Rory Barnes

Rory Barnes is an Associate Professor in the Department of Astronomy at the University of Washington, affiliated with the College of Arts & Sciences. He is a theorist focused on the formation and evolution of habitable planets, particularly those in the habitable zones of low-mass stars. His research explores how planetary composition, orbital oscillations, and tidal processes influence habitability.

His work also includes studying orbital dynamics of giant exoplanets, demonstrating that many multi-planet systems are densely packed. He is the editor of the book Formation and Evolution of Exoplanets (Wiley-VCH) and collaborates with initiatives such as the Virtual Planetary Laboratory, Astrobiology Program, SDSS-III MARVELS, APOSTLE survey, and the N-Body Shop.

Rory’s affiliations include the UW Department of Astronomy and multiple interdisciplinary projects. His research bridges astrophysics, planetary science, and astrobiology.