Research in Brief
My research goal is to understand the properties of small extrasolar planets (exoplanets), and putting Earth and Solar System into a context.A particular interest is in studying the surface environment of Earth-like planets, including the assessment of the possibility of life. Characterizing these small planets is challenging, because their faint signal is easily buried in its orders-of-magnitude brighter host star and, even if it is detected, interpretation of the data is not straightforward. We explore observable signatures of exoplanet atmospheres/surfaces that provide clues to the nature of the exoplanets, by modeling the atmospheric structures, simulating the spectral/photometric signatures, and evaluating the detectability.
Publication
Opportunities for Postdoctoral Researchers
I can host postdoctoral researchers through:Opportunities for Students
I can host graduate students through:大学学部生日本語話者向けイベント
- 総研大サマースチューデント
（参加しない年もあります）
Group members
Current
Jin-Woo Lee (M student at U of Tokyo; Oct 2026-)
Shinichiro Katsuoka (M student of U of Tokyo; Apr 2026-)
Keiko Hamano (JSPS RPD; Apr 2025-)
Past
Chanoul Seo (PhD student at Sokendai; Apr 2021-Mar 2026)
Yuichi Ito (PD; Jul 2021-Jul 2024)
Taichi Uyama (JSPS PD; Apr 2021-Oct 2023)
Fei Wang (Intern; Apr 2022-Mar 2023)
Curriculum Vitae
Fellowship / Employment
Apr 2020- Associate Professor at Division of Science, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
Jun 2017-Mar 2020 Project Associate Professor / Associate PI at Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Nov 2015-May 2017 NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow at NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (Advisor: Dr. A. D. Del Genio)
Nov 2014- Project Assistant Professor at Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology
2013-2014 Research Scientist at Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology
2011-2013 JSPS Research Fellow (DC2)
Education
2013 Doctoral Degree from the University of Tokyo
Supervisor --- Prof. Yasushi Suto
Thesis Title --- Exploring the landscape of habitable exoplanets via their
disk-integrated colors and spectra:
Indications for future direct imaging observations
2010 Master's Degree from the University of Tokyo
Supervisor --- Prof. Yasushi Suto
Thesis Title --- Toward Remote Sensing of Extrasolar Earth-like Planet
2008 Bachelor's Degree from the University of Tokyo
2004 Graduation from the Senior High School Attached to Kyoto University of Education