Characterizing the Planet Formation Environment — We develop novel methodologies to extract the physical, chemical, and dynamical conditions of protoplanetary disks from high-resolution observations, revealing the complex structures that betray the processes shaping forming planetary systems.

Unveiling Our Astrochemical Heritage — Using observations of molecular line emission, supported by laboratory experiments and quantum mechanical modeling, we trace the chemical diversity and evolution of planet-forming material from protoplanetary disks through to the bodies of our own Solar System.

Searching for the Youngest Planets — We use space- and ground-based observatories to search directly for planets in the act of formation, hunting for their thermal emission, accretion shocks, and surrounding circumplanetary material.

Principal Investigator

• Prof. Richard Teague — Assistant Professor, MIT EAPS (Kerr-McGee Development Chair) · ADS

Postdoctoral Researchers

• Dr. Jess Speedie — 51 Pegasi b Fellow; ALMA observations & disk dynamics · ADS
• Dr. Lisa Wölfer — Gas substructures & kinematics in protoplanetary disks · ADS

Graduate Students

• Leah Albrow — ML & computer vision for astronomical imaging; 3D disk structure
• Jensen Lawrence — Isotope ratios linking disk gas to giant planet atmospheres · Google Scholar
• Isabella (Bella) Macias — Protoplanetary disk masses & evolution

Undergraduate Students

• Kaylee Barrera — Data-driven modeling of massive protoplanetary disks
• Erin Cusson — Chemical complexity of protoplanetary disks
• Marco Duraku — Exoplanet detection via diffraction imaging (Imperial College London exchange)
• Maurielle Noto — Circumplanetary disk simulations & satellite-forming regions

For a full list of past members, see the lab website.

This organization hosts the codes, pipelines, and data products developed by PFL members. Key areas include:

• Kinematic analysis tools for ALMA protoplanetary disk observations
• Radiative transfer and hydrodynamical simulation utilities
• Machine learning methods for astronomical imaging
• Data products from large programs (e.g., exoALMA, MAPS)

Browse the repositories above to explore our publicly available tools. If you use any of our software in your research, please cite the relevant paper(s) listed in each repository's README.

© Teague Planet Formation Lab, MIT EAPS