About me

I am a theoretical astrophysicist based in the University of Heidelberg, Germany. My main interest is in stellar and black hole dynamics in star clusters, and the formation of dormant star-black hole binaries and gravitational waves from binary black hole mergers. My goal for the next years is to develop models for the population of these dormant star-black hole binaries, in preparation for the next Gaia data release and results from other massive surveys. Furthermore, I want to keep working on modelling the dynamical formation of binary black hole mergers in star clusters. This will help us understand the production of eccentric gravitational waves and the seeding and growth of intermediate-mass black holes.

What I'm doing

  • Cluster dynamics

    Simulating the internal dynamics of star clusters.

  • High performance computing

    Development of numerical methods to simulate stellar and cluster evolutions.

  • Star-black hole binaries

    Formation of dormant star-black hole binaries.

  • Binary black hole mergers

    Gravitational waves from binary black hole mergers.

Career

Work experience

  1. DFG Postdoctoral Fellow

    Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Heidelberg

    Heidelberg, Germany (2025 - 2028 [ongoing])

  2. FPI Predoctoral Fellow

    Institute of Cosmos Sciences, University of Barcelona

    Barcelona, Spain (2021 - 2025)

  3. Gaia DPAC Postgraduate Researcher

    Technological Unit, Institute of Cosmos Sciences, University of Barcelona

    Barcelona, Spain (2019 - 2021)

Education

  1. PhD Cum Laude in Astronomy and Astrophysics

    Institute of Cosmos Sciences, University of Barcelona

    Barcelona, Spain (2021 - 2025)
    • Thesis title: "Black hole dynamics in star clusters: Eccentric mergers and star-black hole binaries"
    • Grade: Excellent Cum Laude (maximum possible grade)
    • Advisor: Prof. Mark Gieles

  2. Master in Astrophysics, Particle Physics and Cosmology

    University of Barcelona

    Barcelona, Spain (2019 - 2020)
    • Master's thesis title: "Event horizon in a compact binary coalescence"
    • Advisor: Prof. Roberto Emparan

  3. Bachelor in Physics

    University of Barcelona NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology (2018)

    Barcelona, Spain (2015 - 2019)

Scientific work

  • Papers

    1. Interactions among binary black holes in star clusters: Eccentric gravitational wave captures and triple formation

      Daniel Marín Pina, Mark Gieles, Tomas Andrade, et al.

      Astronomy and Astrophysics (2025)

    2. Binary-single interactions with different mass ratios: Implications for gravitational waves from globular clusters

      Bruno Rando Forastier, Daniel Marín Pina, Mark Gieles, et al.

      Astronomy and Astrophysics (2025)

    3. Dynamical formation of Gaia BH3 in the progenitor globular cluster of the ED-2 stream

      Daniel Marín Pina, Sara Rastello, Mark Gieles, et al.

      Astronomy and Astrophysics (2024)

    4. Demographics of three-body binary black holes in star clusters: implications for gravitational waves

      Daniel Marín Pina, Mark Gieles

      Monthly Notices of the RAS (2024)

    5. Event horizon of a charged black hole binary merger

      Daniel Marín Pina, Marta Orselli, Daniele Pica

      Physical Review D (2022)

    6. Precursory collapse in neutron star-black hole mergers

      Roberto Emparan, Daniel Marín Pina

      Physical Review D (2020)

  • Awards and honors

    1. PhD Thesis Cum Laude

      Black hole dynamics in star clusters: Eccentric mergers and star-black hole binaries

      University of Barcelona (2025)

    2. Best Poster Presentation

      Two in a million: The interplay between binaries and star clusters

      ESO Garching, Germany (2023)

    3. Best Master's Thesis

      Event horizon in a compact binary coalescence

      University of Barcelona (2020)

  • Teaching and advising

    1. Coadvising Master student Bruno Rando Forastier

      Universitat de Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain; 2023-2024)

    2. Coadvising Bachelor student Clàudia Garcia Diago

      Universitat de Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain; 2024-2025)

    3. Algebra and lineal geometry

      Teaching assistant (12h)
      Universitat de Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain; 2024-2025)

    4. Algebra and lineal geometry

      Teaching assistant (12h)
      Universitat de Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain; 2023-2024)

    5. Algebra and lineal geometry

      Teaching assistant (30h)
      Universitat de Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain; 2022-2023)

    6. Calculus I

      Teaching assistant (15h)
      Universitat de Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain; 2021-2022)

  • Talks

    1. Invited seminar: "The dynamical origin of Gaia BH3"

      MPIA Galaxy Coffee

      Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (Heidelberg, Germany; December 11, 2025)

    2. Contributed talk: "The formation of Gaia BH3"

      The Lifecycle of Stellar Black Holes

      Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics (Santa Barbara, USA; November 18, 2025)

    3. Seminar: "The dynamical origin of Gaia BH3"

      STRAND Theory Meeting

      University of California San Diego (San Diego, USA (online due to transportation issues); December 6, 2025)

    4. Contributed talk: "The dynamical origin of Gaia BH3"

      IAU Symposium 398/MODEST-25: Compact Stars and Binaries in Dense Star Clusters

      Seoul National University (Seoul, South Korea; June 15–20, 2025)

    5. Contributed talk: "The dynamical origin of Gaia BH3"

      IAU Symposium 398/MODEST-25: Compact Stars and Binaries in Dense Star Clusters

      Seoul National University (Seoul, South Korea; June 15–20, 2025)

    6. Contributed talk: "The dynamical origin of Gaia BH3"

      MODEST-25SPZ: Advanced Simulations and Modeling in Astrophysics

      Academiehuis Zwolle (Zwolle, the Netherlands; May 19–23, 2025)

    7. Invited seminar: "Interactions among binary black holes in star clusters"

      Cardiff Astro Seminar series

      Cardiff University (Cardiff, United Kingdom; January 22, 2025)

    8. Contributed talk: "BBH-BBH interactions: eccentric gravitational wave captures and triple formation"

      New ideas on the origin of black hole mergers

      Niels Bohr International Academy (Copenhagen, Denmark; August 12–16, 2024)

    9. Contributed talk: "Where do gravitational waves with non-negligible eccentricity come from?"

      Cross-Collserola PhD Meeting in Astrophysics, Cosmology and Particles 2023

      Institute of Cosmos Sciences (Barcelona, Spain; October 6, 2023)

    10. Contributed talk: "Dynamical BBH formation and disruption: Implications for gravitational waves"

      MODEST-23: Star clusters in the post-pandemic era

      Northwestern University, CIERA (Evanston, USA; August 28-September 1, 2023)

    11. Contributed talk: "The demographics of dynamically-formed BBHs in star clusters"

      Nordic Winter School on Gravitational Astrophysics

      Niels Bohr International Academy (Skeikampen, Norway; January 29-February 3, 2023)

    12. Contributed talk: "Black hole mergers from star clusters"

      IEEC Forum

      Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (Barcelona, Spain; June 2, 2022)

    13. Invited talk: "Black hole mergers from star clusters"

      ICCUB Winter Meeting

      Institute of Cosmos Sciences (Barcelona, Spain; February 7-8, 2022)

  • Outreach

    1. Passeig virtual per la galàxia

      Outreach activity for kids

      Centre cívic Vil·la Urània (Barcelona, Spain; May 26, 2025)

    2. Passeig virtual per la galàxia

      Outreach activity for kids

      Centre cívic Vil·la Urània (Barcelona, Spain; May 14, 2025)

    3. Interview #MotorDeLaRecerca

      Instagram interview

      @ubdivulga (Barcelona, Spain; April 29, 2025)

    4. Universitat de l'Experiència — L'Univers com un tot: L'univers en contínua expansió I, II, III

      Outreach lecture series for senior citizens (6h)

      Universitat de Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain; April 1, 8 and 22, 2025)

    5. Telenotícies - Gran alineament dels planetes

      TV interview

      TV3 - National Catalan TV (Barcelona, Spain; February 28, 2025)

    6. Universitat de l'Experiència — L'Univers com un tot: L'univers en contínua expansió I, II, III

      Outreach lecture series for senior citizens (6h)

      Universitat de Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain; April 2, 16 and 18, 2024)

    7. Experiments de Física 2024

      Outreach lecture for high school students (8h)

      Universitat de Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain; January 23 and 31, 2024)

    8. L’Univers és ple de colors: l’astrofísica a través de múltiples mirades

      Outreach lecture series

      Biblioteca Gabriel García Márquez (Barcelona, Spain; September 26, 2023)

    9. Il·luminem els forats negres: iniciació a l'astrofísica i la gravitació

      Outreach lecture series (12h)

      Centre Cívic Casa Golferichs (Barcelona, Spain; April 27-June 29, 2023)

    10. Constel·lacions en 3D

      Outreach activity for kids

      Biblioteca Municipal de Bellavista (Les Franqueses del Vallès, Spain; February 4, 2023)

    11. Forats negres amb Dani Marín

      Radio interview

      La Caravana de Ràdio Estel (Barcelona, Spain; February 1, 2023)

    12. Experiments de Física 2023

      Outreach lecture for high school students (8h)

      Universitat de Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain; January 23 and 25, 2023)

    13. Apadrina un doctorand Roast Battle (Encontres tercer cicle)

      Outreach lecture for undergraduate students

      Universitat de Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain; November 15, 2022)

    14. Constel·lacions en 3D

      Outreach activity for kids

      15a festa de la ciència (Barcelona, Spain; May 29, 2022)

    15. Il·luminem els forats negres: iniciació a l'astrofísica i la gravitació

      Outreach lecture series (12h)

      Centre Cívic Casa Golferichs (Barcelona, Spain; April 28-June 16, 2022)

    16. Mirem la lluna des de la plaça de la palmera

      Astronomical observation

      Pla d’Acció Comunitària de la Verneda i la Pau – Associació ÀGORA, Institut de Ciències del Cosmos de la Universitat de Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain; June 10, 2022)

    17. Desenvolupament de la carrera professional

      Round table

      IEEC Forum 2022 (Barcelona, Spain; June 2, 2022)

  • Conferences

    1. Stellar-Mass Black Holes at the Nexus of Optical, X-ray, and Gravitational Wave Surveys

      Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics

      Santa Barbara, California, USA (November 3-December 4, 2025)

    2. The Lifecycle of Stellar Black Holes

      Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics

      Santa Barbara, California, USA (November 17-20, 2025)

    3. IAU Symposium 398/MODEST-25: Compact Stars and Binaries in Dense Star Clusters

      Seoul National University

      Seoul, South Korea (June 15–20, 2025)

    4. MODEST-25SPZ: Advanced Simulations and Modeling in Astrophysics

      Academiehuis Zwolle

      Zwolle, the Netherlands (May 19–23, 2025)

    5. Challenges and future perspectives in gravitational- wave astronomy: O4 and beyond

      Lorentz Center

      Leiden, the Netherlands (October 14–18, 2024)

    6. New ideas on the origin of black hole mergers

      Niels Bohr Institute

      Copenhagen, Denmark (August 12–16, 2024)

    7. Two in a million: The interplay between binaries and star clusters

      European Southern Observatory (ESO)

      ESO Garching, Germany (September 11-15, 2023)

    8. MODEST-23: Star clusters in the post-pandemic era

      Northwestern University, CIERA

      Evanston, USA (August 28-September 1, 2023)

    9. XV Scientific Meeting

      Spanish Astronomical Society (SEA)

      Tenerife, Spain (September 5-9, 2022)

  • Schools

    1. Nordic Winter School on Gravitational Astrophysics

      Niels Bohr International Academy

      Skeikampen, Norway (January 29-February 3, 2023)

    2. Workshop on Gravitational Wave Modelling

      University of Barcelona

      Barcelona, Spain (October 10-11, 2022)

    3. Gravitational Wave Open Data Workshop

      University of Heidelberg

      Heidelberg, Germany (Online) (May 23-25, 2022)

    4. N-Body Simulation Lecture

      University of Heidelberg

      Heidelberg, Germany (Online) (September 27-29, 2021)

    5. Summer School on Gravitational Wave Astrophysics

      Niels Bohr International Academy (NBIA)

      Copenhagen, Denmark (Online due to COVID) (August 2-6, 2021)

    6. Summer School on Gravitational Waves 2021

      International School on AstroParticle Physics (ISAPP)

      Paris, France (Online due to COVID) (June 7-17, 2021)

    7. GWADW2021 Gravitational Wave Advanced Detector Workshop

      National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN)

      Rome, Italy (Online due to COVID) (May 17-21, 2021)