Astrochemistry is the study of molecules in space, from their formation in molecular clouds of gas and dust in the interstellar medium to the evolution of chemical complexity alongside star and planet formation. Astrochemists use astronomical observations, laboratory experiments, and computational modeling to figure out what molecules are out there and the pathways by which they are connected. In the Wilkins Group at Dickinson, we study molecules in space via observations and experiments.
Dr. Olivia Harper Wilkins is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Dickinson and has been building her research program since Fall 2024. This website will be updated to share that journey. Students looking to help build the lab or get their hands on some radio telescope data should email Prof. Wilkins to introduce themselves and set up a time to chat about their research goals and interests.
Highlights
16 June 2026 – Millia, Silvia, and Dr. Wilkins present at the AAS meeting in Pasadena
Millia and Silvia presented an iPoster and Dr. Wilkins gave a talk on “Robustness of Pixel-by-Pixel Column Density and Rotational Temperature Mapping in the Orion KL Nebula” at the 248th meeting of the American Astronomical Society.
17 May 2026 – Congratulations to Boriana Yotzova, Katie Lynskey, and Evelyn Pham on graduating from Dickinson!
11 April 2026 – Millia presents at the CPC Astronomers’ Meeting at Gettysburg College
Millia presented a poster on Building a Cosmic Ice Experiment at a Small Liberal Arts College at the Central PA Consortium Annual Astronomers’ Meeting, held at Gettysburg College.
23-25 March 2026 – Boriana, Millia, and Silvia present at ACS Spring 2026
Millia and Silvia presented their poster, Building a Cosmic Ice Experiment at a Small Liberal Arts College, during the undergraduate research poster session on 23 March. Boriana presented a poster about her observational work at the PHYS poster session on 25 March.
4 February 2026 – Our latest paper on ALMA observations of Orion KL was published in ACS Earth and Space Chemistry!
The observational subgroup’s paper, “Robustness of Pixel-by-Pixel Column Density and Rotational Temperature Mapping in the Orion KL Nebula“, was published in ACS Earth and Space Chemistry! Congratulations to current and former group members Boriana Yotzova, Kylee Preller, Grace Helton, and Evelyn Pham!
22 January 2026 – Silvia Roberto ’29 joins the group!
Silvia Roberto will be working on the NASA-funded project “Laboratory Investigations of Chemical Evolution in UV-Photolyzed Cosmic Ices around Young Stars” (RIA, PI: Wilkins) along with Millia Martinez.
5 January 2026 – Dr. Wilkins presents at AAS.
Dr. Wilkins presented iPoster and oral presentations on “Building a Cosmic Ice Experiment at a Small Liberal Arts College” at the 247th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Phoenix.
4 August 2025 – The lab’s NASA RIA proposal is selected!
Dr. Wilkins’s NASA ROSES (Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences) Research Initiation Award (RIA) program was selected for the ROSES-24 cycle! The award will be used to fund equipment, research students, and conference travel for the lab.