Astrophysics Research Group

University of Groningen — Kapteyn Astronomical Institute

Studying the physics of gas flows in and out of galaxies.

Research Focus

Our work spans theoretical modelling, numerical simulation, and observational analysis of gas dynamics in a wide range of galactic environments.

Circumgalactic Medium

Modelling the multiphase gas flows in the halos of galaxies, including accretion, feedback-driven outflows, and the baryon cycle.

Gas accretion

Simulating and measuring galactic fountain-driven accretion. Precise radial flows measurements, and their impact in galaxies.

Galactic Winds

Investigating how active galactic nuclei and stellar winds drive large-scale gas outflows, quench star formation, and enrich the intergalactic medium with metals.

Selected Publications

Recent Work

2026

The impact of hot mode accretion and angular momentum conservation on metallicity gradients of galactic discs

Jennifer K. S. Friske, Filippo Fraternali, and Gabriele Pezzulli

Submitted to Astronomy & Astrophysics.

2026

An evolutionary model of the Milky Way’s hot circumgalactic medium

Sten K. Sipma, Filippo Fraternali, Kate H. R. Rubin, Federico Marinacci

Submitted to the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Our Group

Prof. dr. Filippo Fraternali

Principal Investigator

Dr. Jennifer Friske

Postdoctoral Researcher
Galaxy evolution, chemical evolution models

Dr. Gaoxiang Jin

Postdoctoral Researcher
Galaxy evolution, Active Galactic Nuclei

Sten Sipma

PhD Candidate
Dynamics of the Circum-galactic medium

Anna Esselink

PhD Candidate
Formation and role of spiral arms in galaxy discs

Francisco Urbina Jiménez

PhD Candidate
Unveiling Gas Accretion onto Galaxies

June Tutterow

PhD Candidate
Modelling & Observing Galactic Winds

Yi (Linn) He

PhD Candidate
Kinematics of local and high-z galaxies

Workshops

26–30 Oct 2026

Everything FLOWS: from cosmic infall to galactic fountains

Workshop on gas flows in and out of galaxies, held at the Zernike Campus in Groningen.

Workshop details →