Sanchez, Mariana
Forschungsinteressen
I am an astrophysicist working on planet formation using N-body simulations that connect protoplanetary disks and exoplanet demographics, with a particular focus on systems around very low-mass stars. I implement physical prescriptions for planet-disk interactions, tidal evolution, and pebble and gas accretion, complemented by hydrodynamical simulations. I also estimate detection probabilities for synthetic planetary systems in radial velocity and astrometric surveys to directly compare theoretical predictions with observations.
Vita
Education and Employment
Since 2026: Postdoctoral Researcher at Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS). Project: ‘Tracing planet formation from M dwarfs to Solar-type stars’. Supervisor: Dr. Joanna Drążkowska (Lise Meitner grant)
2022 - 2026: Postdoctoral Researcher at Leiden Observatory (STRW). Project: ‘Planet formation around very low-mass stars from compact dust disks’. Supervisor: Prof. Nienke van der Marel.
2017 - 2022: PhD in Astronomy at Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP). Thesis: ‘Formation, evolution and detection of terrestrial-like planets at the substellar mass limit’ . Supervisor: Dr. Gonzalo C. de Elia (UNLP). Co-supervisor: Juan J. Downes (Universidad de la Republica – Udelar).
Internship 2021B at European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Chile.Project: ‘Pre and proto-brown dwarf characterization using ALMA data’. Supervisor: Dr. Alvaro Ribas.
2009 – 2017: Bachelor + Master at Facultad de Ciencias Astronomicas y Geofisicas de La Plata, Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP). Thesis: ‘ The role of giant planets in the dynamical evolution of terrestrial-like planets around Sun-like stars’ . Supervisor: Gonzalo C. de Elia (UNLP). Co-supervisor: Luciano A. Darriba (UNLP).
Selected Publications:
(1) M. Sanchez, N. van der Marel, M. Lambrechts, S. Paardekooper, Y. Miguel (2026). Formation of cold giant planets around late M dwarfs via core accretion and the fate of inner rocky worlds. Astronomy & Astrophysics, Volume 705, id.A120, 8 pp. (ADS: https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2026A%26A...705A.120S/abstract)
(2) M. Sanchez, S. Paardeooper, N. van der Marel, P. Benitez-Llambay, G.D. Mulders (2025). New migration pattern in high planet-star mass ratio systems in discs with low viscosity. Astronomy & Astrophysics, Volume 703, id.A169, 14 pp (ADS: https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2025A%26A...703A.169S/abstract )
(3) M. Sanchez, N. van der Marel, M. Lambrechts, G. D. Mulders, O. M. Guerra-Alvarado (2024). Rocky planet formation in compact disks around M dwarfs. Astronomy & Astrophysics, Volume 689, id.A236, 25 pp (ADS: https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2024A%26A...689A.236S/abstract)