Robin T. Garrod

Robin T. Garrod is a Professor in the Department of Astronomy and Department of Chemistry at the University of Virginia. His research focuses on computational astrochemistry, particularly chemical kinetics in interstellar, cometary, and protostellar environments.

• Developed the MAGICKAL code for grain-surface and ice-mantle chemistry
• Lead studies on comet Hale-Bopp's chemical evolution (Willis et al. 2024)
• Co-investigator in JWST and ALMA-based astrochemical investigations

Garrod's work emphasizes solid-phase processes over astronomical timescales, combining chemical modeling with observational data from facilities like ALMA and JWST. His research explores complex organic molecule (COM) formation in comets, hot cores, and molecular clouds, revealing connections between interstellar and solar system chemistry.

Recent publications examine COM inheritance in comets, ice chemistry in prestellar cores, and JWST-driven ice mapping. The Garrod group collaborates with astronomical observers to interpret molecular abundances and emission spectra, particularly in chemically-rich environments like Orion KL and Sgr B2.