Forschungsinteressen
I am an astrophysicist with a broad general scientific knowledge and special interest in the atmospheres of planets, in astronomy in the far-infrared and sub-millimetre (spectroscopy and photometry), and in planet and star formation. My primary research focus is atmospheres of solar and extrasolar planets and atmospheric remote sensing of solar system objects. I carry out observations for my research using numerous observatories and facilities, both ground and space-based, and develop and implement radiative transfer codes to interpret the data and retrieve parameters.
In addition to my research endeavors, I have an extensive track record of involvement in astrophysical, planetary, and Earth missions and instrumentation. Currently, I am working on the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) mission, specifically on the Submillimetre Wave Instrument (SWI).
Vita
Awards and Fellowships:
2025 Co-author of the first detailed weather map of an exoplanet, recognized as a Top 10 Breakthrough of the Year
2023 Recognition from ESA for outstanding contribution made to the JUpiter ICy moons
Explorer (Juice) Mission
2020: Physicist of the Week (German Physical Society (DPG))
2005-2007 Max Planck Research Fellowship at MPS
2005 Post-doctoral Visitor Research Associate. ESO, Germany
2004 Post-doctoral Research Fellow. TLS, Germany
2004 Friedrich-Schiller Universität Fellowship, Germany
2000-2003 DFG Research Fellow. TLS, Germany
1997-1999 CONICIT (Council National of Scientific and Technological Research) Fellow
1998 DAAD Fellowship, MPE, Germany
Roles in Space Missions & other projects/boards:
Co-I on the JUICE SWI instrument
Participating Scientist and member of the Ariel Consortium
Ariel Complementary Scientist; ESA Ariel Science Advisory Team
Lead, Ariel Solar System Synergies WG
JUICE SWI Configuration and Control Management Head (past)
Instrument Calibration Scientist on the Herschel HIFI instrument (past)
Member of the Herschel “Water and Related Chemistry in the Solar System” Key program
Member of the Sentinel-6 mission (past)
Member of the Rosetta OSIRIS instrument consortium (past)
President of the IAU Commission Organising Committee F2, Exoplanets and the Solar System
Chief Editor, Planetary Science Section, Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences
Chairperson of the Commission Planets and Small Bodies of the AEF / EP of the DPG
Co-lead of the Working Group ’Solar System & Exoplanets’ for ALMA2040
Participating Scientist and member of the CRIRES+ Consortium
Education and Employment:
Since 2020: Senior Scientist at MPS. Germany
Since 2008: Scientist at MPS. Germany
2017-2018: Senior engineering Consultant for the Jason-CS Programme. EUMETSAT & Solenix GmbH. Germany
2014-2016: Herschel-HIFI Calibration Scientist. ESAC Spain & Vega Telespazio UK & BeOne Hamburg GmbH. Germany
2004: Ph.D. in Astrophysics (Dr. rer. nat). Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, Jena, Germany
2000: Magister Scientiae in Fundamental Physics. ULA, Mérida, Venezuela
1995-1997: Physics Teacher for CENAMEC. Physics Department. Venezuela
1996: Bachelor of Science (Licenciate) in Physics. USB, Caracas, Venezuela
Selected Publications:
Gapp, C. ; Rengel, M. ; Hartogh, P.; Sagawa, H. ; Feuchtgruber, H. ; Lellouch, E. ; Villanueva, G. L. (2024) Abundances of trace constituents in Jupiter's atmosphere inferred from Herschel/PACS observations. Astronomy & Astrophysics, Volume 688, A10.
doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202347345
Rengel, M.; Adamczewski, J. (2023) Radiative transfer and inversion codes for characterizing planetary atmospheres: an overview. Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences, vol. 10.
doi:10.3389/fspas.2023.1176740
Rengel, M.; Shulyak, D.; Hartogh, P.; Sagawa, H.; Moreno, R.; Jarchow, C.; Breitschwerdt, D. (2022) Ground-based HCN submillimetre measurements in Titan's atmosphere: an intercomparison with Herschel observations. Astronomy & Astrophysics, Volume 658.
doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202141422
Shulyak, D.; Rengel, M.; Reiners, A.; Seemann, U.; Yan, F (2019) Remote sensing of exoplanetary atmospheres with ground-based high-resolution near-infrared spectroscopy. Astronomy & Astrophysics, Volume 629.
doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201935691
Rengel, M.; Sagawa, H.; Hartogh, P.; Lellouch, E.; Feuchtgruber, H.; Moreno, R.; Jarchow, C.; Courtin, R.; Cernicharo, J.; Lara, L. M. (2014) Herschel/PACS spectroscopy of trace gases of the stratosphere of Titan. Astron. Astrophys., 561:A4.
doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201321945