Tommy Chi Ho Lau?

Currently a postdoc in Diana Powell's group at UChicago

How I started astrophysics

I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) with a double major in Physics and Geology, where I conducted research on orbital dynamics. I then stayed at HKU for an MPhil, focusing on planet formation models with the Solar System in mind. For my PhD in Munich, I integrated dust evolution into disk models to investigate the timing and location of planetesimal formation. In January 2025, I joined the University of Chicago as a postdoctoral researcher, where I continue to develop theories and models of planet formation.

Research interests and publications

Unified planet formation model

Formation of multiple dynamical classes in the Kuiper belt via disk dissipation - Animations
TCH Lau, T Birnstiel, SM Stammler, J Drążkowska (2025) ApJ
Planetesimal formation in a pressure bump induced by infall
H Zhao, TCH Lau, T Birnstiel, SM Stammler, J Drążkowska (2025) A&A
Sequential giant planet formation initiated by disc substructure - Press release - Animations
TCH Lau, T Birnstiel, J Drążkowska, SM Stammler (2024) A&A
Rapid formation of massive planetary cores in a pressure bump - A&A Award for Outstanding PhD Article 2026
TCH Lau, J Drążkowska, SM Stammler, T Birnstiel, CP Dullemon (2022) A&A

Dynamical planet formation models

Giant planet formation in the solar system
A Raorane, R Brasser, S Matsumura, TCH Lau, MH Lee, A Bouvier (2024) Icarus
Can the giant planets of the Solar System form via pebble accretion in a smooth protoplanetary disc?
TCH Lau, MH Lee, R Brasser, S Matsumura (2024) A&A

N-body code

Parallelization of the Symplectic Massive Body Algorithm (SyMBA) N-body Code - GitHub repo
TCH Lau, MH Lee (2023) RNAAS

Other works

A tension between dust and gas radii: The role of substructures and external photoevaporation in protoplanetary disks
L Delussu, R Anania, T Birnstiel, C Toci, G Rosotti, SM Stammler, TCH Lau, A Miotello (2026) A&A