Alexander Mustill

Alexander Mustill is a Senior Research Fellow at the Department of Physics at Lund University, Sweden. His research focuses on planetary system formation, evolution, and fate, particularly the impact of stellar evolution on planetary systems. He uses computer simulations and mathematical analysis to study exoplanet dynamics, including interactions between planets and debris discs, the effects of stellar evolution (e.g., red giants and white dwarfs), and planetary system multiplicity. Mustill is actively involved in the CHEOPS and PLATO space missions for exoplanet characterization. He has contributed to over 80 publications, with recent work emphasizing hot Jupiters, white dwarf pollution, and planetary system stability. His research also extends to public outreach and teaching courses like Dynamical Astronomy.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Astronomy (2010s), Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge
• Postdoctoral Research at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (2013–2014)

Research Interests:

Mustill investigates how planetary systems evolve under stellar evolution phases (e.g., red giants to white dwarfs), planetary migration pathways, and the formation of transiting exoplanets. His work bridges theoretical models with observational data from missions like TESS and CHEOPS. Recent trends in his articles highlight collaborations on planetary system dynamics in stellar clusters, binary systems, and white dwarf pollution mechanisms.

Grants & Projects:

• Lead on Consolidating CHEOPS and PLATO missions (Swedish National Space Agency, 2024–2027)
• A unified picture of white dwarf planetary systems (Swedish Research Council, 2018–2022)

Labs/Teams:

Part of Lund University’s Astrophysics division and collaborates with international teams on exoplanet detection and dynamics.