AboutMy name is Mari-Liis Aru (see the pronunciation guide below) and I'm doing my PhD in the field of star and planet formation. In Sept. 2022, I joined the group of Dr. Carlo F. Manara at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Germany to research protoplanetary disks, the birthplaces of planets, in high UV conditions. I use observational data to study externally photoevaporating disks known as proplyds.
My background includes a master's degree in Space Sciences from University of Liège, Belgium, and a two-year research experience at the European Space Agency (ESA), the Netherlands. Online, you can find me sharing digestible explainers of complex topics with the aim to bring space exploration closer to a general audience. See the newsletter I publish on Substack in English / in Estonian. Besides astronomy and outreach, I’m an enthusiast for language learning. * Mari rhymes with starry, Liis with double "i" is pronounced like Lee's. Alternative spelling for international press: Mari L. Aru |
Research
Teardrops in the sky
An ESO press release of the planet-forming disk 177-341W, irradiated by a nearby massive star, and observed with VLT/MUSE (Aru et al. 2024).
An ESO press release of the planet-forming disk 177-341W, irradiated by a nearby massive star, and observed with VLT/MUSE (Aru et al. 2024).
Read about my research on proplyds, externally photoevaporated planet-forming disks, and other research projects below.
Outreach & communityI'm active in science outreach, by being a speaker at events, writing popular science articles, and creating informational posts on social media.
During my PhD, I contribute to the student and science community at ESO by organizing events and chairing the Student Representatives committee. |
FAQ & resources for studentsFind some basic information on different fields linked to space, opportunities at ESA, and frequently asked questions related to space careers.
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For collaborations and your outreach opportunities, please see the contact page below.