Emily Pass

Emily Pass is a Torres Postdoctoral Fellow for Exoplanet Research at MIT, hosted by the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian. She earned her PhD in Astronomy & Astrophysics from Harvard University in 2024, where her thesis on exoplanets and M-dwarf stars won the Fireman Prize for outstanding observational astronomy research. Previously, she completed an MA at Harvard (2022) and a BSc in Honours Physics and Astronomy Co-op from the University of Waterloo (2019).

Her research focuses on exoplanets orbiting M-dwarf stars and stellar activity in fully convective stars. Key areas include:

• Stellar spindown and magnetic activity in low-mass M dwarfs
• Atmospheric retention challenges for rocky exoplanets
• Detection of Jupiter analogs around small stars
• Development of metallicity calibration techniques for M dwarfs
• Exoplanet satellite (exomoon) searches with JWST

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on observational exoplanet science using ground-based (Magellan, Gemini) and space-based (HST, JWST, TESS) facilities. Her work bridges stellar astrophysics and planetary science, with recurring themes of M-dwarf activity evolution, exoplanet demographics, and instrumentation development for next-generation telescopes like CASTOR.

Major awards include:

• Fireman Prize (Harvard, 2024)
• Rodger Doxsey Travel Prize (AAS, 2024)
• Canada Graduate Scholarship (NSERC, 2021-2024)
• National Co-op Student of the Year (Canada, 2018)

Pass actively mentors undergraduate researchers (currently advising two at MIT) and leads significant observing programs including JWST Cycle 3 (22.5 hours), Gemini North/MAROON-X (28.8 hours), and Magellan Clay/WINERED (4 nights). She serves as an organizer for the Boston Area Planetary Science Meeting and referees for major astronomy journals. Her outreach includes science communication through Science in the News and public talks at film festivals and summer camps.