top of page

About

Oi!

My name is Catarina Pasta Aydar, and I am an astronomer from São Paulo, Brazil.

I adore learning about the Universe and getting connected with Nature. I also appreciate exchanging ideas and being with others; I believe that we develop ourselves through contact with diversity.

I enjoy traveling and organizing events, especially when they can open up people's minds. I am often involved in actions to make academia more accessible for minorities and society in general.

Dancing, practicing yoga and meditation, listening to music, writing poems, and dreaming are the things I am most passionate about. I live for love and respect, and work for humanity to better understand where and who we are.

IMG_20191109_122233109_edited.jpg

Education

2022 - ...

PhD in Astronomy

Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE)

Advised by Andrea Merloni and Kirpal Nandra

Spectroscopic followup of the eROSITA all-sky X-ray survey: AGN feedback in connection with the growing large-scale structure

2019 - 2021

Master's degree in Astronomy

University of São Paulo (IAG-USP)

Advised by João Steiner, Claudia Mendes de Oliveira and Roderik Overzier

Diagnostic diagrams for the classification of galactic nuclei: comparison of traditional and alternative diagrams

Best thesis award in the Department of Astronomy in 2021

2014 - 2018

Bachelor degree in Physics

University of São Paulo (IFUSP)
Initiation to scientific research advised by João Steiner
Alternative criteria for galactic nuclei classification

Observational
Experience

  • Hubble Space Telescope (ACS/WFC3)
    The host galaxy and environment of a radio galaxy near the epoch of reionization
    Co-Investigator, Cycle 29, 18 orbits, 2022

  • Pico dos Dias Observatory
    Color-magnitude diagram of NGC 4755
    Co-Investigator, 6 hours, 2019

Teaching
Experience

  • Tutor of Astrominas: seizing the scientific Universe for female High school students
    Prof. Elysandra Cypriano, 2020-2021, IAG-USP

  • Tutor of Improvement course in astronomy for High school teachers
    Prof. João Steiner, 2020, IAG-USP

  • Monitor of Astronomy: a general overview 
    Prof. João Steiner, 2019, IAG-USP

Academic Committees

2022-2025

International Max Planck Research Schools (IMPRS)

2022 PhDs' student representative

2020, 2022

Department Research Committee (IAG-USP)

Graduate student representative

2020, 2022

Graduate School Committee (IAG-USP)

Graduate student representative (substitute)

2022

Department Council (IAG-USP)

Graduate student representative (substitute)

2020

Astronomy Graduate School Committee (IAG-USP)

Graduate student representative (substitute)

2017, 2018

Physics Institute Administrative Council (IFUSP)

Undergraduate student representative

2015, 2016

Physics Library Council (IFUSP)

Undergraduate student representative

Evaluation Committees

2021

SIICUSP - Symposium of scientific initiation from the University of São Paulo (IAG-USP)

Astronomy Department

1st and International stages

2021

Improvement course in astronomy for High school teachers (IAG-USP)

Experience reports regarding teaching astronomy in High School

bottom of page