The AAS awards Dr. Karin I. Öberg the Pierce Prize for her research on the astrochemistry and astrophysics of ices and molecules in star-forming regions and proto-planetary disks. The panel recognizes Dr. Öberg’s scientific leadership in her ability to identify important, well-defined, and tractable problems, yielding fundamental advances in the field of star and planet formation. Dr. Öberg’s combination of experimental work matched to focused millimeter observations and comparison simulations provides novel insight into the details of chemical processes taking place in planet-forming circumstellar disks. The resulting implications for star- and planet-formation chemistry, and in particular evidence for the ubiquity of complex organic chemistry, have a significant impact across astrophysics, astrochemistry, and astrobiology.

The Pierce Prize is awarded annually for outstanding achievement over the past five years in observational astronomical research based on measurements of radiation from astronomical objects. It is given to an astronomer who has not attained 36 years of age in the year designated for the award. The prize includes a cash award and an invitation to give a plenary talk at an AAS meeting (with travel expenses paid by the Society).