My main research interest is in exoplanetary science and the overarching hunt for life outside our solar system. As instrumentation has advanced since the discovery of the first exoplanet, we have begun analysing the spectra of exoplanet atmospheres. This allows the detection of different molecular species with the hopeful goal of detecting biomarkers, molecules that could only have been created by life.

Past Work

There is however a long way to go and a lot of legwork to do. My PhD work involved using the ESA's CHEOPS satellite to measure radii and effective temperatures of low-mass stars in eclipsing binaries. Low-mass stars have become popular targets as exoplanet hosts, but have frequently been observed with radii greater than those theoretical models predict for their particular mass, dubbed 'radius inflation'. If the star is measured wrong, then so will be the inferred properties of the planet orbiting it! Using CHEOPS I observed a sample of 23 low-mass stars, testing for inflation and exploring potential trends behind this radius inflation problem.

Current Work

I have now begun working with brown dwarfs, looking at another problem between observed data and theoretical predictions. The transition between L- and T-dwarfs is characterised by a sharp transition in the NIR colours from very red for late-L and early-T to very blue in the mid-Ts. Occurring over a narrow effective temperature range, it has been suggested that this is due to the dispersal or sinking of dust clouds and is accompanied by strong CO transitions weakening while CH4 transitions strengthen. I will be examining the potential role of electrical activation in this transition space, which could open up reactions that would be unavailable thermodynamically.