Tim Lichtenberg

Tim Lichtenberg

Assistant Professor

Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen

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Dr. Tim Lichtenberg (he/him)

Tim works as Assistant Professor at the Kapteyn Astronomical Institute of the University of Groningen, where he leads the Forming Worlds Lab. He investigates the formation and evolution of rocky planets in order to embed the birth and life cycle of terrestrial worlds in an integrated picture. Ultimately, he wants to understand the planetary environmental conditions that led to the origin of life on the early Earth, and how widespread such places are in our galaxy.

The research of the Forming Worlds Lab is embedded within the Alien Earths, AEThER, Large Interferometer for Exoplanets, and PRELIFE research collaborations, and supported by the Branco Weiss Foundation, the European Research Council (ERC StG ‘MagmaWorlds’), the Dutch Research Council (NWO), the Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, and the Faculty of Science and Engineering of the University of Groningen.

Research Positions

Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen
Tenure track Assistant Professor · Branco Weiss Foundation Research Fellow
10/2022 –

Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics, University of Oxford
Simons Collaboration on the Origins of Life Postdoctoral Fellow
Project: Geodynamic regimes during planetogenesis
10/2019 – 09/2022

Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics, University of Oxford
Swiss National Science Foundation Early Postdoc.Mobility Fellow
Project: Linking interior-atmosphere regimes to planetary accretion
08/2018 – 09/2019

Education

Department of Earth Sciences, ETH Zürich, Switzerland
Dr.sc. ETH Zurich / planetary physics, star and planet formation
Thesis: Thermal Evolution of Forming Planets: Isotope Enrichment, Differentiation & Volatile Retention
09/2014 – 07/2018

Department of Physics, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Germany
M.Sc. Physics / specialisation in astronomy and geophysics
Thesis: Modeling gravitational instabilities in compact and massive protoplanetary disks with adaptive mesh refinement techniques
09/2012 – 08/2014

Peking University (北京大学), Beijing, P. R. China
Semester abroad, chinese language and culture
08/2012 – 01/2013

Department of Physics, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Germany
B.Sc. Physics / specialisation in astronomy
Thesis: Constraining Exoplanet Characteristics with Asteroseismology
09/2009 – 08/2012

Teaching & Mentoring

Courses

  • Planetary Systems, BSc course, Kapteyn Institute, University of Groningen, main lecturer, 2025
  • Exoplanets, MSc course, Kapteyn Institute, University of Groningen, main lecturer, 2024, 2025
  • Hands-on Numerical Astrophysics School for Planet Formation Sciences, summer school, German Science Foundation priority research programme 1992 “Exoplanet Diversity”, Rauenberg, lecturer, 08/2023
  • Star and Planet Formation, MSc course, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, co-lecturer, 2023, 2025
  • Life and Information, BSc seminar, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, guest lecturer, 11/2022
  • Origin and role of volatiles in the early solar system and planets, Block course for MSc and PhD students, University of Bayreuth, Bayerisches Geoinstitut, guest lecturer, 01/2020
  • Planetary Physics and Chemistry + Geophysics II, ETH Zurich Earth Sciences, substitute lecturer, 2017/18
  • Physics I+II for non-physicists, ETH Zurich Physics, Teaching Assistant, exercise/exam design, 2014–16
  • Scientific computing techniques, Göttingen University Physics, Teaching Assistant, 2013/14
  • Introduction to Astro- and Geophysics, Göttingen University Physics, Teaching Assistant, 2013
  • Basic physics lab course, Göttingen University Physics, Lab Assistant, 2012/14

Mentored Students

  • PhD thesis “Prebiotic climate and ocean levels of the Hadean Earth”, Emeline Decocq, Kapteyn, 2025–
  • PhD thesis “Interior-atmosphere evolution on low-mass exoplanets”, Imre Kisvárdai, Kapteyn Institute, 2025–
  • MSc thesis “Limits to the UV flux on the Hadean Earth”, Bruna Fena, Kapteyn Institute, 2025–
  • MSc thesis “Observability of super-Earth atmospheres with Ariel”, Lorenzo Cesario, Kapteyn Institute, 2025–
  • MSc thesis “Ocean formation on sub-Neptune exoplanets”, Ema Jungová, Kapteyn Institute, 2025–
  • MSc thesis “Photochemistry on hot rocky exoplanets”, Ioannis Panagiotou, Kapteyn Institute, 2025–
  • BSc thesis “Tidal evolution of the Hadean Earth”, Marijn van Dijk, Kapteyn Institute, 2025
  • BSc thesis “Timescales of exoplanet ocean formation”, Anvel de Sainte Marie d’Agneaux, Kapteyn Institute, main supervisor, 2025
  • BSc thesis “Interior structure of partially molten super-Earths”, Flavia Pascal, Kapteyn Institute, main supervisor, 2025
  • BSc thesis “Finding secondary atmospheres with JWST”, Karen Stuitje, RUG Physics department, main supervisor, 2025
  • Internship “Surface UV flux of prebiotic atmospheres at varying redox state”, Bruna Fena (FU Berlin MSc student), Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, main supervisor, 2025
  • MSc thesis “Probing planetary oxygenation with LIFE”, Sanne Borgmann, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, main supervisor, 2025–
  • BSc Honours College research project “Exoplanet interior structure modelling”, Flavia Pascal, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, main supervisor, 2024-25
  • MSc thesis “Outgassing and geochemistry of sub-Neptune exoplanets”, Jorick Lania, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, main supervisor, 2024–
  • BSc thesis “Compositional degeneracies of underdense super-Earths”, Jessica Helmerhorst, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, main supervisor, 2024
  • BSc thesis “Redox tracers in rock vapour atmospheres of lava exoplanets”, Björn Koops, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, main supervisor, 2024
  • BSc thesis “Redox-variant runaway greenhouse limits”, Iris Boer, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, main supervisor, 2024
  • BSc Honours College research project “Characterizing exoplanet surface composition with LIFE”, Flavia Pascal, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, main supervisor, 2023
  • MSc thesis project “Magma oceanography of sub-Earth GJ 367 b”, Lotte Bartels, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, main supervisor, 2023
  • Undergraduate research project “Finding terrestrial protoplanets in the galactic neighbourhood”, Lorenzo Cesario, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, main supervisor, 2023
  • PhD thesis “Evolution of rocky exoplanet atmospheres”, Emma Postolec, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, main supervisor, 2023–
  • PhD thesis “Evolution of rocky exoplanet interiors”, Mariana V. Sastre, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, main supervisor, 2023–
  • DPhil research project “Reduced atmospheric chemistry on rocky exoplanets”, Harrison Nicholls, Oxford Atmospheric Physics, co-supervisor, 2023–
  • PhD research project “Fluid flow in aqueous planetesimals”, Beat Hubmann, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, main supervisor, 2023–2024
  • BSc thesis “Distinguishing surface features on atmosphere-less exoplanets”, Lucas Priolet, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, main supervisor, 2023
  • BSc thesis “The prevalence of steam in magma ocean atmospheres”, Boyd van der Plaat, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, main supervisor, 2023
  • BSc thesis “Detecting cooling protoplanets with direct imaging”, Lorenzo Cesario, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, main supervisor, 2023
  • BSc thesis “Spectral signatures of volcanic exoplanet atmospheres”, Marijn Smorenburg, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, main supervisor, 2023
  • MSc thesis “Planetesimal hydrology”, Beat Hubmann, ETH Zurich Earth Sciences, co-supervisor, 2022
  • BSc semester project “Investigating the surface composition of airless, terrestrial exoplanets with LIFE”, Gustav Pap, ETH Zurich Particle Physics & Astrophysics, co-supervisor, 2021
  • DPhil projects “Climate of condensable-rich exoplanet atmospheres”, Robert J. Graham, Oxford Atmospheric Physics, co-supervisor, 2020–22
  • DPhil project “Beyond runaway: initiation of the post-runaway greenhouse state on rocky exoplanets”, Ryan Boukrouche, Oxford Atmospheric Physics, co-supervisor, 2020–22
  • MSc semester project “Silicate melting and metal pooling in planetesimals”, Madeleine Müller, ETH Zurich Earth Sciences, co-supervisor, 2020
  • Student mentor, University of Oxford, St Cross College, 16 graduate (MSc/DPhil) students from the natural sciences, 2019–22
  • BSc thesis “Percolative core formation in terrestrial planetesimals and protoplanets”, Madeleine Müller, ETH Zurich Earth Sciences, co-supervisor, 2019
  • MSc thesis “Quantitative Predictions for the Observability of Protoplanetary Collisions”, Irene Bonati, ETH Zurich Earth Sciences, co-supervisor, 2016–17
  • BSc semester project “2D Numerical Modeling of Pebble Accretion Influence on Planetesimal Evolution”, Fabio Luchsinger, ETH Zurich Earth Sciences, co-supervisor, 2016

Community Service

Web of Science Review Profile

Refereeing & Committees

Astronomy & Astrophysics, Astrophysical Journal, Astrophysical Journal Letters, Astronomical Journal, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Elements, Icarus, Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Nature, Nature Astronomy, Nature Communications, Planetary Science Journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia, Science, Science Advances

Belgian Research Foundation (FWO), Cambridge University College Fellowships, Dutch Research Council (NWO), European Research Council (ERC), NASA Emerging Worlds program, NASA Hubble Fellowship Program (NHFP), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), US National Science Foundation (NSF)

Astrobiology Science Officer, EGU Planetary and Solar System Sciences Division, 06/2023–05/2025

Meeting Organisation

Examination & Defence Committees

  • Aditya Arabhavi, “Unraveling the Planet-Forming Materials Around Young Stars with JWST”, PhD thesis, supervisor: Inga Kamp, University of Groningen, 09/2025
  • Zalán Novák, “Rotational Excitation of Interstellar OCS: Non-LTE Line Analysis and Temperature-Density Diagnostics Using RADEX”, BSc thesis, supervisor: Floris van der Tak, University of Groningen, 07/2025
  • Emma F. van der Vinne, “Atmospheric retrieval of Jupiter, observed as an exoplanet, using the TauREx code”, BSc thesis, supervisor: Quentin Changeat, University of Groningen, 07/2025
  • Tristan Popken, “Accelerated chemistry for exoplanet atmospheres via grid interpolation”, BSc thesis, supervisor: Quentin Changeat, University of Groningen, 07/2025
  • Fran Štimac, “Unreliable Pixel Correction in JWST Exoplanet Data”, BSc thesis, supervisor: Quentin Changeat, University of Groningen, 07/2025
  • Jesse Reurink, “A Small Population Study Across the Radius Valley using JWST NIRSpec G395H”, MSc thesis, supervisor: Quentin Changeat, University of Groningen, 07/2025
  • Mark Oosterloo, “Tracking CHNOS during the early stages of planet formation with a model-laboratory approach”, PhD thesis, promoters: Inga Kamp, Wim van Westrenen, University of Groningen, 01/2025
  • Francisco Ardévol Martinez, “Machine learning for exoplanet characterisation in the JWST era”, PhD thesis, promoters: Inga Kamp, Paul I. Palmer, Michiel Min, University of Groningen, 10/2024
  • Zara Siyal, “Comparison and characterisation of properties of exoplanets and their host stars”, BSc thesis, supervisors: Amina Helmi, Tom Callingham, University of Groningen, 07/2024
  • Tycho Hebels, “The Effects of Dust Grain Surface Reactions on the HDO/H2O Ice Ratio in Protoplanetary Disks”, BSc thesis, supervisor: Inga Kamp, University of Groningen, 07/2024
  • Kevin de Man, “Radiation processing of grains in protoplanetary disks”, BSc thesis, supervisor: Inga Kamp, University of Groningen, 07/2024
  • Ioannis Panagiotou, “Evolution of the pressure equilibrium and condensation in idealised simulations”, BSc thesis, supervisors: Filippo Fraternali, A. Dutta, University of Groningen, 07/2024
  • Keavin Moore, “Coupled Models of Water on Terrestrial Planets Orbiting M-Dwarfs”, PhD thesis, advisor: Nicolas B. Cowan, McGill University, 12/2023
  • Roos H. Voorhoeve, “Enhancing and expanding the applicability of ReverseRADEX for accurate astrophysical insights”, BSc thesis, supervisor: Floris van der Tak, University of Groningen, 12/2023
  • Bayron Armando Portilla Revelo, “Closing the gap between theory and observations of planet-forming disks with radiative transfer models”, PhD thesis, promoters: Inga Kamp, Ewine van Dishoeck, University of Groningen, 12/2023
  • Nynke Visser, “The influence of the ice-albedo feedback on the long term carbon cycle of Earth-like exoplanets”, MSc thesis, supervisors: Inga Kamp, Mark Oosterloo, Dennis Höning, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, 08/2023
  • Raymon P. Ferdinand, “Outgassing and Exoplanet Atmospheres”, BSc thesis, supervisors: Floris van der Tak, Michiel Min, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, 06/2023
  • Yapeng Zhang, “Isotopes and the characterization of extrasolar planets”, PhD thesis, promoters: Ignas Snellen, Laura Kreidberg, Leiden Observatory, 06/2023
  • Mantas Zilinskas, “Lava Worlds: Characterising atmospheres of impossible nature”, PhD thesis, promoters: Yamila Miguel, Ignas Snellen, Leiden Observatory, 05/2023

Academic Associations

Funding & Awards

Research & Workshop Grants

Honours & Awards

Outreach

Media Interviews, Press Releases & Public Talks

Blog & Video Posts

Astrobites

Astrobites is a daily astrophysical literature journal written by graduate students in astronomy. During my authoring activity for Astrobites from 2014-2016 I published a variety of blog articles. Until 2019 I remained active in the Astrobites community in various administrative and supportive roles.