معرفی
Dr. Sandra Brünken serves as Associate Professor at Radboud University's Faculty of Science, leading the FELIX Infrared and Terahertz Spectroscopy Group within the nationally funded HFML-FELIX research facility. Her work bridges laboratory experimentation with cosmic phenomena, utilizing advanced spectroscopic techniques to decode molecular processes in space environments.
Her research program centers on laboratory astrophysics and astrochemistry, specifically investigating chemical evolution in interstellar star-forming regions and exoplanetary atmospheres. By simulating space conditions and applying infrared/terahertz spectroscopy, her group identifies molecular fingerprints to unravel reaction kinetics in gas-phase and icy environments. Current projects include studying methane-water interactions in interstellar ices and CO2 vibrational dynamics.
Recent publications (2025) demonstrate strong output in space ice chemistry, with studies appearing in ACS Earth and Space Chemistry and The European Physical Journal D. These works reveal trends in experimental astrochemistry, particularly in photodesorption mechanisms and isomeric mixture analysis using vibrational spectroscopy.
Dr. Brünken currently supervises three PhD candidates (Hunarpreet Kaur, Priyanka Arvind Paunikar, Dian Schrauwen) and has successfully guided Kim Steenbakkers to a cum laude PhD defense. Her research is supported by active European and national grants, including a newly awarded project announced in September 2025.
The FELIX Spectroscopy Group operates within HFML-FELIX's national consortium, providing students access to cutting-edge infrared free-electron lasers and cryogenic systems. Recent achievements include determining fingerprints of key interstellar molecules and advancing space ice research through controlled laboratory simulations.
