Ko-Ju Chuang
Assistant Professor at Leiden Observatory
Leiden University, the Netherlands
Contact
Postal address: P.O. Box 9513, 2300RA, Leiden, The Netherlands
Visit address: Gorlaeus Building BW4.08, Einsteinweg 55, 2333CC, Leiden
E-mail: chuang@strw.leidenuniv.nl
Phone: +31-71527-8432
About me
I am an Assistant Professor of Astronomy at Leiden University and Principal Investigator (PI) of the Laboratory for Astrophysics. My research investigates the extraterrestrial physicochemical processes of atoms, molecules, and dust in star-forming regions.
Using state-of-the-art ultra-high-vacuum and cryogenic techniques, my group recreates the extreme environment of the interstellar medium. This allows us to study surface astrochemistry, ice-dust interactions, the formation of complex organic molecules, and their solid-state spectroscopic properties. Ultimately, our long-term goal is to understand how observed molecular complexity arises in space and how it transforms into the building blocks of life prior to and during planet formation.
The group has been funded by multiple grants, including the most recent NOVA, NWO-DANIII, NWO-Prelife, and DNRF-Intercat.