معرفی
Hannah R Wakeford is an Associate Professor in Astrophysics at the School of Physics, University of Bristol. She is a leading researcher in exoplanet atmospheric characterization, specializing in transmission spectroscopy using space-based observatories including Hubble and JWST. With expertise in determining chemical compositions and physical properties of diverse exoplanets from hot Jupiters to super-Earths, her work significantly advances our understanding of planetary formation and evolution pathways.
Education:
- PhD in Physics, University of Exeter (Awarded May 15, 2015)
Research Interests:
Dr. Wakeford specializes in exoplanet atmospheric characterization through transmission spectroscopy, with particular focus on hot Jupiters, warm Neptunes, and super-Earths. Her research leverages Hubble and JWST data to determine atmospheric compositions, metallicity, cloud properties, and chemical abundances. She investigates how planetary migration history affects atmospheric composition and studies the relationship between planetary characteristics and their formation environments. Her work frequently addresses fundamental questions about planetary formation, atmospheric evolution, and the potential for habitability.
Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on JWST observations, particularly using NIRSpec for transmission spectroscopy across diverse exoplanet populations. Her work shows a clear trend toward comparative exoplanetology, examining how atmospheric properties vary across different planetary types, orbital configurations, and host star environments. She has made significant contributions to detecting key molecules like carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide in exoplanet atmospheres.
Scientific Awards:
- Larissa Palethorpe RS Career Development Fellowship
Research Leadership:
Dr. Wakeford serves as Principal Investigator for two major projects: 'Exoplanet Timeseries Characterisation: Unlocking the Third Dimension of Atmospheres with Webb' (2023-2028) and the 'Larissa Palethorpe RS Career Development Fellowship: Tiny Worlds, Tremendous Insights: Analysis of Exoplanets in Transitional Zones' (2026-2029). She has led significant research efforts including the early release science program for WASP-39b with JWST, which resulted in high-impact publications in Nature.
Research Team:
Dr. Wakeford leads the JWST COMPASS (Compositions of Mini-Planet Atmospheres for Statistical Study) program and contributes to the BOWIE-ALIGN project comparing aligned versus misaligned hot Jupiters. She collaborates extensively with international teams across major space telescope programs, demonstrating strong leadership in the global exoplanet research community.
