Profile · Science & education
Dr. María Fernanda Nieva
Science–education transfer · Founder of MINT-BRUCK
International astrophysics: precision spectroscopy, cosmic abundances and scientific peer review. Since 2019, Dr Nieva has worked in education for children and young people. Most recently, she spent one year in a primary school and one year in teacher education at Pädagogische Hochschule Tirol – two intensive years of bringing scientific experience into educational practice.
Innsbruck, Austria · mf.nieva@mint-bruck.at
Research institutions
- AustriaUniversity of Innsbruck
- GermanyMax Planck Institute for Astrophysics · University of Erlangen–Nuremberg
- SpainInstituto de Astrofísica de Canarias
- BrazilObservatório Nacional, Rio de Janeiro
- ArgentinaUniversidad Nacional de Tucumán
International evaluation
- Hubble Space Telescope · USA · 2020. Appointed by the European Space Agency (ESA) to review observing-time proposals on the stellar-physics panel, Cycle 28.
- European Southern Observatory (ESO) · Germany · 2017. Member of the Observing Programmes Committee reviewing observing proposals, Period 100.
- ANPCyT · Argentina · 2015–2018. External reviewer of research proposals for PICT (Proyectos de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica), the scientific and technological research projects programme.
- F.R.S.-FNRS · Belgium · 2019 call. External reviewer of research proposals for the Fund for Scientific Research.
Funding & leadership
Five competitive fellowships funded independent research projects:
- 2015–2017 · Austrian Science Fund (FWF) · Austria. Lise Meitner fellowship, University of Innsbruck · Project M1868 ↗
- 2011–2013 · University of Erlangen–Nuremberg · Germany. Women in Research and Teaching (FFL).
- 2008–2011 · Max Planck Society · Germany. Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics.
- 2004–2007 · German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) · Germany. Doctoral fellowship.
- 2002–2004 · National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) · Brazil. Doctoral fellowship.
Four observing programmes awarded as Principal Investigator (PI).
Two submitted Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship proposals (EU/Horizon): grade A; not funded.
Transfer into education
University College of Teacher Education Tyrol, Austria · 2025–2026. Designed and taught five primary-teacher education courses in mathematics didactics, competency-oriented tasks and reflective observation.
Volksschule Innere Stadt · Innsbruck, Austria · 2024–2025. Mathematics and science in primary-school enrichment education; learning support and collaboration with teachers and families.
For MINT-BRUCK, this experience connects scientific evidence with educational practice, and questions from practice with research and development.
Research & publications
Co-developed the present-day cosmic abundance standard. Nieva & Przybilla · Astronomy & Astrophysics (2012) ↗
Scientific contributions · 2001–2022
| Year | City · country |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Stockholm, Sweden |
| 2016 | Auckland, New Zealand · Tenerife, Spain · Garching, Germany · Innsbruck, Austria · Córdoba and Salta, Argentina |
| 2015 | Brussels, Belgium |
| 2014 | Geneva, Switzerland |
| 2013 | Leuven, Belgium · Moscow, Russia* |
| 2012 | Heidelberg, Germany · Puerto de la Cruz, Spain · Beijing, China* |
| 2011 | Garching and Potsdam, Germany |
| 2010 | Paris, France · Heidelberg and Schloss Ringberg, Germany |
| 2009 | Bad Honnef, Germany |
| 2008 | Garching, Germany · Geneva, Switzerland · Pasadena and Flagstaff, USA · Vienna, Austria |
| 2006 | Aveiro, Portugal · Garching, Germany · Cariló, Argentina |
| 2004 | Bamberg, Germany |
| 2003 | Angra dos Reis, Brazil |
| 2001 | Córdoba, Argentina |
* A colleague presented the contributions in Beijing and Moscow on her behalf; maternity-related circumstances prevented her attendance.
PhD in Astrophysics · 2007 · Cotutelle research in Germany and Brazil.
Languages: German · English · Spanish · Portuguese · French