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
Employment:
Since 2020: Senior Scientist at MPS. Germany
Since 2013: Researcher / Jupiter ICy moon Explorer (JUICE)-SWI (Submillimetre Wave Instrument) Documentation and Configuration Management Head and Co-I. MPS. Germany
2017-2018: High-technology senior engineering Consultant for the Jason-CS Programme. EUMETSAT & Solenix GmbH. Germany
2014-2016: Herschel-Heterodyne Instrument for the Far-Infrared (HIFI Calibration Scientist) (offsite). ESAC Spain & Vega Telespazio UK & BeOne Hamburg GmbH. Germany.
2007-2014: Researcher / Herschel-Heterodyne Instrument for the Far-Infrared (HIFI) Calibration Scientist. MPS. Germany
2005-2007: Max-Planck Post-doctoral Research Fellow. MPS. Germany
2005: Post-doctoral Visitor Research Associate. ESO. Germany
2004: Post-doctoral Research Fellow. Thüringer Landessternwarte Tautenburg, Germany
2000-2003: German Research Foundation (DFG) Research Fellow. Thüringer Landessternwarte Tautenburg, Germany
1997-1999: CONICIT (Council National of Scientific and Technological Research) Research Fellow. CIDA. Venezuela
1995-1997: Physics Teacher for Research and Development . Fundación Centro Nacional para el Mejoramiento de la enseñanza de la Ciencia (Fundación CENAMEC). Physics Department. Venezuela.
1994-1995: Physics Teacher Assistant. Simón Bolívar University. Physics Coordination and Physics Department. Caracas-Venezuela.
Education:
2004: Ph.D. in Astrophysics (Dr. rer. nat). Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, Jena, Germany
2000: Magister Scientiae in Fundamental Physics. Universidad de Los Andes (ULA), Mérida, Venezuela
1996: Bachelor of Science (Licenciate) in Physics. Universidad Simón Bolívar (USB), Caracas, Venezuela
Selected Executive Council and Boards:
Since 2021: Vice-President of the IAU Commission Organising Committee F2, Exoplanets and the Solar System
Since 2020: Chief Editor of the Planetary Science section of Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences
Since 2021: Deputy Chairperson of the Commission Planets and Small Bodies of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Extraterrestrische Forschung (AEF) / Extraterrestrische Physik (EP) of the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (DPG)
Since 2021: ESA-Ariel Complementary Scientist, Member of the Ariel Science Advisory Team at ESA
Selected Publications:
(1) Rengel, M.; Adamczewski, J. Radiative transfer and inversion codes for characterizing planetary atmospheres: an overview. 2023. Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences, vol. 10.
(2) Rengel, M.; Shulyak, D.; Hartogh, P.; Sagawa, H.; Moreno, R.; Jarchow, C.; Breitschwerdt, D. Ground-based HCN submillimetre measurements in Titan's atmosphere: an intercomparison with Herschel observations. 2022. Astronomy & Astrophysics, Volume 658.
(3) 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.
(4) 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
(5) Hartogh, D. C. Lis, D. Bockelee-Morvan, M. de Val-Borro, N. Biver, M. Kuppers, M. Emprechtinger, E. A. Bergin, J. Crovisier, Rengel, M., R. Moreno, S. Szutowicz, and G. A. Blake. Ocean-like water in the Jupiter-family comet 103P/Hartley 2. Nature, 478:218-220, October 2011.
(6) Rengel, M.; Sagawa, H.; Hartogh, P. New sub-millimeter heterodyne observations of CO and HCN in Titan's atmosphere with the APEX Swedish Heterodyne Facility Instrument . Advances in Geosciences, 25: Planetary Science (PS), 173-186, 2011.
(7) Rengel, M., P. Hartogh, and C. Jarchow. Mesospheric vertical thermal structure and winds on Venus from HHSMT CO spectral-line observations. Planet. Space Sci., 56:1368-1384, 2008