Maria Jose (Majo) Colmenares Diaz

I work in Prof. Edwin (Ted) Bergin's group. I am interested in exploring how physical, chemical, and dynamical processes in protoplanetary disks set the stage for planet formation. In particular, I investigate how volatiles are transported, processed, and preserved, using both high-precision observations (e.g. with JWST/MIRI, ALMA) and theoretical modeling. My work aims to establish links between disk evolution (thermal events, accretion, pebble drift, disk substructure) and the chemical/isotopic signatures found in planets and Solar System bodies. Ultimately, I seek to understand how early disk conditions imprint on emerging exoplanet compositions and what that tells us about planet diversity, including our own Solar System.