Dr. Ilsa Cooke

Biography

Ilsa Cooke is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of British Columbia. Her research focuses on laboratory surface gas-phase experiments to unravel the formation of molecules in interstellar space, aiming to understand the chemical ingredients of life as they evolve in space and are transferred to newly forming planets. The Cooke Group conducts experiments motivated by observations of molecules in space using radio telescopes. Research areas include the role of icy dust grains in interstellar chemistry, where the interstellar medium contains microscopic dust grains made up of silicates and carbon. In cold regions of space, these dust grains are covered with ices of simple molecules and complex organic molecules, whose formation mechanisms remain a subject of investigation. The group is also involved in providing experimental support for upcoming missions, including the James Webb Space Telescope, to further study icy materials in the universe.

Research Interests

Experience