Jayne Birkby
INTRODUCTION
My interest in space based research concerns the characterization of exoplanet atmospheres, especially those without analogues in the Solar system like super Earths and mini Neptunes, as well as the search for biosignatures in the atmospheres of rocky exoplanets. I am also working towards the mapping of weather systems and features akin to the hurricane that comprises Jupiter’s Great Red Spot on other giant exoplanets as well as the detection of their transiting exomoons. JWST, recently launched, can address some of these goals, but ultimately I am interested in launching a space based, very high resolution spectrographs (10,000 < R < 300,000) to carry out the high resolution spectroscopy needed to robustly detect molecular bands caused by biosignatures like oxygen, methane, carbon dioxide and water in all the nearby habitable zone worlds.
AREAS OF INTEREST
Exoplanet atmospheres, biosignatures, rocky planets, habitability, exomoons
RESEARCH GROUPS AND COLLABORATIONS
PI of exoZoo (ERC Starting Grant), Oxford Exoplanets, Steering Committee of the TESS Atmospheric Characterization Working Group, Science Team HARMONI/ELT, Science Team ANDES/ELT
PUBLICATIONS