Space Research & Planetary Sciences (WP)

People

My Work and Interests

My main research interest is to push forward the sensitivity of current and future generations of high-contrast direct imaging instruments. Indeed, it is my conviction that reaching the required contrast (beyond 10 billion to !) to image an Earth-analog planet in the habitable zone of a Sun-like star will require a broad effort from both the scientific and engineering communities, involving a large variety of scientists from a variety of backgrounds. Given the timeframe of currently-planned 1st-generation instruments for the European 39-m Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), with first light anticipated in about 5 year from now, any breakthrough research effort paving the way to a 2nd-generation ELT exoplanet high-contrast imaging instrument needs to be undertaken right now. This is why I am leading my research team at the University of Bern, notably aiming to develop a novel approach to high-contrast imaging called “digital adaptive coronagraphy”. To this purpose, we are using liquid crystal video display panels in place of classical coronagraphs usually used to mask the unwanted bright light from the host star, in order to reveal the faint orbiting planetary companions. Indeed, there is little doubt in my mind that the “planet imager” instruments of the future will increasingly integrate adaptive optical components (active mirrors, lenses and so on), possibly replacing most optical component in the beam train.

CV

Education

29/05/2009                         

PhD in Engineering Sciences (Photonics), EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland

                                         

05/2003                             

MSc in Micro-engineering (Optics Specialization), EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland

 

Current and recent past positions

10/2022 – Current

Assistant Professor in Astronomical Instrumentation

Space and Planetary Sciences Division, University of Bern, Switzerland

09/2018 – 09/2022              

Senior Scientist, Project Manager

Space and Planetary Sciences Division, University of Bern, Switzerland

06/2020 – 05/2022              

Senior Scientist                       

Observatory of Geneva, University of Geneva, Switzerland

02/2015 – 01/2019

Principal Investigator (Swiss NSF Ambizione Fellow)

Institute for Particle Physics and Astrophysics, ETH Zurich, Switzerland

02/2012 – 01/2015               

Postdoctoral Fellow

Caltech-NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Science Division, Pasadena, USA

 

Awards/Prizes

07/2014                               

Nominated Senior Member of the International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE)

10/2012                               

“Young Scientist” Award from the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS)

10/2010                              

“City of Lausanne” Research Award for the best PhD Thesis at EPFL this year

Lectures

  • Selected modules on Adaptive Optics and High-contrast Imaging within the “Optics in Extreme Environments” course, Graduate School of Precision Engineering (along with Profs. Thomas & Wurz), Spring semesters
  • Selected module on Detection Techniques within the "Exoplanets and Origins of Life” specialist course (Prof. Demory et al.), Fall semesters (every 2 years)