Research

Star and star cluster formation occupies a central role in astrophysics, as a robust understanding of this process underpins progress in several fundamental areas, including stellar evolution, galactic evolution, and planetary system formation. Despite its importance, the theory of star formation remains comparatively underdeveloped, owing both to the intrinsic complexity of the physical processes involved—such as turbulence, gravity, rotation, and magnetic fields during the early stages of molecular cloud collapse—and to the observational challenges posed by the dusty environments in which star formation occurs, where optical radiation is heavily obscured.

In recent years, observational progress has accelerated owing to the advent of high-resolution infrared and millimeter facilities, where dust obscuration is significantly reduced. Concurrently, numerous large-scale Galactic surveys have delivered extensive wide-field data, enabling studies of molecular cloud evolution across a broad range of spatial scales. Together, these advances make it possible to connect the various phases of the interstellar medium and star-forming environments, thereby deepening our understanding of where and how stars form within molecular clouds and how stellar feedback influences their surrounding interstellar medium.

Broadly, my research focuses on the formation and early evolution of stars and star clusters in the Milky Way, and on the processes by which they disperse from their birth environments into the Galactic field. My current interests center on protoplanetary disc evolution and the formation of planets within these discs.