Dr. Kasia Dutkowska

IPA: /'kaʃa du'tkɔfska/

Astrophysicist | Postdoctoral Researcher at Leiden Observatory

Astrochemistry, Star Formation, Interstellar Medium & Shocks

About

I am an astrophysicist by both passion and profession, with a focus on combining observational data and modeling to explore the chemistry of Galactic and extragalactic environments. Currently, I’m a postdoctoral researcher at Leiden Observatory in the group led by Prof. Serena Viti. My PhD work resulted in the development of the galaxy-in-a-box model, a Python-based tool designed to predict molecular emissions from active and ongoing star formation in galaxies. This model captures traces of ongoing star formation using fundamental astrophysical laws and observations, avoiding the complexity and high computational costs of MHD simulations. In my postdoctoral role, I am one of the core developers and maintainers of UCLCHEM, and work mostly on gas-grain chemistry under extreme conditions.Scientific interests
There are a few main things that draw my attention. In a way, I always wanted to know how stars form and how they influence the environments in which they are born and vice versa. Star formation is vital for our understanding of galaxies, their evolution, and the cycle of matter in the Universe. However, my interests are much broader. I want to understand the nature of the interstellar and circumgalactic medium and how various processes influence those regions. In the Universe, everything is intertwined. That's why I address those questions with molecules, which are widespread and tell us a lot about the physics and histories of different regions.What do I do nowadays?
Currently, I focus on chemical modeling. I am a part of the UCLCHEM developers and the ERC MOPPEX project, and it is my full-time job to improve our chemical modeling of shocked regions. However, I am also involved in modeling the Central Molecular Zone of the Milky Way and observations of external galaxies.A little back story
Before embarking on my scientific career, I briefly studied filmmaking in London, aspiring to become a film director. However, I soon discovered my true passion lay in photography, prompting me to reevaluate my path. I made the bold decision to drop out, and everything changed. Suddenly it became clear that I wanted to pursue science—a dream I had always held but one that felt distant while growing up. Undeterred, I applied to an astronomy program and ultimately earned my Ph.D. in astrophysics from the University of Copenhagen.Outside work
Although I never pursued a career in the arts, I still have a deep love for it. I specialize in urban and street photography, and my work has been featured on album covers, articles, and promotional materials. Some big names like Samsung, Polaroid, and the Danish Architecture Centre have shared my photos on social media. When I'm not taking pictures, I'm a melomaniac who loves architecture and design. I'm also really into mindfulness practices and try to promote mental health whenever I can.

Research

The galaxy-in-a-box model

Modern astrophysics still has to answer many fundamental questions about star formation, its universality, and the changing conditions of the interstellar medium over cosmic time. Developing tools and methods to compare star formation and molecular emission across different galaxies is crucial in addressing these questions. This is why I created the galaxy-in-a-box model. What is this model, and how does it work?It's a model simulating emission from active star-forming regions in a galaxy. The advantage of the model is that it is both a top- and bottom-level astrophysical tool. What does it mean? As a top-level simulating tool, the galaxy-a-box model is deeply rooted in observations of star-forming regions, and the assignment of emission relies on what and where we observe. But, as a bottom-level tool, the model utilizes known star formation laws and relations, uses individual protostars as the smallest building blocks, and helps to confront our expectations from rules governing the star formation process with observational signposts.An in-depth description of the model can be found in my first publication K. M. Dutkowska & L. E. Kristensen 2022, A&A, 667, A135 (DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202243235). Further study where the model outcomes were compared with observational data and literature relations was a subject of my second publication K. M. Dutkowska & L. E. Kristensen 2023, A&A, 674, A95. This is where you can also find a description of new features of the model, providing a complete overview of its current state.

UCLCHEM development

UCLCHEM is a gas-grain chemical code for astrochemical modeling. The code solves the coupled system of ODEs that represents the chemical network using the rate equation method of modeling chemistry. With UCLCHEM we can build a molecular cloud with given properties and then model more complicated astrophysical structures, e.g., hot cores or shocks. For more information on UCLCHEM, I refer you to its official website.Currently, I am working on developing newer parametrizations of J- and C-type shocks in UCLCHEM to improve our predictions and analyses of observations, taking into account dust-related nuances and expanded pathways of SiO formation.

Shock modelling

Shocks are commonly found in interstellar and circumgalactic medium. During star formation, they are produced by protostellar outflows and jets which convert kinetic energy into magnetic and thermal energy and lead to extensive chemical processing of the surrounding medium. Typically, the stronger the outflows and jets, the younger the protostar, making shocks an excellent diagnostic of the star formation process.I used the Paris-Durham shock code to investigate the source of water emission. In our galaxy, water typically comes from shocked areas around forming stars. I examined shocked models for various pre-shock conditions and shock properties and prepared the radiative transfer code to model water emission. This project was a collaboration with researchers from ENS in Paris and NBI in Copenhagen. While the results have not been published outside of my Ph.D. thesis, I am happy to discuss them with anyone interested.

Water Emission Database

Over the past few years, numerous projects have observed water emissions towards Galactic and extragalactic regions. By consolidating all of this data into one place, the Water Emission Database provides a comprehensive framework for astrochemical studies. For further information, please visit the following website.

CV

Education and employment

[03/23-02/26] Postdoctoral Researcher
Institute: Leiden Observatory, Leiden University
Location: Leiden, The Netherlands
Supervisor: Serena Viti[09/22-12/22] Research Assistant
Institute: Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Supervisor: Lars E. Kristensen[09/19-12/22] Ph.D. (in Astrophysics)
Institute: Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Thesis: Tracing star formation at high redshift using the Milky Way as a template
Supervisor: Lars Egstrøm Kristensen;
Defence date: March 21st, 2023[10/17-08/19] M.Sc. (in Astronomy)
Institute: Nicolaus Copernicus University
Location: Toruń, Poland
Thesis: Cluster-in-a-box: understanding how low-mass stars form in high-mass clusters using 338.4 GHz methanol emission as an outflow tracer
Supervisor: Agata Karska, Lars Egstrøm Kristensen (co-supervisor);
Defence date: August 12th, 2019[10/14-07/17] B.Sc. (in Astronomy, Physics and Computer Usage)
Institute: Nicolaus Copernicus University
Location: Toruń, Poland
Thesis: Searching for correlations between parameters of planetary nebulae and their central stars
Supervisor: Krzysztof Gęsicki;
Defence date: July 27th, 2017

Awards and Honors

[2019] Scholarship of the Minister of Science and Higher Education for outstanding achievements.
Awarded by: the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Poland.

Science projects and proposals

[09/23-] ALMA CMZ Exploration Survey (ACES)
Type: Project
Role: Investigator (chemical modeling)
PI: Steve Longmore[03/23-] MOlecules as Probes of the Physics of EXternal galaxies (MOPPEX)
Type: Project
Role: Postdoctoral researcher
PI: Prof. Serena Viti[09/19-12/22] Unraveling the complex chemistry of star-forming regions
Type: Project
Role: Ph.D. fellow and research assistant
PI: Dr. Lars E. Kristensen[03/21] Unravelling low-mass protostars in a dense high-mass cluster
Type: Proposal
Role: PI
Note: Scientific observations with Submillimeter Array in block 2021A; cancelled due to COVID-19[01/18-09/18] The impact of physical and chemical conditions on the star formation process: identification and characterization of young stellar objects in the Outer Galaxy
Type: Project
Role: student research assistant
PI: Dr. Marta Sewiło[06/17-09/18] Impact of the UV radiation on early star formation stages
Type: Project
Role: student research assistant
PI: Dr. Agata Karska

Teaching experience

[2024] Supervisor during the Leiden/ESA Astrophysics Program for Summer Students (LEAPS)
Project title: Decoding chemistry within extragalactic star-forming regions
Institute: Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands[2021/2022] Co-supervisor of a B.Sc. thesis
Thesis title: Mass Distributions of Stars and Clusters in Galaxies
Institute: Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark[2021/2022] TA during a B.Sc. course
Course: Introduction to Computing for Physicists [hybrid]
Institute: Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark[2020/2021] TA during a B.Sc. course
Course: Experimental Physics [F2F]
Institute: Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark[2019/2020] TA during a M.Sc. course
Course: The Interstellar Medium and Formation of Stars [online]
Institute: Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

Talks

[2024] Cosmic rays 3: the salt of the star formation recipe
Where: Department of Physics and Astronomy, Arcetri, Italy
Title: Lessons from the Galactic Center: Chemistry Under Extreme Conditions[2024] The ALMA CMZ Exploration Survey Meeting 2024
Where: European Southern Observatory, Garching bei München, Germany
Title: Modeling the CMZ: Protostellar heating and c-shocks in the Galactic center[2024] Raising the veil on star formation near and far
Where: the Kavli Institute for Cosmology, Cambridge, England
Title: Decoding Galactic Chemistry: Insights from the Central Molecular Zone[2022] Annual Danish Astronomy Meeting
Where: Fredericia, Denmark
Title: Star formation through Cosmic history: from the perspective of a Milky Way inhabitant[2022] StarPlan Science Day
Where: Copenhagen, Denmark
Title: Star formation: a Galactic view[2021] StarPlan Science Day
Where: Copenhagen, Denmark
Title: What is in the box?[2018] Astronomy Students' Associations Conference
Where: Wrocław, Poland
Title: Basics of astrochemistry[2018] National Astronomy Students' Seminar
Where: Toruń, Poland
Title: Infrared and maser emission associated with low mass protostars[2018] 48th Young European Radio Astronomers Conference
Where: Dwingeloo, Netherlands
Title: Infrared and 22 GHz water emission associated with a Sun-like protostar[2018] Astronomy Students' Associations Conference
Where: Kraków, Poland
Title: Hawaiian observations

Posters

[2022] Niels Bohr Gold Medal Symposium in Astrochemistry
Where: Copenhagen, Denmark
Title: Star formation through cosmic history
Authors: Dutkowska, K. M. & Kristensen, L. E.[2022] European Astronomical Society Annual Meeting
Where: Valencia, Spain
Title: Star formation through cosmic history: from the viewpoint of a Milky Way inhabitant
Authors: Dutkowska, K. M. & Kristensen, L. E.[2022] Annual Danish Astronomy Meeting
Where: Fredericia, Denmark
Title: Modeling molecular emission to uncover the mass distribution of forming stars
Authors: Rashdan, O., Dutkowska, K. M. & Kristensen, L. E.[2022] European Astronomical Society Annual Meeting
Where: online conference
Title: Galaxy-in-a-box: unveiling star formation across cosmic time
Authors: Dutkowska, K. M. & Kristensen, L. E.[2021] Annual Danish Astronomy Meeting
Where: online conference
Title: Galaxy-in-a-box: linking Galactic and extragalactic star formation
Authors: Dutkowska, K. M. & Kristensen, L. E.[2020] Physique et Chimie du Milieu Interstellaire
Where: Le Havre, France
Title: Linking Galactic and extragalactic star formation through water emission
Authors: Dutkowska, K. M., Kristensen, L. E. & Bergin, E. A.[2018] XXXth General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union
Where: Vienna, Austria
Title: Strongly variable water maser associated with a Sun-like protostar
Authors: Dutkowska, K. M., Karska, A., Olech M., Wolak, P. & Gawroński, M.[2018] Prebiotic Molecules in Space and Origins of Life on Earth
Where: Bad Honnef, Germany
Title: Peculiar H2O maser in a solar-type protostar L1448 IRS 2
Authors: Dutkowska, K. M., Karska, A., Olech M., Wolak, P. & Gawroński, M.[2017] Astronomy Students' Associations Conference
Where: Warsaw, Poland
Title: Astrochemistry: then and now
Authors: Dutkowska, K. M. & Żółtowski, M.

Workshops and internships

[04/2023] Introduction to Fortran
Type: Online course[10/2022] Signatures of AGN Feedback: The Post-SOFIA Era
Type: Online workshop[07/2022] Ph.D. research exchange visit
Where: Département de Physique de l'Ecole Normale supérieure, Paris, France[06/2022] The Interstellar Shocks School
Type: Workshop
Where: Les Houches, France[06/2021] Virtual OPTICON Archival School using ESO and ALMA data
Type: Online school[03/2021] The Ultimate MySQL Bootcamp: Go from SQL Beginner to Expert
Type: Online bootcamp[03/2021] 2021 SMA Interferometry School
Type: Online school[12/2020] Scientific Writing in Astro
Type: Online workshop[03/2018] Student exchange visit
Where: Research institutes in Munich - Garching, Germany[07/2017] Summer student internship (solar flares observations with the largest coronagraph in the world and night sky observations with a Cassegrain telescope)
Where: Astronomical Observatory of the University of Wrocław, Białków, Poland[06/2016] Python and astro-statistics
Type: Workshop
Where: Toruń, Poland

Community Service

[2023-] LEAPS committee member
Where: Leiden Observatory, Leiden University[2023-] Co-organizer of the EDI journal club
Where: Leiden Observatory, Leiden University[2023-] Member of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) committee
Where: Leiden Observatory, Leiden University[2022] Volunteer (technical support)
Event: Niels Bohr Gold Medal Symposium in Astrochemistry
Where: Copenhagen, Denmark[2019-2022] Organizer of an institutional journal club dedicated to integrating research across the fields of astrochemistry, cosmochemistry, theoretical astrophysics, and computational astrophysics.
Where: StarPlan, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen[2018] Volunteer (front-desk member, microphone duties during discussion panels, technical support)
Event: XXXth General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union
Where: Vienna, Austria[2018] Popular science articles
Journal: Polish daily newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza[2014-2018] Volunteer (e.g., educator in science parks, staff member during the "Girls for STEM" events)
Event: various popular science events requiring STEM students support
Where: Poland

Practical skills

Native language:
PolishOther languages:
English (fluent in reading, speaking, writing)Astronomical data processing environments:
CASA, CARTA, basic HIPE, and basic CLASSProgramming languages:
Python, SQL, Fortran, CSS, basic HTML, basic C, and basic C++