Winner of the Barry Prize, 2024
The prize citation for Dr. Öberg‘s Barry Prize reads:
“Karin Öberg’s research has broken new ground in our knowledge of the stars, while reminding us of the wonder and beauty that inspire scientific inquiry. Her pioneering observations of the molecular composition of protoplanetary disks have revolutionized our understanding of the chemical processes underlying the formation of stars and planets. The Academy honors Dr. Öberg’s distinguished contributions to humanity’s knowledge of the cosmos, and its sense of awe at the panorama of the night.”
Karin I. Öberg is Thomas Dudley Cabot Professor of the Natural Sciences at Harvard University. Her specialty is astrochemistry and her research aims to uncover how chemical processes affect the outcome of planet formation, especially the chemical habitability of nascent planets. Her research group approaches this question through laboratory experiments, simulating the exotic chemistry that gives rise to chemical complexity in space, through astrochemical modeling, and through astronomical observations of molecules in planet-forming disks around young stars. Her research in astrochemistry has been recognized with a Sloan fellowship, a Packard fellowship. the AAS Newton Lacy Pierce Award, and a Simons fellowship.