My research

My research career thus far spans a variety of astrophysical topics (exoplanet atmospheres, brown dwarf atmospheres, radial velocity followup and far-UV observations). I have worked on the characterisation of exoplanet, atmospheres and brown dwarf atmospheres. I have also discovered brown dwarfes using the radial velocity method.

More recently I have been interested in analysing the composition of the beta Pic debris disk. Together with colleagues I detected hydrogen and nitrogen for the first time in any debris disk. I am also very interested in the exocomets in the beta Pic system and their similarities with solar system comets.

A large part of my work time is devoted to my responsibilities associated with the scientific preparation of the upcoming PLATO mission which is the only mission which will be capable of detecting true Earth analogues. I am a member of the PLATO Science Management (PSM) Office and I am also the leader of the PSM work package "Detection of Single and Unusual Transit Events" and the PLATO Data Center work package "L1/PSM interface".

Image credits:
ESO/L. Calcada, ESA