Sara Seager is a Professor at the MIT Kavli Institute specializing in the study of exoplanets and their atmospheres and interiors. She obtained her B.Sc. in mathematics and physics from the University of Toronto in 1994 and earned her Ph.D. in astronomy from Harvard University in 1999. After completing her Ph.D., she explored the recombination of the early Universe and transitioned into the emerging field of exoplanets. Seager has held prestigious positions, including a long-term membership at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, NJ, and as a senior research staff member at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, D.C. She joined the MIT faculty in 2007. Her contributions to the field were recognized when she received the Helen B. Warner Prize from the American Astronomical Society in 2007 for her pioneering work on exoplanet atmospheres. Seager's research focuses on understanding the atmospheric composition and interior structure of exoplanets, particularly transiting exoplanets, which allow for direct observation of atmospheric properties as they transit in front of their host stars. Her research has had a significant impact on the field, especially with the growing dataset of transiting exoplanets.
MIT Kavli Institute • Cambridge, MA
Teaching and conducting research on exoplanets and their atmospheres.