CLEVeR Team.
The CLEVeR Team comprises of 5 members plus visiting students and PostDocs in addition to many collaborators.
Dr. Paola Popesso
CLEVeR PI
Over the years, Dr. Popesso has broadened her research focus from large-scale structure formation to detailed galaxy evolution studies. Her work spans a wide range of scales, from megaparsec-scale gravitational processes in groups and clusters of galaxies to parsec-scale baryonic physics within galactic disks and the co-evolution of host galaxies with their central black holes. She designed and currently leads the project. Her research in CLEVeR focuses on determining the gas mass and distribution in the bulk of the virialized dark matter halos in the Universe.
Dr. Ilaria Marini
CLEVeR PostDoc
Dr. Marini is the CLEVeR PostDoc esponsible for generating mock eROSITA X-ray observations from light-cones of state-of-the-art hydrodynamical simulations. This involves: 1) Extracting synthetic galaxy groups and their hot gas properties from simulated light-cones; 2) Modeling eROSITA's instrumental effects to create realistic simulated observations. 3) Comparing mock X-ray images with real eROSITA data, testing how AGN feedback alters the X-ray appearance of galaxy groups; 4) Understanding the X-ray selection function.
Victoria Toptun
CLEVeR PhD student
Using eROSITA X-ray data, Victoria is measuring temperature, entropy and cooling timescales of the hot gas in galaxy groups and compare them to free-fall times to test the precipitation framework—a key process regulating gas condensation. Victoria will constrain for the first time the density, temperature and density profiles of low mass groups. Comparing these findings with cosmological simulations, the candidate will refine our understanding of how AGN shape galaxy evolution in group environments.
Daudi Mazengo
CLEVeR PhD student
Daudi is analysing MaNGA integral field spectroscopy data to study the stellar and ionized gas properties of central galaxies in galaxy groups. By measuring star formation rates, metallicities, and kinematics, Daudi will identify how AGN feedback and the surrounding environment influence the growth and evolution of these galaxies. Comparing MaNGA observations with X-ray and radio data, he will uncover the connection between black hole activity, gas conditions, and star formation regulation in central galaxies.
Natanael de Isidio
CLEVeR PhD student
Natan will investigate how satellite galaxies in galaxy groups lose their gas and stop forming stars by analyzing MaNGA, eROSITA, and HI surveys. By studying star formation histories, gas content, and environmental interactions, he will determine the impact of strangulation, ram-pressure stripping, and tidal forces on satellite quenching. Comparing these observations with cosmological simulations, he will refine models of how group environments transform galaxies over cosmic time.
Ajay Dev
Visiting PhD student.
Ajay is working with the CLEVeR team to understand how different optical selection methods impact the identification of galaxy groups and introduce biases in measuring their X-ray luminosities and hot gas content. By stacking galaxy groups selected through different techniques, Ajay is quantifying these uncertainties, ensuring a more accurate assessment of how hot gas properties vary across different group masses in the CLEVeR project.
Stephan Vladutescu-Zopp
Visiting PostDoc
Stephan is contributing to the CLEVeR project by providing detailed predictions on the hot gas content and distribution in Milky Way-like galaxy groups. By incorporating higher-resolution simulations, he enhances our ability to model how AGN feedback influences the circumgalactic medium (CGM) and the evolution of central galaxies. His work provides theoretical predictions that accurately capture the AGN-CGM, and star formation interplay in galaxy groups.
CLEVeR close collaborators
K. Dolag, PI of Magneticum hydro-dynamical simulation, USM, LMU, Germany
A. Merloni, eROSITA PI, MPE, Germany
E. Bulbul, Chair of eROSITA Cluster working group, MPW, Garching
V. Biffi, INAF, Triest, Italy,
A. Biviano, INAF, Triest, Italy,
L. Lovisari, INAF, Milan, Italy,
S. Ettori, INAF, Bologna, Italy,
S. Driver, 4MOST-WAVES PI, UWA, Australia
J. Liske, 4MOST-WAVES PI, Hamburg, Germany
N. Malavasi, MPE, Garching, Germany
C. Gouin, IAP, Paris, France
G. Lamer, AIP, Potsdam, Germany
J. Comparat, MPPE, Garching, Germany