What do we do?

Our Research

Our research group specializes in the study of low-mass stars and exoplanets using transit photometry and radial velocity techniques. We are leading actors in cutting-edge international projects such as CARMENES and MARCOT, as well as actively participate in numerous projects such as SPECULOOS, TESS, CHEOPS, PLATO, Ariel, and the ELT/ANDES. Read below a short description of these projects to learn more. Our expertise in these fields allows us to contribute significantly to the advancement of our understanding of the universe beyond our solar system, unraveling the mysteries of distant stars and their planetary systems. Explore some our publications in the following NASA/ADS Libraries: Publications 2023, Publications 2024

CARMENES

The CARMENES (Calar Alto high-resolution search for M dwarfs with Exoearths with Near-infrared and optical Échelle Spectrographs) is an international initiative to detect exoplanets orbiting red dwarf stars employing two high-resolution Échelle spectrographs, one operating in the near-infrared and the other in the optical spectrum, installed at the Calar Alto Observatory in Spain. The project focuses on identifying Earth-like exoplanets within the habitable zone of these stars, where conditions might be right for liquid water to exist. CARMENES aims to expand our understanding of planetary systems around M dwarfs, which are the most common type of star in our galaxy, potentially revealing new insights into the frequency and diversity of potentially habitable worlds beyond our solar system. Read More

MARCOT

The MARCOT Project (Multi-Array of COmbined Telescopes) is an innovative modular astronomical infrastructure designed to revolutionize the field of exoplanet studies. Its main scientific goal is to conduct large-scale surveys, which are prohibitive at other facilities like the James Webb Space Telescope or extremely large telescopes. Thanks to its last-generation capabilities, MARCOT will perform the largest chemical census of terrestrial exoplanets, including interior and atmospheric studies; providing the best targets for focusing the search for biosignatures with the next generation of dedicated missions. MARCOT combines multiple identical optical elements to deliver high-resolution spectroscopy and capture images with a large field of view, high dynamic range, and sub-arcsecond spatial resolution. Each element collects photons through individual optical fibers, merged using novel multimode photonic lantern technology to feed a high-resolution spectrograph. This technique enables the achievement of a large effective aperture of 15 meters at a low cost, with the flexibility to upgrade or replace individual mirrors as technological advancements occur. Read More

SPECULOOS

SPECULOOS (Search for habitable Planets EClipsing ULtra-cOOl Stars) is an international project designed to search for Earth-sized planets around ultra-cool dwarf (later than M5) stars and brown dwarfs. Its main scientific goal is to detect terrestrial planets within the habitable zones of their stars. These planets are prime targets for conducting atmosphere characterization using, for example, the James Webb Space Telescope or upcoming extremely large telescopes. Read More

TESS

The TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) mission is a NASA-led space telescope designed to discover thousands of transiting exoplanets in orbit around the nearest and brightest stars in the sky. Its main scientific objectives include identifying small terrestrial planets that allow for measuring their masses using ground-based radial velocity measurements that facilitate future observations by more powerful telescopes. Read More

CHEOPS

Cheops (Characterising Exoplanet Satellite) is a pioneering ESA space mission focused on precisely studying exoplanets around bright, nearby stars. This mission is unique in its dedication to examining stars already known to host planets, aiming to capture detailed measurements of the planets' sizes as they transit their stars. Cheops specifically targets exoplanets ranging from the size of super-Earths to Neptunes, providing critical data that helps determine their bulk density. This information is a key piece in the puzzle of understanding the nature and composition of these distant worlds. Read More

PLATO

The PLATO (Planetary Transits and Oscillations of Stars) mission is an ambitious ESA project to discover and study transiting exoplanets, notably those orbiting nearby solar-like stars. Scheduled for launch in late 2026, PLATO aims to identify and fully characterize Earth-twins planets within the habitable zones of their host stars, where conditions could be favorable for life. Beyond detecting these exoplanets, PLATO will also delve into the stars' characteristics by conducting detailed stellar oscillation analyses. This dual focus on both planets and their stars will significantly advance our knowledge of planetary system formation and evolution, making PLATO a cornerstone in searching for potentially habitable environments in our solar neighbor. Read More

Ariel

Ariel is the first space mission dedicated entirely to surveying the atmospheres of a diverse sample of exoplanets. By observing visible and infrared wavelengths, Ariel aims to conduct high-precision spectroscopic measurements of around 1,000 exoplanets, ranging from gas giants to small rocky planets. Its primary objective is to decode exoplanets' atmospheric composition and thermal structures. Through techniques such as transit spectroscopy, phase curves, and emission spectroscopy, Ariel will detect key molecules like water vapor, methane, carbon dioxide, and exotic metallic compounds. These observations will help answer fundamental questions such as the chemical compositions of exoplanet atmospheres, how they vary with planetary type and environment, how they evolve over time, and what this tells us about the formation of planetary systems. Read More

Extremely Large Telescope/ANDES

The Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), a groundbreaking project currently under construction by the European Southern Observatory (ESO), is poised to revolutionize exoplanet research. As the world's largest optical and near-infrared telescope, the ELT's 39-meter primary mirror will capture images with unprecedented resolution, opening up new frontiers in our understanding of the universe. A key scientific mission of the ELT is the study and characterization of stars and exoplanets, aiming to unveil new insights about their atmospheres, compositions, and potential habitability through the high-resolution spectrograph ANDES (ArmazoNes high Dispersion Echelle Spectrograph). Read More

Join any of our projects for your master's thesis or traineeship

Our group annually offers several research lines that allow for the completion of master's thesis (MT), Bachelor's thesis (BT), or traineeship projects while fully integrating into our team, acquiring top-tier research training, and developing fundamental skills such as critical thinking, data collection and analysis, teamwork, and communication. These opportunities are also available as part of official traineeship programs such as JAE-Intro, JAE-Intro ICU and CASSUM scholarships, among others. The students also have the opportunity to participate in the PhD and JAE-Intro Days organized in our research institute, where they will have feedback and interaction with other top-level researchers. Through these programs, participants can delve into cutting-edge research topics, working alongside experienced researchers in a supportive and dynamic environment. Our commitment to fostering the next generation of scientists is reflected in our diverse project offers, designed to cover a wide range of interests and expertises. Joining our group in any of these research lines provides a great opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience, setting a solid foundation for a career in research. Here, you can find some examples of general research topics that we use to offer annually.

• Exoplanet detection and characterization
• Exoplanet atmospheres
• Planetary system architectures
• Asteroseismology of M dwarfs
• Star-Planet interaction

Do not hesitate to email us if you are interested in these topics or have any other exoplanet-related ideas in mind. Here you can find some projects carried out by our former students:

• Daniel Grana Ramos. Searching for nearby habitable exoplanets using TESS data. Supervised by Francisco J. Pozuelos (JAE-Intro; 2023-2024)
• Ignacio Barros Tascón. Understanding magnetic star-planet interaction through eccentric exoplanets. Supervised by Pedro J. Amado (MT & JAE-Intro; 2023-2024)
• Inmaculada Moyano Rejano. Stellar structure models of M dwarf stars. Supervised by Cristina Rodríguez-Lopéz & Giovanni Mirouh (MT & JAE-Intro; 2023-2024)
• Manuel Peralta Fuentes. Water worlds or super-Earths? Characterizing mini-Neptunes to break planetary formation degeneracies. Supervised by Francisco J. Pozuelos (JAE-Intro ICU; 2023-2024)
• Gareb Enoc Fernández Rodríguez. Exploring the diversity of small-sized exoplanets. Supervised by Giuseppe Morello (CASSUM traineeship program; 2023-2024)
• Martiño Balboa Costa. Analysis of the correlation between stellar rotational periods and exoplanets orbital periods in Kepler and TESS exoplanetary systems. Supervised by Cristina Rodríguez-Lopéz & Héctor Álvarez Pol (BT, Univ. Santiago de Compostela; 2022-2023)
• Ciro Emmanuel-Martínez. Machine learning to detect pulsations in CARMENES M dwarfs radial velocity time-series. Supervised by Cristina Rodríguez-Lopéz & Pedro J. Amado (MT, International University of Valencia; 2022-2023)
• Javier González Durán. Stacked periodograms applied to CARMENES data to constrain low-mass exoplanetary populations. Supervised by Pedro J. Amado & Cristina Rodríguez-Lopéz (MT, International University of Valencia; 2022-2023)
• Mathieu Motte. Research of survivor planets around subdwarfs. Supervised by Francisco J. Pozuelos & Valerie Van Grootel (MT, University of Liège; 2022-2023)
• Cyril Dethye. The fate of planetary systems. Supervised by Francisco J. Pozuelos & Valerie Van Grootel (MT, University of Liège; 2022-2023)
• Magali Limpens. Searching for unnoticed planetary systems around very late M stars in TESS data. Supervised by Francisco J. Pozuelos & Laetitia Delrez (MT, University of Liège; 2022-2023)

Do you want to join us?

Expression of Interest

Our research group accepts expressions of interest for a variety of prestigious postodoctoral research fellowships such as the Ramón y Cajal , Juan de la Cierva , Emergia , La Caixa Junior Leadership , among others. These fellowships provide an exceptional platform for advancing your academic and research career. In addition to postdoctoral opportunities, we also encourage prospective doctoral candidates to consider joining our research team for their Ph.D. studies. Our group provides a stimulating and collaborative environment, offering guidance and mentorship to ensure the success of your doctoral research. To this end there are several anual schemes such as the National FPU fellowships, La Caixa INPhINIT grants, JAE-Pre fellowships, etc. Our research areas encompass a wide range of disciplines, and we invite you to explore our ongoing projects and areas of expertise. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive research community and welcome applicants from various backgrounds and experiences. If you are interested in any of the mentioned opportunities or have questions about our research group, please do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to collaborating with talented individuals who share our passion for groundbreaking research.