Profile

• From: La Coruña, ES
• Lives in: San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife, ES
• Birth date: May 21, 1998
• Position: PhD student at Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias
  
  Professor at Universidad de La Laguna

I'm Daniel, an astrophysicist from Meirás, a small village on the outskirts of La Coruña, Galicia. I studied Physics at the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, where I completed my BSc thesis "Photometric observations of eclipsing binary star systems".

During my studies, I had the opportunity to spend a life-changing year in Tenerife thanks to the SICUE grant, where I received my first astrophysics classes and made my initial observations with professional telescopes. This experience gave me first-hand experience of the work and life of a professional astrophysicist and confirmed my decision to take up a career in astrophysics.

In 2021, I moved to San Cristóbal de La Laguna (Tenerife) to begin my Master's studies in Astrophysics. Those two years were filled with hard work and effort, but they were also incredibly rewarding, offering amazing experiences and the chance to meet wonderful people in the world of astronomy. It was an enriching time where I progressed from making my first observations to working with some of the best telescopes in the Canary Islands, and even the world, such as the NOT and the INT.

Finally, I completed my Master's by presenting my thesis "Physical Parameters of the Low-Mass Eclipsing Binary System ASAS J052919-1617.3," earning the highest possible mark.

I am currently a PhD student in the Physical Properties and Evolution of Massive Stars group at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC). I'm researching the rotational properties of massive stars and their impact on evolution and ultimate fates — whether they end as supernovae or black holes.

The goal of my project is to better understand how the rubgy ball deformation of highly rotating (>200 kms) and overcontact massive stars affects their fundamental parameters. Accounting for 3D geometry, we will better restrict current internal mixing prescriptions, one of the most important factors to determine the future evolution of massive stars.

Also, I'm part of a project focused on the study of massive stars in the Cygnus OB2 association, one of most active star-forming regions in our Galaxy. This key region for studying the formation and evolution of massive star presents presents a surprising lack of fast rotating stars, not expected given that massive stars are born in multiple systems and interact with each other within the system .

I'm investigating if the lack of fast rotators in Cygnus OB2 really exists by analyzing single and multiple systems, mergers and runaways of the association. If these kind of stars don't exist, current stellar evolutionary models and interaction mechanisms of massive stars need revision.

In addition to my massive stars work, I engage in various activities related to astrophysics and astronomy.

• I am an active member of the MUSCAT2 exoplanet group, carrying out observations at the Carlos Sánchez Telescope.
• I am also coleading the creation of the first association of astrophysicists from Galicia (my home Spanish state) and providing consultancy for stablish the only Galician observatory, located in Forcarei.
• I am currently co-directing a course on positional astronomy and basics of astronomical observation at the Universidad de La Laguna (ULL).

In the academic field, I began my teaching career in 2023 as an assistant professor on the "Basic Observational Techniques" subject for the Master's program in Astrophysics at the ULL. I'm currently a professor on the Physics degree here in La Laguna, supervising students doing their external internships at the IAC.

I am also co-directing my first BSc thesis on eclipsing binary systems. While this is my initial experience in this role, I have previously assisted in reviewing a thesis on a related topic.