I am an Associate Professor working on exoplanet detection, characterisation and populations with the TESS mission, with a focus on planets in and around the Neptunian Desert. I also study the habitability of known exoplanets, mixing exoplanet and Earth observations to track greenhouse gases, and the classification of eclipsing binaries and variable stars in large-scale surveys.

One of my particular interests is in applying machine learning techniques to astrophysical problems. This includes the automatic selection and validation of real candidates in transiting planet surveys, as well as creating fast detection and classification tools for eclipsing binaries and variable stars in the K2 survey.

I am involved with the Centre for Exoplanets and Habitability. Our current projects include analyses of galactic habitability, dynamical and biological constraints on panspermia, and the stability of DNA in non-Earth environments.

Outside academia, I am a Councillor on Warwick District Council, representing Kenilworth Abbey and Arden ward, which includes some University residences. If you have any relevant issues or would like to get in touch please contact me.

Github page here, including tools for planet candidate vetting and transit shape analysis.

Publication list here, updated July 2024.

Teaching

PX282 Stars and the Solar System. I teach the Stars section of the module in Term 2. Please see the module page.

Data Tables

K2 Variable Catalogue II: catalogue website at MAST and CDS

-Full Tables 4, 5, 6, 7

Temperatures for Kepler Eclipsing Binary stars available at CDS