Dr. Antranik Sefilian is a theoretical astrophysicist working in the field of planetary sciences, with a primary focus on the formation, evolution, and architecture of planetary systems. He utilizes a synergistic approach that combines the development of mathematical models and theoretical frameworks with the design and implementation of numerical algorithms and simulations, all while being informed by observational data. His current research investigates how gravitational interactions between planets and astrophysical disks – such as the gaseous protoplanetary disks in which planets form and the leftover debris disks of asteroids and comets – affect the evolution and dynamics of planets and, in the process, sculpt observable features within these disks.

Dr. Sefilian earned his PhD from the University of Cambridge, UK, in 2022, following his undergraduate and Master’s studies in Lebanon at the Lebanese University and the American University of Beirut, respectively. Before joining the Steward Observatory, he was an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow at the University of Jena, Germany.