\newlength{\maxnamelen}
\newlength{\maxemlen}
\newlength{\maxinstlen}

% Use the longest name, email, and institute to get box sizes for the author list.
\newbox\tempbox
\savebox{\tempbox}{\hbox{$longest_author_name$\textsuperscript{*}}}
\setlength{\maxnamelen}{\wd\tempbox}
\savebox{\tempbox}{\hbox{\texttt{\textsmaller{$longest_email$}}}}
\setlength{\maxemlen}{\wd\tempbox}
\savebox{\tempbox}{\hbox{\textsmaller{$longest_inst_name$}}}
\setlength{\maxinstlen}{\wd\tempbox}

\author{%
  $for(author)$
  \makebox[\maxnamelen][c]{$it.name$$if(it.equalcontrib)$$if(skipequal)$$else$\textsuperscript{*}$endif$$endif$}$if(it.institute)$\\%
    $for(it.institute)$\makebox[\maxinstlen]{{\textsmaller{$it$}}}$sep$\\%
    $endfor$$endif$$if(it.email)$\\%
    \makebox[\maxemlen]{\href{mailto:$it.email$}{\texttt{\textsmaller{$it.email$}}}}$endif$%
  $sep$\vspace{1ex}\and%
  $endfor$%
}
