Anjali A. A. Piette

I'm an Assistant Professor at the University of Birmingham.

My research aims to uncover the diversity of planetary physics among the exoplanet population. Thousands of exoplanets have been discovered in the past three decades, encompassing a staggering range of conditions - from lava worlds to temperate mini-Neptunes and hot, giant planets.

I uncover new insights into these distant worlds by using their atmospheres as windows into their climates, compositions and formation mechanisms. I place empirical constraints on these planets using theoretical models and atmospheric observations from telescopes such as the James Webb Space Telescope.

Research

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    Rocky Planets

    Understanding the diversity of rocky exoplanets is critical to understanding their potential for habitability. My work seeks to constrain the atmospheric compositions of such planets, as well as using atmospheric observations of lava worlds to learn about their interior compositions.

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    Mini-Neptunes

    Mini-Neptunes are the most common type of exoplanet detected to date, yet they have no analogue in the solar system. I research the diversity of mini-Neptune atmospheres , including how these are shaped by aerosols, interactions with their interiors, and interpreting JWST observations.

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    Giant Planets

    The atmospheres of giant exoplanets can be probed with exquisite precision, enabling insights into their extreme climates and formation scenarios. I investigate the coupling between atmospheric chemistry and thermal structures, and decipher observations of isolated, hot and ultra-hot gas giants.

CV

Below is a summary of my background and professional activities.

Employment

2024 - present Assistant Professor, University of Birmingham Birmingham, UK
2021 - 2024 Carnegie Postdoctoral Fellow, Earth & Planets Laboratory Washington, D.C., USA

Education

2017 - 2021 Ph.D. Astronomy, Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge Cambridge, UK
2016 - 2017 MSci Natural Sciences, Astronomy (1st class), University of Cambridge Cambridge, UK
2012 - 2016 BA Natural Sciences, Astronomy (1st class), University of Cambridge Cambridge, UK

Selected Awards & Scholarships

2023 Selected for NASA ExoExplorers 2023 cohort
2021 Carnegie Postdoctoral Fellowship
2020 Murdin Prize, IoA Cambridge
2017 - 2021 UK STFC Ph.D. Studentship
2013 - 2017 Pembroke College Foundation Scholar
2016 Dr Stevens Prize for Natural Sciences

Selected Outreach & Teaching

2024 PBS Documentary: Great American Eclipse
2022 YouTube Video: The Making of Physicist
2021 BBC/PBS Documentary: NOVA Universe Revealed: Alien Worlds
EAS Annual Meeting 2021 Co-organiser of 'Early-Career Astronomers and their Supporters' Conference Session
2018-2019 University of Cambridge: Stellar Structure and Evolution 3rd Year Undergraduate Teaching
2017-2018 University of Cambridge: Physics 1st Year Undergraduate Teaching
2017-2018 Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge: Co-organiser of Undergraduate Journal Club
2015-2018 Various Astronomy Outreach talks to a wide range of audiences
2017 Volunteer English & Astronomy Teacher, Shree Bhotenamlang School, Nepal

Contact

School of Physics & Astronomy • The University of Birmingham
Edgbaston • Birmingham
B15 2TT • UK

a.a.a.piette [at] bham.ac.uk