Zachory Berta-Thompson

Zachory Berta-Thompson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences at the University of Colorado, Boulder. His research focuses on exoplanets, particularly super-Earths and sub-Neptunes orbiting M dwarf stars. He is actively involved in observational astronomy using data from the MEarth Project, Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

His research interests include:

• Exoplanet atmospheres through transmission spectroscopy
• Small planets around small stars (M dwarfs)
• Stellar astrophysics of M dwarfs as exoplanet hosts
• Development of observational techniques for characterizing exoplanets

Berta-Thompson's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on analyzing exoplanet atmospheres using cutting-edge space telescopes. His work spans from rocky planets like LTT 1445A b to gaseous planets like those in the Kepler-51 system. A recurring theme in his research is understanding how stellar properties, particularly of M dwarfs, affect planetary atmospheres and evolution. His technical contributions include developing open-source software tools for exoplanet research, such as exoatlas and chromatic.

Berta-Thompson has been instrumental in several major observational campaigns, including JWST programs to study exoplanet atmospheres. His collaborative approach is evident in the numerous multi-author publications spanning atmospheric science, stellar physics, and observational techniques.

As an educator, Berta-Thompson teaches various astronomy courses at CU Boulder including Accelerated Intro Astronomy, Computational Techniques, Research Methods in Astronomy, Observations and Instrumentation, and graduate-level Planetary Atmospheres. He emphasizes hands-on experience and creative approaches to science education, extending his outreach to broader communities through events like TEDx Boulder talks and public astronomy activities.