Tyler Robinson

Tyler Robinson is an Associate Professor in the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory (LPL) at the University of Arizona, joining in 2022. He specializes in exoplanet and Solar-System atmospheric science, radiative transfer, and direct imaging instrumentation.

Education

• Ph.D., Astronomy/Astrophysics, University of Washington (2012)

Research Interests

Robinson develops and applies sophisticated radiative-transfer and climate models to study the atmospheres of exoplanets, brown dwarfs, and Solar-System worlds. His work includes retrieval algorithms, instrument performance modeling, and mission concept studies for next-generation space telescopes such as the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Coronagraph, the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO), and previously HabEx, LUVOIR, WFIRST/Rendezvous, and Origins Space Telescope.

Key focus areas:

• Exoplanet atmospheric characterization via direct imaging and transit spectroscopy
• Biosignature and technosignature detection and interpretation
• Cloud microphysics and climate modeling for terrestrial and sub-Neptune exoplanets
• Instrument modeling for coronagraphs and starshades
• Validation of retrieval techniques using Solar-System analog observations

Scientific Awards & Honors

• Cottrell Scholar
• NASA Sagan Fellow
• NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow

Grants & Funding Leadership

• PI, NASA Exoplanets Research – "Titan and Earth as Exoplanet Analogs"
• PI, NSF Astronomy & Astrophysics – "Moist Convection in Sub-Neptune Atmospheres"
• PI, NASA Roman Space Telescope Coronagraph Community Participation Program – "Giant Exoplanet Models"
• PI, NASA Habitable Worlds – "Habitability Signatures for Directly-Imaged Exoplanets"
• Co-I or collaborator on multiple additional NASA and NSF awards

Laboratory & Team

Robinson leads the HABLab research group at LPL, currently mentoring two Ph.D. students (Searra Foote and Lily Robinthal) and hosting postdoc Zarah Brown (James Windsor was a former postdoc). The group develops models and retrieval tools that support NASA mission planning and data interpretation.