Gustavo A. Cruz-Diaz

Gustavo Adolfo Cruz Diaz, Ph.D.

 

Career Profile:

Ph.D. in astrophysics with six years of experience in research. A strong background in mass spectrometry, infrared and ultraviolet spectroscopy; an extensive knowledge in interstellar and circumstellar conditions, being capable of laboratory simulations; able to collect and process large amounts of data by using powerful programming tools, are my main strengths. A great sense of commitment and leadership focused on research is what defines me.

 

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Education

 

• PhD., Astrophysics (cum laude) January, 2014

  Autonomous University of Madrid

  Spain

   

• M.Sc., Astrophysics July, 2012

  Autonomous University of Madrid

  Spain

   

• B.Sc., Physics December, 2009

  University of Valle

  Colombia

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Experience

 

Laboratory Research

 

NASA Ames Research Center, USA 2015 - Currently

BAER Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship

• • • • Laboratory astrochemistry, astrophysics and astrobiology research.

      • High-vacuum techniques with electron bombardment, ultraviolet irradiation, and near and mid infrared spectroscopy.

      • Thin-film and matrix isolation studies in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, as well as gas-grain chemistry.

      • Data analysis using Python.

 

Leiden Observatory, Netherlands 2014 - 2015

Postdoctoral Fellowship

• • • Laboratory astrochemistry and astrophysics.

    • Ultra-high vacuum techniques with mid infrared spectroscopy, vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy, quadrupole mass spectrometry, and ultraviolet irradiation.

    • Interstellar ice analogues research.

    • Data analysis using IDL.

 

 

Astrobiology Center (CAB), Spain 2010 - 2014

PhD student

• Laboratory astrochemistry and astrophysics

• Ultra-high vacuum techniques with mid-infrared spectroscopy, vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy, quadrupole mass spectrometry, and ultraviolet irradiation.

• Interstellar ice analogs research.

  • • Data analysis using IDL.

 

Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale (IAS), France 2013

Invitee researcher

• Laboratory astrochemistry and astrophysics

• High vacuum techniques with ultraviolet irradiation and quadrupole mass spectrometry.

• Thin-film studies on hydrogenated amorphous carbon.

• Data analysis using IDL.

 

Professional observer

 

Jürgen Stock Optical Telescope 1 m 2008 - 2009

National Astronomic Observatory - Llano del Hato, Venezuela

• Over 300 hours of experience leading observational projects.

• Data analyzer using IRAF software.

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Grants and Fellowships

 

• FPI, PhD Grant 2010 - 2014

  Astrobiology Center (CAB), Spain

   

• Short Research Grant 2013

  Spatial Astrophysics Institute (IAS), France

 

• Student Grant 2008 - 2009

  Astronomical Investigations Center (CIDA), Venezuela

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Publications

 

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

 

• Crystallization of amorphous CO₂ ice; R. Escribano; G. M. Muñoz Caro; G.A. Cruz-Diaz; Y. Rodríguez- Lazcano and B. Maté; August 2013, PNAS, 110, (32), 12899-12904.

 

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

 

• New measurements on water ice photodesorption and product formation under ultraviolet irradiation; Cruz-Diaz, G. A.; Martín-Doménech, R.; Moreno, E.; Muñoz Caro, G. M.; Chen, Y.-J.; November 2017, eprint arXiv:1711.05679,

 

• UV photoprocessing of NH₃ ice: photon-induced desorption mechanisms; Martín-Doménech, R.; Cruz-Díaz, G. A.; Muñoz Caro, G. M. MNRAS, Volume 473, Issue 2, p.2575

   

• Vacuum-UV absorption spectroscopy of interstellar ice analogs. III. Isotopic effects; Cruz-Diaz, G. A., Muñoz Caro, G. M., & Chen, Y.-J.; February 2014, MNRAS, 439, issue 3, 2370

   

• The QUEST RR Lyrae Survey - III. The Low Galactic Latitude Catalogue; Mateu, Cecilia; Vivas, A. Katherina; José Downes, Juan; Briceño, César; Zinn, Robert; Cruz-Diaz, Gustavo; 16^th July 2012, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 427, 3374-3395.

 

Astronomy & Astrophysics

 

• Negligible photodesorption of methanol ice and active photon-induced desorption of its irradiation products; Cruz-Diaz, G. A.; Martín-Doménech, R.; Muñoz Caro, G. M.; Chen, Y.-J.; July 2016, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Volume 592, A68

   

• Study of the photon-induced formation and subsequent desorption of CH₃OH and H₂CO in interstellar ice analogs; Martín-Doménech, R.; Muñoz Caro, G. M.; Cruz-Díaz, G. A.; May 2016, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Volume 589, A107

   

• Vacuum ultraviolet of hydrogenated amorphous carbons. II. Small hydrocarbons production in Photon Dominated Regions; Alata, I.; Jallat, A.; Gavilan, L.; Chabot, M.; Cruz-Diaz, G. A.; Munoz Caro, G. M.; Béroff, K.; Dartois, E.; December 2015, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Volume 584, A123

 

• UV photoprocessing of CO₂ ice: a complete quantification of photochemistry and photon-induced desorption processes; Martín-Doménech, R., Manzano-Santamaría, J., Muñoz Caro, G. M., Cruz-Díaz, G. A., Chen, Y.-J., Herrero, V. J., Tanarro, I.; December 2015, Astronomy and Astrophysics, 584, A14

   

• Controlling the emission profile of an H₂ discharge lamp to simulate interstellar radiation fields; Ligterink, N. F. W., Paardekooper, D. M., Chuang, K.-J., Both, M. L., Cruz-Diaz, G. A., van Helden, J. H., Linnartz, H.; November 2015, Astronomy and Astrophysics, 584, A56

   

• Vacuum ultraviolet photolysis of hydrogenated amorphous carbons. I. Interstellar H₂ and CH₄ formation rates; Alata, I., Cruz-Diaz, G. A., Muñoz Caro, G. M., & Dartois, E.; July 2014, Astronomy and Astrophysics, 569, A119

 

• Vacuum-UV spectroscopy of interstellar ice analogs. II. Absorption cross sections of nonpolar ice molecules; Cruz-Diaz, G. A., Muñoz Caro, G. M., Chen, Y.-J., & Yih, T.-S.; February 2014, Astronomy and Astrophysics, 562, A120

 

• Vacuum-UV spectroscopy of interstellar ice analogs. I. Absorption cross sections of polar ice molecules; Cruz-Diaz, G. A., Muñoz Caro, G. M., Chen, Y.-J., & Yih, T.-S.; February 2014, Astronomy and Astrophysics, 562, A119

   

 

The Astrophysical Journal

 

• Photochemistry of Coronene in Cosmic Water Ice Analogs at Different Concentrations; de Barros, A. L. F.; Mattioda, A. L.; Ricca, A.; Cruz-Diaz, G. A.; Allamandola, L. J. The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 848, Issue 2, article id. 112, pp. (2017).

 

• The Rotation Period Distributions of 4-10 Myr T Tauri Stars in Orion OB1: New Constraints on Pre-main-sequence Angular Momentum Evolution. Karim, Md Tanveer; Stassun, Keivan G.; Briceño, César; Vivas, A. Katherina; Raetz, Stefanie; Mateu, Cecilia; José Downes, Juan; Calvet, Nuria; Hernández, Jesús; Neuhäuser, Ralph; Mugrauer, Markus; Takahashi, Hidenori; Tachihara, Kengo; Chini, Rolf; Cruz-Dias, Gustavo A.; Aarnio, Alicia; James, David J.; Hackstein, Moritz. The Astronomical Journal, Volume 152, Issue 6, article id. 198, pp. (2016).

   

Congress Proceedings

 

• Mineral Surface Interactions: A Laboratory Approach to Astrophysical Catalysis; Gustavo A. Cruz-Diaz and Andrew L. Mattioda; November 2016, European Conference on Laboratory Astrophysics Proceedings, 2016

 

• Photoprocessing of astrophysical ice analogs using the Interstellar Astrochemistry Chamber; Gustavo A. Cruz-Díaz, Rafael Martín-Domenech, Guillermo M. Muñoz Caro; 2015, Bulletin de la Société Royale des Sciences de Liège, 84, 42

   

• Photodesorption and product formation in UV-irradiated N2 and NH3 ices under ultra-high-vacuum conditions; Cruz-Diaz, G. A., Muñoz Caro, G. M., & Jiménez-Escobar, A.; February 2012, European Conference on Laboratory Astrophysics -ECLA, EAS Publication Series, 58, 333-336.

 

• UV-irradiation of H₂O ice under ultra-high-vacuum conditions: product formation and photodesorption; Cruz-Diaz, G. A., Muñoz Caro, G. M., & Jiménez-Escobar, A.;

  September 2012, European Planetary Science Congress. 7, EPSC2012-255-1.

   

• Laboratory simulations of pre-cometary ice processes: thermal desorption, UV and X-ray irradiation; Muñoz Caro, G. M., Bueno-López, J., Jiménez-Escobar, A., Cruz-Diaz, G. A., Chen, Y.-J., Ciaravella, A., Cecchi-Pastellini, C., & Goesmann, F.;

  September 2012, European Planetary Science Congress. 7, EPSC2012-184.

 

• Experimental results obtained with the Interstellar Astrochemistry Chamber (ISAC) for the simulation of ice processes; Muñoz Caro, G. M.; Jimenez Escobar, A.; Cruz Diaz, G. A.; Ciaravella, A.; Cecchi-Pestellini, C.; The Molecular Universe, Proceedings of the 280th Symposium of the International Astronomical Union held in Toledo, Spain, May 30-June 3, 2011.

 

• Photodesorption and product formation in UV-irradiated ices under ultra-high-vacuum conditions. Cruz-Diaz, G. A.; Jiminez-Escobar, A.; Muñoz Caro, G. M.; The Molecular Universe, Posters from the proceedings of the 280th Symposium of the International Astronomical Union held in Toledo, Spain, May 30-June 3, 2011, #141

   

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Teaching and Mentoring Experience

 

• NASA ARC Summer Internship, undergraduate student, 06/2016 – 08/2016

• Instructor at Chickasaw STEM Camp, Oklahoma, USA. 07/06/2016

• Instructor at Chocktaw STEM Camp, Oklahoma, USA. 19/07/2016

• Ph.D. student coaching, Leiden, Netherlands. 09/2014 – 11/2015

• Undergraduate student coaching, Leiden, Netherlands, 06/2014 – 08/2014

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Memberships and Associations

 

• American Astronomical Society – Full member

• European Astronomical Society – Full member

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Referee Experience for Peer Reviewed Journals

 

• The Astrophysical Journal – 2017

• The International Journal of Astrobiology – 2018

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Seminars and Meetings

 

• Dark Sky Festival, Lassen Volcanic Park, Californi, USA, 11/08/2017 – 13/08/2017.

• 230th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society, Austin, Texas, USA, 04/06/17 – 08/06/17

• Dark Sky Festival, Lassen Volcanic Park, Californi, USA, 12/08/2016 – 14/08/2016.

• European Conference on Laboratory Astrophysics, Madrid, Spain, 21/11/2016 – 25/11/2016.

• Leiden Observatory workshop: Photodissociation in astrochemistry, Leiden, Netherlands. 03/02/2015 – 05/02/2015.

• XV National Astronomy Meeting - RAC, Barranquilla, Colombia. 15/08/2014 – 18/08/2014.

• Workshop on "Ice and Planet Formation", Lünd, Sweden. 15/05/2013 – 17/05/2013.

• Second National Conference on Laboratory and Molecular Astrophysics, Sevilla, Spain. 14/11/2012 – 16/11/2012.

• Third Sardinian Summer School in Astrophysics “Astrochemistry: The Astronomer's Survival Kit”, Sardinia, Italy. 01/10/2012 – 06/10/2012.

• European Planetary Science Congress, Madrid, Spain. 23/09/2012 – 28/09/2012.

• European Conference on Laboratory Astrophysics, Paris, France. 26/09/2011 – 30/09/2011.

• IAU Symposium 280: The molecular Universe, Toledo, Spain. 30/05/2011 – 03/06/2011.

• Young Research Seminar 2010, Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain. 09/2010

• Vatican Summer School 2010: The Chemistry of the Universe, Specola Vaticana, Rome, Italy. 30/05/2010 – 25/06/2010.

• International Astronomy School, Mérida, Venezuela. 29/10/2007 – 02/11/2007

• Einstein International Symposium: Scientist, Philosopher, Humanist, Cali, Colombia, 07/11/2005 – 11/11/2005.

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Contribution to Seminars

 

• UV-photo processing of H₂O under ultra-high-vacuum conditions. Cruz-Diaz, G. A. Young Research Seminar 2010, Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain. 2010. Oral contribution.

 

• Photodesorption and product formation in UV-irradiated ices under ultra-high-vacuum conditions. Cruz-Diaz, G. A.; Jiménez-Escobar, A.; Muñoz Caro, G. M. The Molecular Universe: IAU Symposium 280. Toledo, Spain. 2011. Poster.

 

• Experimental results obtained with the Interstellar Astrochemistry Chamber (ISAC) for the simulation of ice processes. Munoz Caro, G. M.; Jiménez Escobar, A.; Cruz-Diaz, G. A.; Ciaravella, A.; Cecchi-Pestellini, C. International Astronomical Union 280, 30 May–June 3 2011, in Toledo (Spain), poster presentation. Abstract on proceedings book, 3.113.

   

• Photodesorption and product formation in UV-irradiated NH₃ and N₂ ices under ultra-high-vacuum conditions. Cruz-Diaz, G. A.; Jiménez-Escobar, A.; Muñoz Caro, G. M. European Conference on Laboratory Astrophysics (ECLA). Paris, France. 2011. Poster.

 

• Ice processes relevant to astrophysics: radiation products, thermal and photodesorption. Muñoz Caro, G. M.; Cruz-Diaz, G. A.; Jiménez-Escobar, A. SASP-2012. Alpe d’Huez, France. 2012. Invited Talk.

 

• Ice processes relevant to astrophysics: radiation products, thermal and photodesorption. Muñoz Caro, G. M.; Cruz-Diaz, G. A.; Jiménez-Escobar, A. XVIIIth Symposium on Atomic, Cluster, and Surface Physics 2012 (SASP 2012), 22– 27 January 2012, in Alpe d’Huez (France), invited oral presentation. Contributions book, eds. M. Lewerenz, O. Dutuit, and R. Marquardt. Innsbruck University Press.

 

• H₂O and D₂O photo-dissociation and photo-desorption. Cruz-Diaz, G. A.; Muñoz Caro, G. M. European Planetary Science Congress, Madrid, Spain. 2012. Poster.

 

• Laboratory simulations of pre-cometary ice processes: thermal desorption, UV and X-ray irradiation. Muñoz Caro, G. M.; Bueno-Lopez, J.; Jiménez-Escobar, A.; Cruz-Diaz, G. A.; Chen, Y.-J.; Ciaravella, A.; Cecchi-Pestellini, C.; Goesmann, F. European Planetary Science Congress (EPSC 2012), 23–28 September 2012, in Madrid (Spain), invited oral presentation. Abstract in proceedings book.

   

• Vacuum-UV spectroscopy of interstellar ice analogs with an H₂ lamp as a continuum emission source. Cruz-Diaz, G. A.; Muñoz Caro, Chen, Y.-J., Second National Conference on Laboratory and Molecular Astrophysics, Sevilla, Spain. 2012. Poster.

 

• Amorphous CO₂ ice. Escribano, R.; Muñoz Caro, G. M.; Cruz-Diaz, G. A.; Rodríguez Lazcano, Y.; Maté, B. 2nd National Conference on Laboratory and Molecular Astrophysics, 14–16 November 2012, in Sevilla (Spain), oral presentation. Abstract in proceedings book.

 

• Amorphous solid CO₂ : a spectroscopic study. Escribano, R.; Muñoz Caro, G. M.; Maté , B.; Cruz-Diaz, G. A.; Rodríguez Lazcano, Y. XXIII Reunion Nacional de Espectroscopía (XXIII RNE) and VII Congreso Ibérico de Espectroscopía (VII CIE), 17–20 September 2012, in Cordoba (Spain), poster presentation, number 231.

 

• Vacuum-UV spectroscopy of interstellar ice analogs with an H₂ lamp as a continuum emission source. Cruz-Diaz, G. A.; Munoz Caro, Chen, Y.-J., Star and Planet Formation Workshop, Madrid, Spain. 2013. Oral contribution.

 

• Ice processes simulated in the lab: UV and X-ray irradiation, thermal and photo-desorption. Muñoz Caro, G. M.; Cruz-Diaz, G. A.; Jiménez-Escobar, A.; Giuliano, B. M.; Ciaravella, A.; Cecchi-Pestellini, C. First Workshop on Experimental Laboratory Astrophysics, 25–27 February 2013, in Poipu, Kauai, Hawaii (USA), invited oral presentation. Abstract in proceedings book.

 

• Vacuum-UV spectroscopy of interstellar ice analogs with an H₂ lamp as a continuum emission source. Measurements of the UV-absorption cross sections. Cruz-Diaz, G. A.; Muñoz Caro, G. M.; Chen, Y.-J. and Yih, T.-S. Workshop on “Ice and Planet Formation”, Lund, Sweden. 2013. Poster.

   

• Crystallization of CO₂ ice at astronomical conditions. Escribano, R. M; Muñoz Caro, G. M.; Cruz-Diaz, G. A.; Rodríguez-Lazcano, Y.; Maté, B. American Geophysical Union 46th annual Fall Meeting, 9–13 December. 2013, in San Francisco, California (USA), oral presentation. Abstract in proceedings book.

 

• Astrobiolgy: A multidisciplinary science. Cruz-Diaz, G. A. XV National Astronomy Meeting 15-18 August. 2014, Barranquilla, Colombia, Invited oral presentation.

   

• Interstellar Ice. Cruz-Diaz, G. A. Dark Sky Festival, Lassen Volcanic Park, USA, 2016. Oral presentation.

 

• PAH-mineral interactions; the role of surface catalysis. 230th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society, Austin, Texas, USA, 2017. Oral presentation.

 

• Astrochemistry; the chemistry of the stars. Cruz-Diaz, G. A. Dark Sky Festival, Lassen Volcanic Park, USA, 2017. Oral presentation.