Winton Group is pleased to announce the inaugural winners of the Winton Exoplanet Fellowship programme: Dr Cassandra Hall, a postdoctoral research associate in theoretical astrophysics at the University of Leicester; and Dr Edward Gillen, a postdoctoral researcher in astrophysics at the University of Cambridge.
An exoplanet, or extrasolar planet, is a planet outside our solar system that orbits a star. The Fellowship programme recognises early-career researchers of significant potential and provides them with the opportunity to conduct independent research that will establish them in positions of distinction and leadership in the field of planetary astronomy.
Dr Gillen, who is based at the Cavendish Laboratory, will monitor several young open star clusters to search for young transiting “hot Jupiter” planets to better understand the formation and early evolution of planetary systems. The term “hot Jupiter” describes those planets that have gaseous structures akin to Jupiter’s, but by contrast extremely short orbital periods around a star.
The awards, of up to £220,000, are intended to provide exceptional recent doctoral scientists with the opportunity to conduct novel theoretical and observational research into planetary astronomy.