Steven Giacalone

Steven Giacalone is a NSF Astronomy & Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellow at the California Institute of Technology, affiliated with the Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy and the Department of Astronomy. His research focuses on exoplanet detection, orbital dynamics, and planetary formation, particularly using TESS data to study misalignments between stars and planetary orbits. Giacalone earned his PhD in Astrophysics from UC Berkeley (2023), and his postdoctoral work includes studies of A-type star planetary systems and brown dwarf obliquities.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Astrophysics, UC Berkeley (2023)
• M.A. in Astrophysics, UC Berkeley (2018)
• B.A. in Physics with Astrophysics specialization, University of Chicago (2017)

Research Interests:

Giacalone investigates exoplanet formation through observational techniques, including measuring stellar obliquities and analyzing planetary migration mechanisms. His work addresses questions like: Why do some planets have misaligned orbits? How do tidal interactions shape planetary systems? Recent projects include the OATMEAL Survey (obliquity measurements) and studies of planetary atmospheres using JWST. His findings on A-type star planet rarity challenge existing formation models.

Grants & Awards:

• NSF Astronomy & Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowship (2023)
• NASA FINESST Award (2020)
• University of Chicago Research Fellowship (2016)

Labs & Collaborations:

He contributes to the TESS Follow-up Observing Program, TRICERATOPS validation tool, and the TESS-Keck Survey. Active at facilities like Keck Observatory and LIGO.