Jes Kristian Jørgensen

Jes Kristian Jørgensen is a full Professor at the University of Copenhagen's Niels Bohr Institute, specializing in Astrophysics and Planetary Research. His work focuses on understanding the processes of star and planet formation through observations from major international telescopes including ALMA and the James Webb Space Telescope.

Education:

• PhD in Astronomy, "Tracing the Physical and Chemical Evolution of Low-Mass Protostars," Leiden University, October 14, 2004
• M.Sc. in Astronomy, "Aspects of Star Formation: A study of the molecular cloud LDN 1622," October 11, 2000

Professor Jørgensen's research centers on the physics and chemistry of dust and gas around young stars, particularly investigating when protoplanetary disks form and analyzing their content of water and complex organic molecules. His work bridges observational astronomy with astrochemistry, using cutting-edge instrumentation to probe the earliest stages of planetary system formation. He has made significant contributions to understanding the chemical evolution during star formation and the distribution of key molecules like water in protostellar environments.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on embedded protoplanetary disks (eDisk program), ice chemistry in star-forming regions (particularly through the JWST Ice Age program), and the detection of complex organic molecules in space. His work frequently involves large international collaborations and makes extensive use of data from ALMA and JWST to investigate the physical and chemical structures of young stellar systems.

Scientific Awards:

• Silver medal of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters (2015)

Professor Jørgensen has held significant leadership roles in major astronomical organizations, including serving on the European Southern Observatory Science and Technology Committee (2015-2019), the European ALMA Science Advisory Committee (2011-2019), and as a board member of the International Astronomical Union's Commission H2 on Astrochemistry. His research has been supported by numerous international collaborations and grants that facilitate access to major observational facilities.

He leads and participates in several major research initiatives including the "Early Planet Formation in Embedded Disks" (eDisk) program and the JWST "Ice Age" Early Release Science program, which focus on understanding the earliest stages of planet formation through high-resolution observations of young stellar systems.