Professional Appointments
Since 01/01/2025
Assistant Professor, Dartmouth College, USA
Visiting professor and 2025-27 fellow at Observatoire de Paris & Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL)
I specialize in high-energy astrophysics, focusing on plasma processes in extreme magnetized environments like magnetars, black holes, and accretion flows. Using theoretical frameworks and high-performance computing, I investigate plasma origins near neutron stars and mechanisms behind radio/X-ray bursts during magnetospheric instabilities. Drawing from planetary magnetosphere observations, I develop non-linear models to understand how electromagnetic energy transforms into observable signals. I combine expertise in scientific code development with a commitment to fostering effective communication and inclusive collaboration within research teams.
Computing: Active participation in developing scientific codes (particle-in-cell, force-free and multi-fluid electrodynamics). Parallelization of the GPU-accelerated particle-in-cell code entity. Supervising large-scale computer simulations, for example on Frontera (TACC), Pleiades (NASA), and MareNostrum (RES).
Reporting: Peer reviewer for Nature Astronomy, the Astrophysical Journal (Letters) of the American Astronomical Society, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (Letters), Journal of Plasma Physics, Journal of High Energy Astrophysics, and Science Bulletin. Panel reviewer for several public science funding bodies.
09/01/2023 – 12/31/2024
THEA Fellow, Columbia University, USA
Visiting scholar at Dartmouth College’s Department of Physics & Astronomy.
I used theory and advanced computational tools (force-free electrodynamics, particle-in-cell, multi-fluid MHD) to explain extreme astronomical transients, including magnetar persistent emission and fast radio bursts. In a landmark project, we studied magnetic energy dissipation in binary neutron stars to improve limits on gamma-ray emission and explore the possibility of radio precursors to gravitational wave signals.
Community: Mentoring both undergraduate and graduate students, supervising student-lead research projects in different phases (including publication). Participation in postdoc application training sessions for graduate students.
09/01/2020 – 08/31/2023
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Princeton University, USA
Visiting researcher at Center for Computational Astrophysics, Simons Foundation.
Community: Organization of the Princeton ’Astroplasmas’ seminar for two consecutive years. Organizing committee of a PCTS/PGI workshop on next-generation plasma modeling (April 2023). Mentoring undergraduate students and undergraduate student project supervision
Education
09/01/2016 –
07/28/2020
Doctoral, Universitat de València, Spain, International Ph.D. in Physics
Fellow of the German Academic Scholarship Foundation. Ph.D. thesis Dynamics in the Magnetospheres of Compact Objects supervised by Miguel A. Aloy and Pablo Cerdá-Durán (distinction Cum Laude). Collaboration with Amir Levinson at Tel Aviv University.
10/01/2011 –
05/04/2016
Undergraduate, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Germany, M.Sc. Physics
Focus on theoretical and computational astrophysics (GPA 3.9 with honors). Master’s thesis Alternate Polarity Perturbations to the Blandford/Znajek Process supervised by Miguel A. Aloy at the Universitat de València (grade A). Exchange semester (fall 2014) at Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN, USA) with a focus on astrophysics and elementary particles. Bachelor thesis Definition and Comparison of Quasilocal Mass in General Relativity supervised by Domenico Giulini (GPA 3.9).
Awards and Research Grants (Selection)
09/01/2025 – 08/31/2028
Research grant, National Science Foundation (NSF), USA
NSF grant AST-2508744 ‘Plasma Dynamics in Radiation-Rich Magnetar Magnetospheres: Implications for Multi-Wavelength Emission’
09/01/2024 – 08/31/2025
Supercomputing resources, Frontier (ORNL), USA
Director’s Discretional Allocation on the Frontier supercomputer
03/01/2019 –
02/28/2023
Supercomputing resources, MareNostrum4 (RES), Barcelona
Allocation of 18.800.000 CPU hours on the MareNostrum4 supercomputer
11/01/2016 –
10/31/2019
Research funding, Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes, Bonn
Ph.D. grant of the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes
06/30/2019 –
07/05/2019
Young Researcher Invitation, Nobel Laureate Meeting 2019, Lindau
Nomination and funding by the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes
07/09/2019
Conference Award, GR22, Valencia
James B. Hartle award for the best student presentation
11/18/2016
Distinction of excellence, Leibniz University, Hannover
10/01/2014 –
05/04/2016
Graduate grant, Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes, Bonn
Scholar of the Studienstiftung, funding of a semester at Purdue University (USA)
10/01/2010 –
07/24/2014
Undergraduate grant, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), Bonn
Scholar of the KAS and speaker of Hannover’s group of KAS scholars
Extra Academic Experiences and Service (Selection)
11/02/2022 –
11/06/2022
Conflict Mediator Certification, Center for Understanding Conflict
Working Creatively with Conflict: 40 Hour Basic Mediation and Conflict Resolution Training
02/27/2022 –
07/05/2022
Leadership Certificate, Cornell University
Certification in Psychology of Leadership
01/15/2015 –
03/15/2015
Internship, The Boston Consulting Group, Düsseldorf
Project experience as Visiting Associate and grant of the Fast-Forward program
07/01/2010 –
12/31/2010
Military Service, German Federal Armed Forces, Hannover
Staff duty for the infrastructure division of northern Germany
Teaching and Outreach
Fall 2025
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Dartmouth College, USA
PHYS 3 (120 students): General Physics I lecture
06/23/2025
Relativistic Astrophysics Summer School, Caltech, USA
Three hour introductory lecture on pulsar magnetosphere (75 students)
Spring 2025
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Dartmouth College, USA
ASTR 75 (6 students): High-energy Astrophysics, newly designed lecture
03/08/2025
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Dartmouth College, USA
Pupolar Science: Dancing with the Neutron Stars – It’s Electric and Dynamic
11/15/2024
Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Columbia University, USA
Undergraduate lecture (30 students): The extreme physics of magnetars
10/11/2023
Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Columbia University, USA
Undergraduate lecture (30 students): Fast Radio Bursts
10/09/2023
Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Columbia University, USA
Undergraduate lecture (30 students): The X-ray universe
07/19/2022
Interview for Sky&Telescope magazine, Popular science
Radio ’heartbeat’ teases fast radio burst origins
07/08/2022
Featured article in AAS Nova, Popular science
Could Magnetic Reconnection Cause Fast Radio Bursts?
07/06/2022 –
07/20/2022
Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University, USA
Lecturing in the undergraduate summer program (20 students): Fast radio bursts, finite volume methods
09/01/2021 –
01/31/2022
Prison Teaching Initiative, Princeton University, USA
Volunteering as an instructor for the STEP program of the NJDOC
03/31/2013 –
03/31/2016
Institute of Theoretical Physics, Leibniz Universität, Hannover
Teaching assistant: Analytical mechanics, special relativity, theoretical electrodynamics, quantum theory, theoretical electrodynamics, and mathematical techniques
01/01/2011 –
07/31/2011
CJD Christophorusschule Elze, CJD Internat, Elze
Mentoring boarding students
Professional Dissemination
10/16/2025
Boston University, Seminar talk
Next-Generation Realism in Extreme Astrophysical Plasma Simulations
09/27/2025
University of New Hampshire, Colloquium talk
Extreme plasma processes around compact objects
07/28/2025 – 08/15/2025
KITP workshop on Extreme Plasma (Astro)Physics
Three week residence in KITP program at UCSB.
07/07/2025 –
07/11/2025
FRB 2025 Conference, Attendee
Networking and collaboration on observationally focused conference.
06/06/2025
New England Space Science Consortium, Contributed talk
Astrophysical Plasmas on the Exascale
04/14/2025
Dartmouth College, Contributed journal-club talk
Recent observations of radio transients, from stellar binaries to FRBs
04/09/2025
CDY Institute, Invited talk, The Extreme Non-Thermal Universe: CDHY Initiative
Extreme plasma processes around compact objects
03/28/2025
Perimeter Institute, Invited talk, Workshop
Modeling X-ray emission in radiation-rich magnetar magnetospheres
03/24/2025
CITA/Toronto University, Invited talk, Seminar
Extreme plasma processes around compact objects
03/04/2025
SIAM Conference, Invited Talk, Mini-Symposium
Astrophysical Plasmas on the Exascale
02/27/2025
SCEECS Annual Meeting, Poster, Flatiron Institute
Modeling X-ray emission in radiation-rich magnetar magnetospheres
02/26/2025
Astrophysics Postdoc Colloquium, Invited Talk, Columbia University
Extreme plasma processes around compact objects
01/23/2025
SCEECS Collaboration, Invited talk, Seminar
Electrodynamics and dissipation in the binary magnetosphere of pre-merger neutron stars
10/08/2024
APS conference 2024, Talk, Division of Plasma Physics
Modeling X-ray emission in radiation-rich magnetar magnetospheres
09/18/2024
Munich Institute for Astro-, Particle and BioPhysics, Invited talk, High-energy plasma Workshop 2024
Magnetospheric Interactions in Pre-merger Binary Neutron Stars
09/11/2024
Munich Institute for Astro-, Particle and BioPhysics, Invited talk, High-energy plasma Workshop 2024
The plasma supply of magnetar magnetospheres
06/05/2024
European Space Agency, Contributed talk, XMM-Newton Workshop 2024
Numerical study of X-ray emission in the radiation-rich environment of magnetar magnetospheres
05/06/2024
Purdue University, Invited talk, High energy astroplasma workshop
Radiation from Fundamental Plasma Processes in Relativistic Magnetospheres
02/23/2024
Columbia University, Invited talk, THEA Seminar
How ultra-magnetized Kelvin-Helmholtz drag impacts precursor emission in neutron star binaries
02/02/2024
Dartmouth College, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Colloquium
How magnetars erupt in electromagnetic fireworks
02/01/2024
Dartmouth College, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Invited talk
Fundamental plasma processes in the extreme magnetospheres of binary neutron stars
01/25/2024
Flatiron Institute, Center for Computational Astrophysics (CCA), Invited talk
Ultra-magnetized Kelvin-Helmholtz drag in pulsar binaries
12/18/2023
Beijing Tsinghua University, Seminar, Invited talk
Electromagnetic fireworks from erupting magnetars
12/13/2023
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Texas Symposium 2023, Contributed talk
Electromagnetic fireworks from erupting magnetars
10/25/2023
Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris, HEPRO meeting 2023, Contributed talk
Magnetar Eruptions and Electromagnetic Fireworks
09/11/2023
Flatiron Institute, Center for Computational Astrophysics (CCA), Workshop: Fast Radio Bursts II, Invited talk
Radio emission from reconnection
04/20/2023
Perimeter Institute, Strong Gravity Seminar, Invited talk
Magnetar eruptions and electromagnetic fireworks
04/17/2023
Flatiron Institute, Center for Computational Astrophysics (CCA), Invited talk
Magnetar eruptions and electromagnetic fireworks
03/27/2023
American Astronomical Society, High Energy Astrophysics Division (HEAD), Contributed talk
Magnetar eruptions and electromagnetic fireworks
03/07/2023
Princeton University, Bahcall Lunch, Invited talk
Magnetar eruptions and electromagnetic fireworks
02/28/2023
George Washington University, Invited talk
Magnetar eruptions and electromagnetic fireworks
12/16/2022
University of Chicago, Invited talk
3D dynamics of magnetar magnetospheres: Kinked fluxtubes and global eruptions
11/30/2022
Institute of Advanced Study, Invited talk
3D dynamics of magnetar magnetospheres: Kinked fluxtubes and global eruptions
10/23/2022
IRCC-AFP Workshop 2022, Invited talk
3D dynamics of magnetar magnetospheres: Kinked fluxtubes and global eruptions
09/30/2022
APS conference 2022, Talk, Division of Plasma Physics
3D dynamics of magnetar magnetospheres: Kinked fluxtubes and global eruptions
10/19/2022
University of Maryland, Invited Discussion, Department of Physics
FRB generation in the outer magnetar magnetosphere
06/27/2022 –
07/01/2022
European Astronomical Society meeting, Poster
Kinking fluxtubes in the magnetar magnetosphere
06/27/2022 –
07/01/2022
European Astronomical Society meeting, Poster
Electromagnetic fireworks: Fast radio bursts from rapid reconnection in the compressed magnetar wind
06/10/2022
University of Valencia, Invited talk, Departamento de Astronomía y Astrofísica
Magnetar eruptions and electromagnetic fireworks
06/02/2022
IPAG at Université Grenoble Alpes, Invited talk
Magnetar eruptions and electromagnetic fireworks
05/09/2022 –
05/09/2022
Purdue Workshop on Relativistic Plasma Astrophysics, Talk
Electromagnetic Fireworks: Fast radio bursts from rapid reconnection in the compressed magnetar wind
04/22/2022
Columbia University, Invited talk, THEA Seminar
Electromagnetic Fireworks: Fast radio bursts from rapid reconnection in the compressed magnetar wind
03/14/2022
Institute of Advanced Study, Invited talk
Electromagnetic Fireworks: Fast radio bursts from rapid reconnection in the compressed magnetar wind
01/18/2022 –
02/28/2022
Flatiron Institute, Invited talks, Center for Computational Astrophysics
Joint lecture series about Magnetar phenomena with Yajie Yuan
12/13/2021
Flatiron Institute, Invited talk, Center for Computational Astrophysics
Collisions of relativistic Alfvén waves: Sources of weak turbulence, current sheets, and efficient mode conversion
09/24/2021
Princeton University, Invited talk, Department of Astrophysical Sciences
Electromagnetic Fireworks: Fast radio bursts from rapid reconnection in the compressed magnetar wind
11/08/2021 –
11/12/2021
APS conference 2021, Talk, Division of Plasma Physics
Collisions of relativistic Alfvén waves as sources of weak turbulence, current sheets, and efficient mode conversion
Jens Mahlmann 