About
Last updated: 3 November 2026
Hej, everyone! I'm Floor van Donkelaar, a computational astrophysicist and Herchel Smith Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Institute of Astronomy and Kavli Institute for Cosmology at the University of Cambridge. In 2026, I received the Edith Alice Müller Award for my PhD research at the University of Zürich.
What I study
I use high-resolution cosmological simulations to understand how star clusters and dense stellar clumps form in the early Universe, how their environments shape their evolution, and what they might become. I also study the emergence of the first galactic discs and the links between compact stellar systems, galaxy assembly, and black hole seeds.
My journey
I completed my PhD at the University of Zürich with Lucio Mayer, after studying astrophysics at Lund University and sociotechnical engineering at the University of Twente. And now you can find me in Cambridge :).
Beyond research
Outside work, you'll often find me on a rugby pitch, cycling or exploring somewhere new. I also enjoy sharing science and bringing people together. Recently, I even got to talk about galaxies and dyslexia on the BBC's The Sky at Night!