Courses at Heidelberg and Harvard University

COURSES                                                       

Heidelberg University

Astrophysics & Astrobiology II                                                FALL 2013

Physics Lecture (Master & graduate course level)

Scope: Lecture course focussed on interdisciplinary research – Life as a Planetary Phenomenon. This course explores in an interdisciplinary setting the concepts behind extrasolar planet search, characterisation and the search for life in the universe and extreme niches on Earth. Interdisciplinary research between astrophysics, biology and geology.

Astrophysics & Astrobiology Research Seminar                    SPRING 2012, FALL 2012, FALL 2013

Physics Mandatory Seminar (co-teach with M. Hausmann (biophysics), M. Trieloff (geophysics))

Scope: Research seminar focussed on interdisciplinary research between astrophysics, biolog and geology. Students develop talks from discussions and literature search and lead discussion on topic.

Heidelberg Joint Astronomy Colloquium Co-CHAIR, CHAIR        Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013

Scope: Heidelberg Joint Colloquium weekly colloquium of the five Physics and Astronomy Institute in Heidelberg. Organizers (with C. Dullemond, we alternate Chair & co-Chair position each semester)

IMPRS Research Seminar                  Fall 2012

IMPRS mandatory research seminar for freshmen (co-teach with C. Fendt, K. Meisenheimer)

Scope: Research seminar for first year PhD students in the international PhD program am MPG and University of Heidelberg, focussed on the most important research areas in astronomy.

Independent Advisory Committee for all PhD students at MPIA                         Fall 2010 - current

Independent Advisory Committee of 5 senior researchers (committee: T. Herbst, W. Brandner, H. Klahr, C. Bailer-Johns, L. Kaltenegger) mandatory for all PhD students at MPIA to examine progress of PhD thesis and offer advise including career advice (1x year/student (1.5hr), 50 PhD students)

Harvard University

Science A-36 : Observing the Sun and the Stars                                                           Fall 2008, Fall 2009

Harvard Core Course and Laboratory Session (co-teach with J. Grindley)

Scope: Direct observations of the Sun and the stars, to learn how we can understand the Galaxy and the Universe from stars. In small sections, students conduct hands-on telescopic observations of the Sun and stars using modern instrumentation to explore their energy output, relative distances, temperatures, composition, and their life histories.

Astronomy 1 The Astronomical Universe  (co-teach w. S. Steel)                         Spring 2008

Scope: Introductory course for non-science concentrators, which provides a basic understanding of our Universe. Basic principles of physics & observational astronomy using elementary algebra.

Science A-54. Life as a Planetary Phenomenon (2 classes for Sasselov) (Harvard) Spring 08

Scope: This course focuses the relationship between life and the planet on which it resides and the scientific quest to understand where life might thrive beyond Earth.

Advisor

Yan Betremieux (post-doc)2011-current

Yamila Miguel (post-doc)2011-current

Andras Zsom (post-doc, now MIT)2010-2011

Taisiya Kopytova (graduate student Heidelberg) (Thesis co-chair)2012-current

Sidharth Hegde (graduate student Heidelberg) (Thesis chair)2011-current

Hiroyuki Kurokawa (graduate student Tokyo/Heidelberg) (Thesis co-chair)2011-2012

Sarah Rugheimer (graduate student Harvard) (Thesis chair) 2008-current

Anna Penzlin (Bachelor thesis, Heidelberg)2013

Mathias Samland (Bachelor thesis, Heidelberg)2012

Maxence Levre (undergraduate summer project Univ. Paris)2013

Yunfeng Zhe (undergraduate summer project Princeton)2013

Wade Henning (undergrad student Harvard EPS)2009-2010

Leah Kilvert (undergraduate Summer Project SAO) 2008

Visiting Professor

Valongo Winterschool, Rio, Brazil (4 x 1.5hr classes)July 2013

Univ. Hamburg (graduate college) (6 x 1.5hr classes)April 2012

SPASA summerschool, Sao Paulo, Brazil (4 x 1.5hr classes)Dec 2011

IMPRS summerschool (Heidelberg) (4 x 1.5hr classes)Aug 2011

Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon Nov/Dec 2006

Team Tutor: Team Management and Group Leadership                    July 2009, 2007, 2005

ESA/ASA Summerschool Alpbach (15 students, 2 week intense course)

Scope: 2 week intense design course for European science/engineering graduate and

undergraduate students to provide new ideas & mission concepts for small satellites.

Building the team, leading discussions

Initiating brainstorming and new design concepts

Teaching main design and science key points

Organizing the final report and 1 hour presentation of the mission by all students

Teaching students how to interact in an international, interdisciplinary environment

Teachers Workshop (Highschool & K12)

HdA Teachers workshop MPIA – Astronomy in the classroom                Dec 11

CfA Teacher workshop - “Search for Planets&Life” for the classroom    April 10

MIT Teachers workshop – How to use astronomy in the classroom        Sep 05