I am a 4th Year PhD student in the Astronomy and Astrophysics group at the University of Warwick, supervised by Dr. Matteo Brogi. My main research interests lie in exoplanet atmospheres, high-resolution cross-correlation spectroscopy, and the detection of biosignature gases. I specialise in studying the chemical composition of exoplanetary atmospheres, particularly looking for gases that could indicate the presence of life. Using high-resolution cross-correlation spectroscopy, I work to detect and characterise trace atmospheric components, with a focus on identifying potential biosignatures such as methane, oxygen, and other key gases that could signal biological activity. My research aims to advance the detection of habitable exoplanets atmospheres by carrying out simulations of Earth-like planets around M-dwarfs on large future ground-based telescopes such as the ELT.

Background:

I completed my undergraduate degree in Applied Physics at St Mary's University, Twickenham, where my dissertation was titled 'Exoplanet Atmospheres: Towards the Discovery of Habitable Worlds.' I began my career in science communication as an observatory explainer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, where I delivered talks and led science workshops for the general public. Following this, I undertook a science journalism internship at the European Southern Observatory, where I spent seven months drafting press releases and creating content for their website and YouTube channel. I then went on to complete a PGCE in Physics with Mathematics at Kings College London, and I have since gained experience teaching science and maths to students in years 7-13 in secondary schools.

Outreach:

Outside of my research, I remain actively involved in outreach. I am currently the president of the Warwick Ethnic Minorities in Physics Network, where I have helped plan and organize various events, such as the Black History Month movie night screening of Hidden Figures and the WAKE Potluck. The network also hosts seminars each term, with recent speakers including Dr. Yolanda and Dr. Farzana Meru, who both gave inspiring talks on their journeys to academia for the department. During the first year of my PhD, the Astronomy & Astrophysics Group welcomed a group of international students from underrepresented communities as part of the WAKE programme. I was involved in organizing, coordinating, and running social activities, including a trip to the Royal Observatory, a movie night, and a Potluck event. I also occasionally give talks at local secondary schools as part of the 'A Scientist Just Like Me' resource by the Primary Science Teaching Trust.

Conferences & Workshops Attended:

EAS 2022 (27 June – 1 July 2022, Valencia Conference Centre, Valencia, Spain) Poster

RockyWorlds (July 2022, University of Oxford, UK) Poster

Sun-as-a-star Workshop (March 13-17, 2023 / Flatiron Institute / New York City)

UKEXOMM (9-11 April, 2024 / University of Birmingham) Poster

Exoplanets 5 (Leiden, The Netherlands, 16-21 June 2024)

COSPAR (July 13 - 21 2024, Bexco, Busan, South Korea) Poster

Awards and Grants:

IOP Bell Burnell Scholarship (2021-current)

Warwick WAKE Grant (2022)

KAS Grant (IAU)

Flatiron institute Travel Grant (2023)

COSPAR Travel Grant (2024)

Black In Astro Conference Grant (2024)