Jonathan Henshaw

Jonathan Henshaw is a Researcher in the Department of Planet and Star Formation at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA) in Heidelberg, Germany, where he contributes to the Star Formation research group. His work focuses on observational astrophysics, utilizing cutting-edge facilities like ALMA and JWST to investigate star and planet formation processes across diverse galactic environments from the Milky Way's Galactic Center to nearby extragalactic systems.

His primary research interests encompass molecular cloud dynamics, star formation efficiency, and interstellar medium physics. Key specializations include the structure and kinematics of the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ), cloud-cloud collisions, shock-induced star formation, and the role of galactic environments in regulating star formation. He actively analyzes data from major international surveys including PHANGS (Physics at High Angular resolution in Nearby GalaxieS) and ALMA CMZ Exploration Survey (ACES), with particular emphasis on high-resolution gas properties and feedback mechanisms.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a strong concentration on Galactic Center phenomena, especially 3D structure modeling of the CMZ using multi-wavelength data. His work consistently bridges observational data with theoretical frameworks to understand star formation laws, with recurring themes including molecular gas depletion times, cloud-scale physics, and the impact of supernova remnants on interstellar clouds. The PHANGS collaboration dominates his extragalactic research, examining star formation across 70+ nearby galaxies at unprecedented resolution.

As an active member of MPIA's Star Formation group, Dr. Henshaw participates in collaborative projects analyzing ALMA and JWST datasets to unravel the initial conditions of star and planet formation. His research leverages MPIA's expertise in millimeter-wave astronomy and computational modeling to address fundamental questions about how molecular clouds evolve and fragment under various galactic conditions, with implications for understanding galaxy evolution across cosmic time.