Meet the AAS Keynote Speakers: Dr. Jennifer Bergner

In this series of posts, we sit down with a few of the keynote speakers of the 245th AAS meeting to learn more about them and their research. You can see a full schedule of their talks here, and read our other interviews here!

Dr. Jennifer Bergner (photo courtesy of the American Astronomical Society)

Astrochemistry sits at the fascinating intersection of astronomy and chemistry, exploring profound questions about the origins of life, planet formation, and the history of the solar system. In this interview, we chat with Dr. Jennifer Bergner, Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley and the winner of the 2024 Annie Jump Cannon Award for “her innovative astrochemical work at the intersection of laboratory experiments, theory, and observations, which has established new pathways to interstellar chemical complexity”.’ She shares her journey into this interdisciplinary field, the excitement of studying exotic molecules in extreme environments, and advice for budding researchers.

The Interdisciplinary Nature of Astrochemistry

Dr. Jennifer Bergner is interested in the process of planet formation, with a particular focus on its chemistry. She explores how the properties of planets, such as their atmospheric composition and size, are determined by the composition of the material from which they originate. “My work investigates how the chemistry of material in protoplanetary environments may impact the formation and properties of planets,” she explains.

Additionally, Dr. Bergner’s research explores the origins of interstellar organic molecules, particularly those with potential prebiotic significance. Prebiotic compounds are the building blocks of life and include amino acids and other organic components that need to exist before life can arise. She aims to uncover how such molecules form before and during planet formation, and whether they could contribute to the origins of life by kickstarting prebiotic chemistry on planetary surfaces. To tackle these big-picture questions, her work combines telescope observations to study the composition of material in protostellar and protoplanetary disk environments, along with experiments designed to mimic molecular behavior and reactions under extreme physical conditions. “It’s a big interdisciplinary question,” she notes, “and we have to bring a lot of different techniques to try to answer it.”

From Molecules to the Origin of Life!

With an undergraduate degree in Chemistry, various undergrad research projects in environmental engineering, and a postbac at NIH, Dr. Bergner’s background makes her transition into astronomy all the more intriguing. “I was initially drawn to it from more of a chemistry perspective. I spent three and a half years of my undergrad career learning the rules of chemistry, and then I found out about astrochemistry. I was captivated by how extreme environments influence molecular formation,” she shares. 

Unlike Earth’s conditions, interstellar chemistry occurs in low-temperature, low-pressure environments, leading to the creation of exotic molecules. Dr. Bergner’s curiosity paved the way for her exploration of the chemical pathways that might connect to the origins of life and solar system formation. “There are all these molecules that you feel like shouldn’t be allowed to exist, but they do, and it makes you rethink the effect that the environment and the conditions have on what chemistry is possible” she explains with enthusiasm. Dr. Bergner eventually went on to earn her Ph.D. in Chemistry and Chemical Biology from Harvard University.

Now, Dr. Bergner is particularly excited about the James Webb Space Telescope’s (JWST) ability to measure interstellar ices in protoplanetary disks. Interstellar ices are grains of ice that form in the interstellar medium. They are crucial for planet formation because they act as the primary reservoir of raw materials, including water and organic molecules. “For the first time, we’re closer to answering fundamental questions about the composition of these ices, which play a crucial role in planet formation,” she explains.

Navigating the leap

For undergraduates who are looking to transition into a graduate degree in astronomy, Dr. Bergner emphasizes the value of research experience, even in unrelated fields. “It’s more about the general, translatable skills you’re developing and how that informs your next steps, rather than thinking this is the last decision you’ll ever make,” she says. Indeed, a career in academia can be a long and winding road, and you almost always end up at a different place from where you started with your research. “It is important to stay open to new opportunities!”

To know more about the ice in our universe and how they can be used to understand planet formation, tune into Dr. Bergner’s prize lecture at 4:40 pm EST on Tuesday, January 14th 2025.

Edited by: Lindsey Gordon

Featured Image Credit: AAS

Author

  • Archana Aravindan

    I am a Ph.D. candidate at the University of California, Riverside, where I study black hole activity in small galaxies. When I am not looking through some incredible telescopes, you can usually find me reading, thinking about policy, or learning a cool language!

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