Astrophysics & Business · Leiden University

Marco
Leonardi

Bridging computational astrophysics and strategic thinking. Seeking a 6-month space sector internship in Europe.

Download CV

About

Who
I am

Currently
MSc Astronomy & Business
Leiden University
Based in
Leiden, Netherlands
Research
Galaxy rotation curves
Synthesizer project
Looking for
6-month internship
Space sector · Europe

I'm an MSc Astronomy and Business student at Leiden University, combining my passion for astrophysics with strategic business thinking. My background spans computational astrophysics, galaxy simulations, and international business development.

Having researched galaxy rotation curves and contributed to the Synthesizer project, I combine deep technical training with a grounding in business fundamentals — equally comfortable with a simulation pipeline, a market analysis or the latest astrophysics literature. I'm now looking to bring all perspectives to a hands-on role in the space sector.

Experience

What
I've done

Sep 2025
Feb 2026
Leiden University
Leiden, NL

Teaching Assistant

  • Building a new course "Exploring the Universe" for non-physics bachelor students
  • Covering lectures and problem sets for general astronomy
Sep 2024
Aug 2025
Leiden University
Leiden, NL

Research: The Galactic Waltz

Bridging the gap between observed and simulated galaxy rotation curves

  • Contributed (C/C++) to the Synthesizer project, a Python package designed to transform theoretical galaxy models into synthetic observables
  • Forward modelling and analysis of simulated rotation curves from the EAGLE simulations dataset
Jul 2019
Dec 2019
iSi GmbH
Darmstadt, DE

Sales and After-Sales

  • Managed sales for all UK customers and part of the Italian market
  • Redesigned the quotations and discount system in Google Spreadsheets and Excel
  • Analysed future expansion possibilities into more European markets
Jan 2018
Jun 2018
AWM Network
Copenhagen, DK

Communication & SEO

  • Created SEO targeted content for UK websites and blogs in HTML and CSS
  • Conducted SEO and backlink analysis for the website and competitors
  • Email marketing and mass outreach with Mail-Merge and Hunter

Education

Where
I studied

MSc

Leiden University

Aug 2024 — Present

Astronomy and Business Studies

Thesis: Bridging the gap between observed and simulated galaxy rotation curves

BSc

Aix-Marseille University

Sep 2021 — Jul 2022

Physics

Exchange Year

BSc

University of Bologna

Sep 2020 — Jul 2024

Astronomy

Thesis: Bremsstrahlung emission in galaxy clusters

BA

Copenhagen Business Academy

Aug 2016 — Jan 2020

International Sales and Marketing Management

Projects & Research

What
I've built

01

Synthesizer

Python C/C++ EAGLE

Forward modelling and analysis of simulated galaxy rotation curves from the EAGLE simulations. Contributed to the Synthesizer project to bridge observed and theoretical models.

View Code
02

Exoplanet Light Curve Analysis

Python GUI Data Analysis

Interactive lightkurve analysis tool with exoplanet surface temperature simulator and full GUI.

View Code
03

Flocking Behaviour

Python Active Matter Boids

Interactive version of the classic boids simulation by Craig Reynolds (1986).

View Code Run
04

Supernovae in Binary Systems

AMUSE Simulation Python

Simulated effects of supernovae explosions on protoplanetary disks in binary star systems using the AMUSE framework (Portegies Zwart et al.).

View Code
05

Ballistic Collisions of Galaxies

Python R Cosmology

Simulated effects of ballistic collisions of a dwarf galaxy on a Milky-Way sized galaxy using the AMUSE framework (Portegies Zwart et al.).

View Code
06

Plasma Cooling Simulation

Fortran90 Simulation Physics

Radiative cooling simulation of a collisional H-He plasma. Modelled thermal evolution and energy loss mechanisms in high-temperature environments.

View Code

Publications

Research
output

Jun 2025
arXiv
astro-ph.GA

Synthesizer: Synthetic Observables For Modern Astronomy

Contributor — open-source software paper

  • Co-authored the software paper for the Synthesizer project, a Python/C++ package for turning theoretical galaxy models into synthetic observables
  • Contributed C/C++ extensions and forward-modelling workflows for galaxy rotation curve analysis
arXiv:2506.15811

Skills & Expertise

What
I know

Programming

Python Fortran90 Javascript C/C++ LaTeX R Bash GitHub

Astrophysics

AMUSE Synthesizer TOPCAT Galaxy Simulations Data Analysis

Business

Market Analysis Marketing Planning Financial Assessment SEO Excel

Languages

Italian (Native) English Spanish French Portuguese Danish

Contact

Get in
touch

I'm always open to discussing new opportunities, collaborations, or just chatting about astrophysics and the space sector.

Currently seeking a 6-month internship in the space sector in Europe.

Email marcoleonarditredici@gmail.com GitHub marcoleonardi97 LinkedIn marco-leonardi13 ORCID 0009-0008-3592-7830 Location Leiden, Netherlands