Mabel Valerdi

Postdoc ALMA ANID

Education and contact

Universidad de Chile

Research Topics:

mvalerdi@das.uchile.cl

Website:

Area of interest:

My research focuses on the physical conditions within protoplanetary disks irradiated by high-energy radiation from young stars. I investigate how ultraviolet radiation—from both the central star and the interstellar field—shapes the disk surface and drives photoevaporation, a process crucial for disk dispersal. Photoevaporative winds, driven by stellar high-energy photons (EUV, FUV, and X-rays), play a key role in determining protoplanetary disk lifetimes and thus the timescales available for planet formation. While magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) winds operate throughout the disk’s evolution, photoevaporation is considered the dominant mechanism in the disk’s final dispersal phase. My work combines theoretical models and observational analysis to understand these processes and their implications for planet formation.

Supervisor

Simón Casassus

Biography

Mabel is from México, where her scientific curiosity led her to pursue an undergraduate degree in Applied Physics. She continued her studies at the Instituto de Astronomía at UNAM in Mexico, earning both her Master’s and PhD in Astrophysics. Her doctoral research specialized in the chemical analysis of the interstellar medium at optical wavelengths, with a focus on determining primordial helium abundances in HII regions.

Building on this foundation, her previous postdoctoral work at the Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Óptica y Electrónica (INAOE-Mex) shifted to the galaxy. There, she worked on the METAL-THINGS project, focusing on galaxy photometry through surface brightness modeling and the study of metallicity gradients. Now, as a member of the DAS, she will collaborate with Dr. Simon Casassus on research related to protoplanetary disks.

Beyond her research, Mabel has been passionately involved in science outreach since 2013, regularly giving talks and workshops to audiences of all ages. She is also an active participant in projects dedicated to encouraging and engaging women in STEM fields.