About Me

Between 2016 and 2023, I studied astronomy at the University of Vienna, earning both a Bachelor's and Master's degree. During my studies, I received two performance scholarships awarded by the University of Vienna for the academic years 2019 and 2020. In 2019, I ranked 1st among all applicants.

Since June 2023, I am a PhD candidate at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA) in Heidelberg, Germany, working in the group of Dr. Mario Flock on the UFOS project (UFOS website). Together with Mario, I received the Ernst Patzer Award for our first publication of the PhD project.

MPIA, together with the excellence of the research conducted in our group under Mario Flock’s supervision, enables us to travel across the world to present and discuss our work at conferences, workshops, meetings, and seminars. Highlights of my academic journey include the Born in Fire conference in Santiago de Chile (2024), the Planets on the Edge conference in Santa Barbara (2025), and exchanging scientific knowledge with phenomenal and inspiring researchers at MIT, Boston University, the Harvard-Smithsonian CfA or CITA.

Beyond Research

Physical activity and mental balance are not only essential for overall health, but also invaluable in offering focus, clarity and inspiration for scientific research. I personally have found my passion in working with animals, especially working-line dogs. Playing, training and exercising with my Deutsch-Drahthaar (German-Wirehair) dog Arya has had a tremendous impact on my academic life by providing its own, different challenges, but also a great sense of joy and accomplishment that fuels my motivation to strive towards higher goals in all areas of life. Running our dog-breeding station together with my father (visit our webpage (german only) for a lot of cute puppy pictures) brought me new perspectives and appreciation of nature, which lies, after all, at the basis of all natural science and research.