Educational Background

• Ph.D. in Astrophysics, Leiden University, Netherlands, 2019
• M.Sc. in Astronomy, Leiden University, Netherlands, 2015
• B.Sc. in Physics, National University of Colombia, 2012

Professional Experience

• Director of the Ortega Observatory, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL (2023 - ongoing)
• Assistant Professor of Astrophysics, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL (2022 - ongoing)
• Chair RECA Internship Program in Astronomy, Astrophysics, and Cosmology (2021 - ongoing)
• Visiting Research Scientist, Center for Computational Astrophysics, Flatiron Institute, New York City, NY (2022)
• Lecturer in Applied Physics, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (2021)
• Jansky Fellow, National Radio Astronomy Observatory and The University of New Mexico, Socorro, NM (2020-2022)
• Support Scientist, Joint Institute for VLBI ERIC, European VLBI Network, Netherlands (2019)
• Space Astronomy Intern, Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, MD (2013)
• Radio Astronomy Intern, ASTRON, Netherlands, 2012
• Coordinator of Citizen Astronomy, Planetarium of Bogota, Colombia, 2012-2013

Current Courses

• SPS 3901 Research Exp in Space Sciences (Fall 2023)
• SPS 4010 Astrophysics 1: Stellar Structure and Evolution (Fall 2022, Fall 2023)
• SPS 4020 Astrophysics 2: Galaxy Formation, Evolution and Cosmology (Spring 2023)
• PHY 4200 Senior Seminar 1 (Fall 2023)
• SPS 4200 Senior Seminar 1 (Fall 2023)
• SPS 4201 Special Topics in Space Sciences (Fall 2023)
• SPS 4902, 4901 Undergraduate Research (Spring 2023, Summer 2023, Fall 2023)
• SPS 5999 Thesis in Space Sciences (Spring 2023, Summer 2023, Fall 2023)
• SPS 6001 Individual Studies (Summer 2023)
• SPS 6090 Research (Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Summer 2023, Fall 2023)
• SPS 6999 Ph.D. Dissertation (Spring 2023, Summer 2023, Fall 2023)

Selected Publications

Refereed Journal Publications

• De, K, MacLeod, M., Karambelkar, V. et al. (including Quiroga-Nuñez, L.H.) An infrared transient from a star engulfing a planet. Nature 617, 55. (2023)

• Dike, V., Morris, M., Rich, R.M., Lewis, O., Quiroga-Nuñez, L.H., et al. Ground Vibrational State SiO Emission in the VLA BAaDE Survey. AJ 161, 11. (2021)

• Quiroga-Nuñez, L.H., van Langevelde H.J., Pihlström, Y. M., Sjouwerman, L.O., Brown, A.G.A., Rich M., Stroh, M., Lewis, O., and Habing, H. Characterizing the Evolved Stellar Population in the Galactic Foreground I: Bolometric Magnitudes, Spatial Distribution and P-L Relations. ApJ 904, 82  (2020)

• Quiroga-Nuñez, L.H., Intema, H.T., van Langevelde, H.J., Jagannathan, P. & Hallinan, G.W. Radio stellar activity of the flare binary system Ross 867-868. A&A 633, A130. (2020)

• Lewis, M., Pihlström, Y.M., Sjouwerman, L.O. and Quiroga-Nuñez, L.H. Infrared Color Separation between Thin-shelled Oxygen-rich and Carbon-rich AGB Stars. ApJ 901, 2. (2020)

• Kennedy, G., Ginski, C., Kenworthy, M., Bensity, M., Henning, T., et al. (including Quiroga-Nuñez, L.H.) A low-mass stellar companion to the young variable star RZ Psc. MNRAS Letters 496, 75 (2020)

• Quiroga-Nuñez, L.H., Immer, K., van Langevelde, H.J., Reid, M.J. & Burns R. Resolving the Distance Controversy for Sharpless 269: A kink in the Outer Arm? A&A 625, A70. (2019)

• Reid M., Menten K., Brunthaler A., Zheng X., Dame T.,et al. (including Quiroga-Nuñez, L.H.) Trigonometric parallaxes of high-mass star forming regions: our view of the Milky Way. ApJ, 885, 131 (2019)

• Immer, K., Li, J., Quiroga-Nuñez, L.H., Reid, M., Wu, Y. & Moscadelli L. Trigonometric parallaxes in the far part of the Scutum arm. A&A 632, A123 (2019)

• Pihlström, Y.M., Sjouwerman, L.O., Claussen, M.J., Morris, R.M., Rich, M.R., van Langevelde, H. J. & Quiroga-Nuñez, L.H. Positional Offsets Between SiO Masers in Evolved Stars and their cross-matched Infrared Counterparts. ApJ 868, 72 (2018)

• Quiroga-Nuñez L.H., van Langevelde H.J., Reid M. & Green J.A. Galactic methanol maser distribution to constrain Milky Way parameters. A&A 604, A72 (2017)

• Pinilla P., Quiroga-Nuñez L.H., Benisty M., Natta A., Ricci L., Henning T., van der Plas, G., Birnstiel T., Testi L. & Ward-Duong K. Millimeter spectral indices and dust trapping by planets in brown dwarf disks. ApJ 846, 70 (2017)

• Pinilla P., Benisty M., Birnstiel T., Ricci L., Isella A., Natta A., Dullemond C.P., Quiroga-Nuñez L.H., Henning T. & Testi L., Millimetre spectral indices of transition disks and their relation with the cavity radius. A&A 564, A51 (2014)

• Surcis G., Vlemmings W.H.T., van Langevelde H.J., Hutawarakorn Kramer B. & Quiroga-Nuñez L.H., EVN observations of 6.7 GHz methanol maser polarization in massive star-forming regions II: First statistical results. A&A 556, A73 (2013)

Conference Proceedings & White Papers

• Rygl, K., Reid M., Menten K., et al. (including Quiroga-Nuñez, L.H.) An updated view of the Milky Way from the BeSSeL programme. IEEE Xplore XXXIVth URSI GASS, 1-4 (2021)

• Venturi, T., Paragi, Z., Lindqvist, M., et al. (including Quiroga-Nuñez, L.H.) VLBI20-30: a scientific roadmap for the next decade. The future of the European VLBI Network. EVN Vision Document (2020)

• Sjouwerman, L.O., Pihlström, Y.M., Trapp, A.C., Stroh, M.C., Quiroga-Nuñez, L.H., Lewis, M.O., Rich, R.M., et al. A Masing BAaDE’s Window: Thousands of SiO Masers in Thousands of AGB Stars in the Galaxy. IAU Proceedings (S343). IAUS Proceedings 14 (S343), 334 (2019)

• Monnier, J., Aarnio, A., Absil, O., et al. (including Quiroga-Nuñez, L.H.) Setting the Stage for the Planet Formation Imager. Astro2020: Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics. APC white papers 133, Bulletin of the AAS, 51, 7 (2019)

• Immer, K., Li, J., Quiroga-Nuñez, L.H., Reid, M., et al. Where are you, Scutum? Tracking down a spiral arm with maser astrometry. Proceedings of Science, EVN2018, V344, 55 (2018)

• van Langevelde, H., Quiroga-Nuñez, L.H., Vlemmings, W., et al. The Synergy between VLBI and Gaia astrometry. Proceedings of Science, EVN2018, V344, 43 (2018)

• Quiroga-Nuñez, L.H., van Langevelde, H.J., Sjouwerman, L.O., Pihlström, Y.M., Reid, M.J., Brown, A.G.A., & Green, J.A. Maser, infrared and optical emission for late-type stars in the Galactic plane. IAU Proceedings 13 (S336), 184 (2018)

• Quiroga-Nuñez, L.H., van Langevelde, H.J., Reid, M.J., Sjouwerman, L.O., Pihlström, Y.M., Brown, A. G. A. & Green, J. A. Astrometric Galactic maser measurements cross-matched with Gaia. IAU Proceedings 13 (S334), 351 (2018)

• Monnier, J., Ireland, M., Krauss, S., et al. (including Quiroga-Nuñez L.H.) Planet Formation Imager: project update. Proceedings SPIE 10701,1070118 (2018)

• Forbrich, J., Williams, P., Drabek-Maunder, E., et al. (including Quiroga-Nuñez L.H.) Meter- to Millimeter Emission from Cool Stellar Systems: Proceedings 20th Cambridge Workshop on Cool Stars, Stellar Systems and the Sun (2018)

• Quiroga-Nuñez, L.H., van Langevelde, H., Pihlström, Y., Sjouwerman, L. & Brown, A. Finding evolved stars in inner Galactic disk with Gaia IAU Proceedings 12 (S330), 245 (2018)

• Kraus, S., Monnier, J., Ireland, J., et al. (including Quiroga-Nuñez L.H.) Planet Formation Imager: science vision and key requirements. Proceedings SPIE 9907, 99071K (2016)

• Surcis G., Vlemmings W.H.T., van Langevelde H.J., Hutawarakorn Kramer B. & Quiroga-Nuñez L.H., A correlation between magnetic field orientation and molecular outflow in massive young stellar objects. European VLBI Network Newsletter 36 (2013)

• Mosquera H. J., Sánchez L. A., Pardo D. A., Caproni A., Abraham Z. & Quiroga-Nuñez, L.H., Gravitational Waves from Ejection of Jet Superluminal Components and Precession of Accretion Disks Dynamically Driven by Bardeen-Petterson Effect. IJMP:CS 3, 482 (2011)

Recognition & Awards

Honors & Awards

• Jansky Fellowship, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, 2019
• Cum Laude Master Degree, Leiden University, 2015
• Best Prospective Colombian Physicists, Mazda Foundation, Colombia, 2013
• Best 15 GPAs Physics Department, National University of Colombia, 2009-2012

Grants & Scholarships

• Vera Rubin Observatory, LSST Corporation, 2021
• Office of Development International Astronomical Union, 2021
• ALMA Ambassador Grant, NAASC, NRAO, 2021
• Leids Kerkhoven-Bosscha Fonds, Leiden University, 2015-2018
• Kapteyn Foundation, University of Groningen, 2014
• Full Oort Scholarship, Leiden University, 2013-2015
• International Astronomical Union Travel Grants, 2012-2017 
• Mutis Full Scholarship, School of Our Lady of the Rosary University, Colombia, 2006

Research

• Stellar Astrometry from space and ground-based observatories.
• Characterization of Galactic Stellar Populations: Evolved Stars and High Mass Star-Forming regions.
• Cross-match of stellar surveys in radio, IR, and optical.
• Stellar Varibles and companions.
• High Contrast Imaging for exoplanet detection.
• Astronomy as a tool for development in underrepresented minorities.