Markus Scheucher

My passion is in modeling and analysis of complex systems including many-particle, fluid, and plasma dynamics, stellar and planetary atmospheres, chemical molecular networks, and radiative transfer of energy. I developed form first principles several computational models for applications in stellar coronas and climates on terrestrial exoplanets, including parallelization and performance optimization on superclusters. Recently I worked on models that will help us understand the climate and atmospheric chemistry of Earth and other terrestrial planets. I am building computational tools that include complex chemical molecular networks and the radiative transfer of energy in particular to understand the atmospheres of exoplanets, the impact of energetic particles from its host star and galaxy, and possible signatures of life.

I come from an interdisciplinary background, which led to multiple appointments as physics consultant for Mars habitation studies and speaking in forums such as the UNITED NATIONS scientific committee for the peaceful use of outer space. Before advanced studies in physics, I spent several years as a professional Engineer in R&D for the automotive industry in Austria. I worked as a mechanical engineer on combustion engine design and as a patent engineer on battery systems for electric cars. My interests in understanding and applying complex systems extend to financial markets as I also worked as a certified financial advisor in Austria.


Education: 
  • Ph.D. in Physics, Technische Universität Berlin, Germany (2016-2020)
  • M.Sc. in Physics, Karl-Franzens Universität Graz, Austria (2012-2016)
  • B.Sc. in Physics, Karl-Franzens Universität Graz, Austria (2009-2012)
  • Ing. in Mechanics, Austrian ’ENGINEER’ title awarded by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Economics and Labor in 2008 for successful completion of the Professional School for Mechanical Engineering BULME Graz, Austria (1999-2004) and three years of professional experience.

Research Interests: 

Climate modeling, radiative transfer, numerical optimizations, cosmic rays, habitability of (exo)planets, space weather, satellite mission concepts


Professional Experience: 
  • Team Member, International Space Science Institute (ISSI), Switzerland (2019-present)
  • Graduate Research Assistant, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany (2016-2020)
  • Team Project Manager, Cube Satellite Mission Design, DLR Early Career Scientists Week, Germany (2017)
  • Research Scholar, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA (2016)
  • Lecturer, Karl-Franzens University, Austria (2012-2014)
  • Teaching Assistant, Karl Franzens University, Austria (2012)

Selected Awards: 
  • Best Project Proposal, DLR Early Career Scientists Week, Gemrany (2017)
  • Best Poster Award, Spring Conference 2017, German Physics Society(DPG) (2017)
  • Competition Winner, 3D Printed Habitat Challenge for Mars, NASAand America Makes (2015)
  • Merit-based Research Scholarship for master’s thesis, Karl-Franzens University Graz, Austria (2014)
  • Tuition Grants for Space Studies Program 2014 in Montréal, European Space Agency (ESA), Austrian Research Funding Agency (FFG), and Austrospace (2014)
  • Merit-Based Scholarship from the Dean of Natural Sciences “Top Student”, Karl-Franzens University Graz, Austria (2010)

markus-scheucher
Address: 
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA 91009
Phone: 626.298.1105