B [email protected] Robin T. Mentel Date of Birth: 05.08.1994

Education 2018 – 2020 Astronomy M.Sc., Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands. (expected) Master of Science 2013 – 2018 Physics B.Sc., Department of Physics, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany. Bachelor of Science 2005 – 2013 Abitur, Wilhelmsgymnasium Kassel, Germany. High School Diploma Research Experience Studying a volume complete Sample of circumstellar Disks hosted by Herbig Ae/Be stars, The circumstellar disks around the numerous and nearby T-Tauri stars are well studied, in contrast to those disks hosted by the more massive and much rarer Herbig Ae/Be stars. However many ALMA observations of these stars in recent years in various wavelengths have yielded a sizable sample. Under the supervision of Prof. Michiel Hogerheijde at Leiden University, I am studying a volume complete sample of observations of Herbig disks in the ALMA archive to conduct a uniform analysis. The combination with the highly accurate stellar distance measurements from GAIA for much more precise stellar and disk properties will enable a thorough analysis of the disks’ population statistics. The final goal of the project is to set up a database for the processed data, and write an ALMA Cycle 8 proposal for observations that aims to complete the sample, Final Master Thesis. Interpolating between States of very precise N-body Simulations, Boekholt and Portegies- Zwart (2014) developed an arbitrary precise N-body code called BRUTUS, whose accuracy is even sufficient to retrieve time reversibility of the chaotic 3-body system (Portegies-Zwart and Boekholt (2018)). Using BRUTUS, they then conducted a very precise 9-body simulation of the Solar System covering 20Myr. In the group of Prof. Portegies-Zwart at Leiden Observatory, I interpolated between the "snapshots" of the Cartesian states of the bodies in the simulation to recover the exact orbital parameters of most bodies in the simulation at arbitrary points of time with high accuracy. I then wrote a short program which returns these accurate orbital parameters without rerunning a lengthy simulation, which is useful for e.g. the study of the dynamics of asteroids whose orbits are highly sensitive to small perturbations of the planets, Minor Master Thesis. Mining Photometry Archives for deep transits of Hill Sphere filling Ring Systems around young Exoplanets, In 2007, the young star J1407 underwent an eclipse in 2007 of two months length and more than 3 mag deep, caused by the transit of an enourmous ( 160 million km) ring system hosted by an orbiting exoplanet, making it the first exoplanetary ring system. The presence of extended gaps in the rings, similar to those in Saturn’s well known rings, points to the existence and likely ongoing formation of moons orbiting J1407b. Observations with the most advanced telescopes to date have only constrained but not confirmed the existence of J1407b and the rings. With my supervisors Prof. Matthew Kenworthy at Leiden Observatory and Prof. Andreas Schrimpf at Marburg University, I analysed about 1,300 archival observations of the star, with the oldest one dating back to 1890, looking for a second transit of the extended ring system. Although a null detection, the results implied strong constraints on the dynamic of the system and the time of the next expected transit (see next section). The publication was accompanied by a press release of the universities of Marburg and Leiden, Summer Research Project and Bachelor Thesis.

1/3 Publications 15.10.2018 Constraining the period of the ringed secondary companion to the young star J1407 with photographic plates, Mentel et al., Astronomy and Astrophysics. Press release by Leiden University, Marburg University, and NOVA/Astronomie.nl: Net Closes Around Planet with Giant Rings Thanks to Photos from 1890 Participation of Conferences and Workshops 22.11.2019 Netherlands ALMA Science Day, Leiden Observatory. Conference on news about and science with ALMA 14.09. – 4th European Variable Star Meeting, Grimbergen, Belgium. 15.09.2019 Meeting of the European variable-star organisations 19.08. – Extreme Solar Systems IV, Harpa Center, Reykjavik, Iceland. 23.08.2019 International Conference 03.04. – MODEST 18a, Leiden Observatory. 06.04.2018 Workshop for the AMUSE simulation environment 26.09. – Rocks, Rubble and Rings: Understanding Deep and Irregular Transits, Lorentz Center, Leiden. 30.09.2016 International Workshop Talks and Presentations 14.09.2019 Keeping an eye on Saturn’s big cousins: amateur astronomy’s essential contribution to the study of giant ring systems, 4th European Variable Star Meeting 2019, Grimbergen, Belgium. Participant’s Talk 20.12.2018 Phantastische Lichtkurven und wie sie zu verstehen sind, "Phantastic light curves and how to understand them", Astronomy group meeting at Philipps University Marburg. Invited talk 25.10.2018 Constraining the period of the ringed secondary companion to the young star J1407b, Exo- planet Journal Club at Leiden Observatory. Paper presentation Several Presentations, Exoplanet Journal Club at Leiden Observatory, Paper presentations. 8.9.2017 Ringen um die Wahrheit. Vom Herrn der Ringe und von blinden Hühnern, "Wrestling for the Truth. About the Lord of Rings and blind Hens", Summer excursion of the jDPG (youth organisation of German Physical Society), Karlsruhe, Germany. Participant’s Talk 9.6.2017 Der wahre Herr der Ringe: J1407b, "The True Lord of the Rings: J1407b", Public Observatory Kirchhain. Invited Talk 14.11.2016 The True Lord of the Rings: J1407b - a Prototype for Exoplanetary Ring Systems, Astronomy Students’ Association of Kopernikus University, Torun, Poland. Invited Talk 14.1.2016 20 Jahre Exoplaneten, "20 Years of Exoplanets", Outreach event at Spiegelslustturm Marburg. Invited speaker

Magazine Articles for Science Communication (Selection) About J1407 Jan 2020 "A century long gaze into the past of a Saturn’s big cousin, Nederlands Tijdschrift van de Natuurkunde (NTvN), the Dutch Jornal of Physics. (In Press) Een Eeuw lang Staren naar de grote Neef van Saturnus, "A Century of Staring at Saturn’s big 2020 Cousin", Feature article of Universum, magazine of the JWG (Dutch youth astronomy Association).

2/3 General Articles 23.05.2018 How to teach a computer to write prose like James Joyce, VOX Leiden. 17.12.2016 Was bedeutet der Physik-Nobelpreis für die Wissenschaft, Prof. Gebhard?, "What does the Physics Nobel Prize mean for the Sciences, Prof. Gebhard?", PHILIPP. 29.03.2016 Astronomie ist das, was die Menschheit seit Urgedenken umtreibt, "Astronomy is that which has bothered Humanity for Aeons", PHILIPP. 20.02.2016 Als Zeit und Raum erzitterten, "When Time and Space trembled", PHILIPP. Public Outreach and Volunteer Work Since Nov Oude Sterrewacht Leiden, The historic observatory Leiden. 2019 Tour Guide in English and German Since Nov IAU100: Under One Sky, Global outreach project celebrating the IAU’s 100th birthday. Among 2018 others, on the Kickoff event in April 2019 in Brussels. Volunteer Since Mar Astronomy on Tap Leiden, Monthly outreach event with scientific talks and quizzes. Among others, 2019 presentation at the Gala van de Sterrenkunde in Leiden in Dec. 2019. Member of the Organization Committee Since Nov Education Committee of the Astronomy Master Programme, Leiden Observatory. 2018 Member for the academic years 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 Apr 2018 – VOX Leiden, International student magazine at Leiden University. Dec 2018 Freelance writer Nov 2015 – Volkssternwarte Kirchhain, Public Observatory, Kirchhain, Germany. Jan 2018 Active Member Since Jun Parallaxe und Sternzeit e.V., Friends’ association of the historic Gerling-Observatory, Marburg. 2015 Active Member. Tour guide through the historic Observatory. Apr 2014 – PHILIPP, Student magazine, Philipps University Marburg. Jan 2018 Freelance writer, later editor (since 2015), 13 articles in total Dec 2014 – Council of Elders of student body of Philipps University Marburg. Dec 2015 Member, chairman (April 2015 until December 2015) Stay Abroad 01.08.2016 – RISE-Scholarship (DAAD, German Academic Exchange Service), Leiden Observatory. 30.09.2016 A Search for long and deep Transits in the DASCH-Archive. Solving the Mystery of the giant Exoring System J1407b Aug 2010 – Student Exchange Programme, Lausanne, Canton de Vaud, Switzerland. Oct 2010 Natural and Programming Languages German Native English Fluent French Intermediate LATEX Intermediate Interests - Photography - Philosophy and Literature - Mathematics - Science Communication

3/3