Katherine Harrower-Peters

Katherine Harrower-Peters is a British astrophysicist renowned for her pioneering work in the characterization of exoplanet atmospheres. Her research utilizing space-based observatories like the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope has fundamentally advanced the understanding of planetary systems beyond the Solar System. She holds a professorship at the University of Cambridge and has served in key advisory roles for the European Space Agency and NASA.

Early life and education

Born in London, her early fascination with the night sky was nurtured by visits to the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. She completed her undergraduate studies in Physics at the University of Oxford, graduating with first-class honours. For her doctoral research, she attended the California Institute of Technology, where she worked under the supervision of renowned planetary scientist Heather Knutson. Her PhD thesis, focused on spectroscopic analysis of hot Jupiter atmospheres, laid the groundwork for her future career.

Career

Following her doctorate, she secured a prestigious NASA Postdoctoral Program fellowship at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She subsequently returned to the United Kingdom to take up a research fellowship at the University of Cambridge's Institute of Astronomy. Her leadership in several early James Webb Space Telescope Guaranteed Time Observation programs led to her appointment as a full professor at Cambridge. She has also contributed to mission planning for the European Space Agency's upcoming ARIEL space telescope and serves on the science working team for NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.

Research and contributions

Harrower-Peters's research is centered on decoding the chemical composition and physical conditions of exoplanetary atmospheres. She pioneered techniques to detect atomic and molecular signatures, such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, and sodium, in the atmospheres of distant worlds using transmission spectroscopy. A landmark study involved the detailed atmospheric retrieval of the super-Earth 55 Cancri e, revealing evidence of a secondary atmosphere. Her team's later observations with the James Webb Space Telescope of the TRAPPIST-1 system provided the first clear evidence of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of a rocky exoplanet, a major step in the search for habitable worlds.

Awards and recognition

Her contributions have been recognized with several of the field's highest honours. She was awarded the Royal Astronomical Society's Gold Medal in Geophysics for her transformative work in exoplanet science. She is a recipient of the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics as part of the team behind the James Webb Space Telescope's early science results. She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and is a member of the International Astronomical Union. Further accolades include the Annie Jump Cannon Award and being named a BBC 100 Women honouree.

Personal life

She is married to climate scientist Michael Peters, a researcher at the Met Office. They reside in Cambridge and are avid supporters of public science engagement, frequently giving joint lectures on the interconnectedness of planetary and climate science. An accomplished amateur cellist, she has performed with the Cambridge University Musical Society and enjoys hiking in the Scottish Highlands.

Category:British astrophysicists Category:Exoplanetologists Category:University of Cambridge faculty Category:Living people