Stefan Kraus

Prof. Stefan Kraus is a Personal Chair/Full Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Exeter since 2021, previously serving as Associate Professor (2015-2021) and STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellow (2013-2015). His career spans roles including NASA Sagan Fellow (2009-2012) at the University of Michigan and SMA Fellow (2012-2013) at Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

• Education: PhD in Astronomy (2004-2007, University of Bonn), MSc in Astronomy (2002-2003, University of Massachusetts).
• Current Leadership: Co-leader of the MIRC-X 6-telescope imager project at CHARA Array.

Research Focus:
High-angular resolution studies of

• Star and planet formation processes
• Protoplanetary disk structure and dynamics
• Interferometric imaging techniques using VLTI, CHARA, and ALMA
• Disk-planet interactions in sub-AU regions

Scientific Contributions:
- Project Scientist for the Planet Formation Imager (since 2014)
- Instrumentation development (MIRC-X) enabling sub-milliarcsecond imaging

• Notable Awards
  • Philip Leverhulme Prize (2013)
  • STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellowship (2013-2018)
  • NASA Carl Sagan Fellowship (2009-2012)
  • SPIE Best PhD in Interferometry Prize (2008)
  • Otto-Hahn Medal (2008)