Gijs Mulders
Tagline:Assistant Professor in (Exoplanet) Astronomy at Pontificia Universidad Catolica
Santiago, Chile
About Me
I’m an assistant professor in the Institute of Astrophysics at Pontificia Universidad Católica in Santiago de Chile. I'm part of CATA and the International Astronomical Union
(Para español hack click aqui)
My main research interest is how planets form and evolve. I study the demographics of exoplanets, simulate the formation of planetary systems, and look for signatures of planets in protoplanetary disks with ALMA.
If you want to join my research group as a student or postdoc, get in touch!
My first name, Gijs, sounds like 'hice' in English or 'jais' in Spanish.
Research Topics
I work on a wide range of topics related to exoplanets and their formation - click each image to see a description
Over 5000 exoplanets are known, and they display a stunning variety in properties: big or small, hot or cold, orbiting sunlike stars or red M dwarfs…
Giant impacts of are a key phase in the growth of rocky planets - I simulate these with N-body simulations
The snow line is a key feature of protoplanetary disks that determines to a large degree the bulk composition of planetary cores: whether they are mainly rocky or also icy
The exoplanet hunter TESS, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, had discovered over 7000 candidate exoplanets. Great for demographical studies!
Many exoplanets orbit small red stars called M dwarfs. In fact, they have many more small planet than stars like the sun!
Protoplanetary disks come in varies shapes and size, and many – possibly all – have structures possibly originating from forming planets!
The Atacama Large Millimeter Array or ALMA, located in the Chilean desert, is a great tool that I use for observing protoplanetary disks
What is the internal structure of planets?
The Gaia satellite has revolutionized stellar astronomy, and is on the verge of discovering thousands of exoplanets
How does water arrive get to rocky planets in the habitable zone? Varies mechanisms exist for water delivery, from giant impacts, to migrating planets, to accretion of snowy pebbles
Current and Former Students / Postdocs
- DY
Dana Yaptangco
Stellar Activity of Exoplanet Host Stars
date: 2025 - presentDegree: Doctoral Degree .University: Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile .
- PC
Pietro Curone (Postdoc)
Protoplanetary Disks / Planet Formation
date: 2024 - presentUniversity: Universidad de Chile .
- HP
Harshitha Parashivamurthy
Super-Earths around Super-Small Stars
date: 2023 - presentDegree: Doctoral Degree .University: Universidad de Chile .
- AC
Aritra Chakrabarty (Postdoc)
Exoplanet Water Worlds
date: 2022 - 2024Degree: Other .University: Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez .
- SM
Sean McCloat
Modeling the Architecture and Water Content of Exoplanet Systems by Pebble Accretion: The PPOLs Model
date: 2021 - 2024Degree: Doctoral Degree .University: University of North Dakota .
- RF
Rachel Fernandes
Exoplanet Demographics Beyond Kepler: Giant Planets Detected with Radial Velocity & Young Transiting Planets with TESS
date: 2017 - 2023Degree: Doctoral Degree .University: University of Arizona .
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
DownloadPublications
Signatures of Atmospheric Mass Loss and Planet Migration in the Time Evolution of Short-Period Transiting Exoplanets
Journal ArticlePublisher:Astronomy & Astrophysics (in press)Date:2025Authors:Rachel B. FernandesGalen J. BergstenGijs D. MuldersIlaria PascucciKevin K. Hardegree-UllmanSteven GiacaloneJessie L. ChristiansenJames G. RogersAkash GuptaRebekah I. DawsonTommi T. KoskinenKiersten M. BoleyJason L. CurtisKatia CunhaEric E. MamajekSabina SagynbayevaSakhee S. BhureDavid R. CiardiPreethi R. KarpoorKyle A. PearsonJon K. ZinkGregory A. FeidenWhere Are the Water Worlds? Identifying Exo-water-worlds Using Models of Planet Formation and Atmospheric Evolution
Journal ArticlePublisher:Astrophysical JournalDate:2024Authors:Aritra ChakrabartyGijs D. MuldersThe Mass Budgets and Spatial Scales of Exoplanet Systems and Protoplanetary Disks
Journal ArticlePublisher:Astrophysical JournalDate:2021Authors:Gijs D. MuldersIlaria PascucciFred J. CieslaRachel B. FernandesA Stellar Mass Dependence of Structured Disks: A Possible Link with Exoplanet Demographics
Journal ArticlePublisher:Astronomical JournalDate:2021Authors:Nienke van der MarelGijs D. MuldersWhy Do M Dwarfs Have More Transiting Planets?
Journal ArticlePublisher:Astrophysical Journal LettersDate:2021Authors:Gijs D. MuldersJoanna DrążkowskaNienke van der MarelFred J. CieslaIlaria PascucciHints for a Turnover at the Snow Line in the Giant Planet Occurrence Rate
Journal ArticlePublisher:Astrophysical JournalDate:2019Authors:Rachel B. FernandesGijs D. MuldersIlaria PascucciChristoph MordasiniAlexandre EmsenhuberThe Exoplanet Population Observation Simulator. I. The Inner Edges of Planetary Systems
Journal ArticlePublisher:Astronomical JournalDate:2018Authors:Gijs D. MuldersIlaria PascucciDániel ApaiFred J. CieslaAn Increase in the Mass of Planetary Systems around Lower-mass Stars
Journal ArticlePublisher:Astrophysical JournalDate:2015Authors:Gijs D. MuldersIlaria PascucciDániel ApaiA Stellar-mass-dependent Drop in Planet Occurrence Rates
Journal ArticlePublisher:Astrophysical JournalDate:2015Authors:Gijs D. MuldersIlaria PascucciDániel ApaiProbing the turbulent mixing strength in protoplanetary disks across the stellar mass range: no significant variations
Journal ArticlePublisher:Astronomy & AstrophysicsDate:2012Authors:G. D. MuldersC. Dominik