GOTHAM
We are involved in a large collaboration called GOTHAM (GBT Observations of TMC-1, Hunting for Aromatic Molecules). GOTHAM uses high-resolution radio astronomical observations to search for new molecules in the interstellar medium. Once new molecules are detected, we seek to understand how they formed and whether they survive to be delivered to newly forming solar systems.
ILTS, Hokkaido University
We are working with Dr. Naoki Watanabe, Director of the ILTS (Institute for Low Temperature Science) in Sapporo, Japan, to study radicals on astrochemical ice analogues. His group first used the PSD-REMPI technique to study radicals in situ in the ice, a technique we are also implementing in our ice experiment chamber at UBC.
TRIUMF and SwRI
We are collaborating with Dr. Chris Charles, Director of the OLIS (OffLine Ion Source) facility at TRIUMF and Dr. Danna Qasim, research scientist at SwRI (Southwest Research Institute) to develop astrochemical experiments regarding the energetic processing of dust grains and icy mantles. We aim to study the depletion of chemicals such as sulfur and phosphorus in the ISM by investigating their release from mineral samples when exposed to high energy radiation.
Momose Group, UBC
We are working with the group of Prof. Takamasa Momose (UBC Chemistry) to study astrochemically relevant molecules in para-hydrogen matrices. Our current projects involve isolating aromatic molecules and measuring their mid-IR spectra and UV photochemistry. We also collaborate with the Momose group on the spectroscopy and photolysis of prebiotic molecules, such as amino acids.
Pleiss Group, UBC
We are collaborating with Dr. Geoff Pleiss (UBC Statistics) to use machine learning to understand factors affecting astrochemical binding energies. We aim to use ML to to better constrain energies used in astrochemical modelling, inform future targets for laboratory experiments, and predict unknown binding energies.