschel/HIFI calibration (responsabilities include test software campaigns, creation and maintenance of documentation for astronomers, and investigations of quality assessment of final products with HIFI)
◉Experience is the design of observations focused on Herschel for Solar System Observations
◉Programming and word processing experience/Languages: FORTRAN, IDL, Python, HTML, LaTeX
◉Scientific packets (e.g Mathematica and supermongo).
◉Knowledge in Internet systems.
◉Experience with research project web-sites creation and maintenance. Examples:
HssO: http://www.mps.mpg.de/projects/herschel/HssO/index.htm
TNOs are Cool: http://www.mpe.mpg.de/~tmueller/tno_public/index.htm
EJSM-SWI: http://www.mps.mpg.de/projects/ejsm-swi/index.htm
◉Experience with radiative transfers codes (e.g. MOLIERE, MC3D, TauRex), inverse problems and statistical analysis (community codes and own programming ).
Schools/Workshops
◉ Herschel Data Processing 'hands-on' Workshop, ESAC, Madrid. Spain., 24-25 March 2009
◉Herschel Pre-Launch Data Processing Workshop; ESAC, Madrid. Spain. 4-5 December 2008.
◉Herschel Space Observatory, Calibration Workshop 2 CSIC, Madrid, Spain, 6-8 February 2008;
◉IRAM Summer School 2001 "mm Observing Techniques and Applications". Sierra Nevada. Spain. September 2001.
◉V Venezuelan School of Relativity, Fields and Astrophysics. Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela. November 1999
◉X Canary Islands Winter school of Astrophysics “Globular Clusters”. Tenerife, Canary Islands. Spain.
November 1998.
◉III Venezuelan School of Relativity, Fields and Astrophysics. Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela. November 1997.
◉II Venezuelan School of Relativity, Fields and Astrophysics. Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela. November 1996.
◉I Venezuelan School of Relativity, Fields and Astrophysics. Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela. October 1995.
Experience in the field of space engineering/Instrument calibration scientist/Industry
◉Performing scenario operations for JUICE/SWI.
◉ Performing instrument monitoring and calibration for ESA Herschel/Heterodyne Instrument for the Far-Infrared (HIFI) & Rosetta/Infrared Remote Imaging System (OSIRIS)
◉Developing and maintaining instrument specific software and procedures for generating observations and for processing of the data generated – HIFI/Herschel
◉Testing of software and validating products - Herschel
◉Creating and maintaining technical documents /documentation for astronomers - Herschel
◉Providing astronomer support (helpdesk, workshops, webinars) - Herschel
◉Investigating quality assessment of final products with HIFI/Herschel
◉Documentation and Configuration Management Head of the Submillimetre Wave Instrument (SWI) on JUICE - JUpiter ICy moons Explorer. Retrieving, archiving and distributing of Programme contractual documents and deliverables from and to Agency owned databases and applications. Reviewing and approving documents of JUICE/SWI on internal database and contributing to configuration baseline.
◉Participating in the preparation (scientific and technical assessments) of several space mission proposals
◉End-to-End mission performance allocations and budgeting, instrument data processing specifications, on-ground data processing chains and end-user product validation, for all mission instruments of Sentinel-6
◉ Etc.
Personal Competences/Skills
Languages:
◉Spanish, English, German
Management:
◉Experience in Research and Development projects: time schedule, organization, and effective communication. Strategic Planning.
◉Certification on “Fundamentals of Project Planning and Management” (University of Virginia, September 2015)
◉Experience as Configuration & Documentation Manager, managing document workflows and approvals. Tools: MS Office, eclipse and other databases.
◉Experience in creation and contribution of preparatory studies and documents of ESA missions
◉Ability to work as a goal or a team player
Education
◉Participation in the Workshop: “Training for Doctoral Supervisors”, MPS, Göttingen, June 2018
Liaising
◉Experience in international environments for more than fifteen years, with different teams at many industrial partners, universities, research institutes and international agencies. Understanding of the challenges in multi-competence and multi-national environments
Communication
◉Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work effectively within a team
◉Media training Course, MPS Göttingen, 2019