About Me

Welcome! I am Dr. Abel de Burgos Sierra, currently an ESO Postdoctoral Fellow at the European Southern Observatory in Santiago, Chile. In this position, I dedicate my research time on understanding the evolutionary nature, as well as the physical, chemical, and binary properties of massive stars. To accomplish this, I frequently utilize open clusters and stellar associations as natural laboratories to test modern stellar evolutionary theories. I also support observatory operations as a Night Astronomer for the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and an Instrument Fellow for the 4MOST and soon UVES instruments. My scientific trajectory began with a B.Sc. in Physics and an M.Sc. in Astrophysics from the Complutense University of Madrid. I then earned my Ph.D. in Astrophysics summa cum laude from the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) and the University of La Laguna in 2024. Throughout my career, I have cultivated a strong technical and observational background, previously serving as a support astronomer at the Nordic Optical Telescope and the Isaac Newton Telescope in La Palma. I also gained valuable space mission and operational experience during several roles at the European Space Agency (ESA), working on the Mars Express mission and the CESAR educational project. Today, I proudly apply this background as an active collaborator in major international astronomical efforts, including the IACOB project, and the 4MOST-4MIDABLE and WEAVE-SCIP low-resolution spectroscopic surveys.

Abel de Burgos Sierra

Research

Stellar astrophysics, spectroscopic analysis, stellar parameters, and variability.

My primary research focuses on understanding the evolutionary nature, as well as the physical, chemical, and binary properties of massive stars. To accomplish this, I frequently utilize open clusters and stellar associations as natural laboratories to test modern stellar evolutionary theories.

Coding & Software

Open-source tools and pipelines using Python, Astropy, NumPy.

Outreach

Public lectures, school engagement, and mentoring.

Contact

Get in touch via email or professional networks.

CV

Academic background, research positions, and publications.