Portrait of Jenny K. Calahan
JKC

Jenny K. Calahan

Kavli-Laukien Origins of Life Fellow  ·  Center for Astrophysics, Harvard

I am an astronomer curious about the origins of our Earth, exoplanets, and life. I primarily study protoplanetary disks, and use thermo-chemical modeling to connect disk observations to the physical and chemical processes that shape planet formation.

✉ Email ADS ORCID GitHub

Research

Selected first-author publications — hover over a card to see details and open the ADS record.

Key figure from paper 1

Taking the Temperature of a Nearby Planet-Forming Disk

Calahan, J. K., Bergin E. A., Zhang K., et al.  ·  ApJ 908, 8 (2021)

The TW Hya Rosetta Stone Project. III. Resolving the Gaseous Thermal Profile of the Disk

TW Hya is the nearest protoplanetary disk to us, and has been observed thoroughly with ALMA. In this paper, I combine multiple ALMA datasets to reconstruct the disk's temperature structure, which is a key input for planet formation models. My model utilizes CO-depletion in order to reproduce both the CO line emission and HD flux. Since then, this model has been used widely and is publicly available.

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Key figure from paper 2

Chemical Fingerprints of Late-Stage Planet Formation

Calahan, J.K., Bergin E. A., Bosman A., et al.  ·  Nature Astronomy 7, 49 (2023)

UV-driven chemistry as a signpost of late-stage planet formation

Older disks exhibit bright emission from complex organic molecules (COMs), such as CH3CN. In this paper, I show that a combined enhancement of carbon and an evolved dust substructure are required to reproduce observed COMs emission, with TW Hya and HD 163296 as case studies. This work suggests that carbon-rich molecules may be signposts of late-stage planet formation.

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Key figure from paper 3

The H218O Reservior in Planet-forming Disks

Calahan, J.K., Bergin E. A., Bosman A., et al.  ·  ApJL 934, L14 (2022)

Water UV-Shielding in the Disk Midplane: Implications for 18O Isotope Anomalies in H218O Infrared Emission and Meteorites

Gas-phase water is highly abundant in typical protoplanetary disks, and can shield other molecules from UV radiation. In this paper, I show that water UV-shielding in an AS 209 model will lead to an enhancement of H218O, and could be observed with JWST. I identify individual lines that should be used in future searches for H218O within JWST data.

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Key figure from paper 4

How a High-UV Environment Shapes Planet-Forming Chemistry

Calahan, J.K., Öberg K., Booth A.S.  ·  ApJ 991, 94 (2025)

The Impact of External Radiation on the Inner Disk Chemistry of Planet Formation

Most disks, including our own Solar Nebula, are born in clustered environments and are exposed to external radiation from nearby stars. Using a thermo-chemical model, I explored the impact of external UV radiation on inner disk chemistry. I find that the midplane within 1 AU will not be impacted by even a 106 G0, but the atmosphere and outer disk will be significantly processed. Snow-surfaces, even the water snow-surface, will turn over and more of the outer disk will host temperatures allowing water and other typically inner disk molecules to exist in the gas phase.

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For additional first-author publications, and papers with significant contribution, see the full list here →

Making Astronomy Accessible Through Outreach and Service

Making astronomy more accessible for underrepresented groups helps everyone. Thus, I have used my skills as a leader, advocate, educator, and public speaker to promote inclusion in the field, and especially encourage and promote individuals in underrepresented groups. Hover over a card to learn more.

Postdoc Council

Postdoc Council Chair

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AAS SGMA Committee

AAS SGMA Committee

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Public Outreach

Public Outreach

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Postdoc Council Chair

I have been a member and now chair of the Postdoc Council at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian from Summer 2024 to present. As chair, I initiated and led the first CfA postdoc symposium, built postdoc community through a Summer Games event, and advocated for postdoc support as a member of the CfA executive council.

Postdoc Council activity
Fig. 1: The PASTA Symposium in May, 2026
Postdoc Council activity
Fig. 2: The Summer Games Event in September, 2025
Postdoc Council activity
Fig. 3: The Postdoc Networking Event, October 2025

AAS Committee for Sexual and Gender Minorities

I have been an active member of the AAS SGMA committee from 2023–2026. As a member, I created and maintained the Queer Speaker list and created the SGMA mini-grants which go to support local events that build LGBTQ+ community. I led the effort to summarize our committee's work, as well as action items for the astronomy community to support LGBTQ+ individuals in a Nature Article to be published in June 2026.

AAS SGMA activity
Fig. 1: Representing the SGMA committee at a AAS Conference
AAS SGMA activity
Fig. 2: Participants at a SGMA run outing in D.C.

Public Outreach

I have given talks for the Boston/Cambridge public on topics of the Origins of Life and planets, as well as led telescope viewing sessions on the roof of the CfA. I have spoken to middle school students both at their schools directly, and through STEM-fair events where I have curated workshops on astronomical topics.

Outreach activity
Fig. 1: Talking to kids about how cool meteroites are!
Outreach activity
Fig. 2: Talking about Origins of Life in an astronomical context to the public
Outreach activity
Fig. 3: Talking about Planet formation to the public

Curriculum Vitae

A full PDF of my CV is available below.

⬇  Download CV (PDF)

Last updated: January 2025