Markus Janson

I regularly supervise Master and Bachelor degree projects.

I developed and teach in the PhD-level course Astrophysical Spotlights. Previously I have taught the MSc-level course Observational Astrophysics and the BSc-level course Introductory Astrophysics, and I frequently guest lecture on Exoplanets.

Currently I am director of graduate studies, meaning that I coordinate the PhD program at the department, which at any given time comprises about 25 PhD students.

My research concerns exoplanets and related topics, spanning many different areas but with a primary focus on high-contrast and high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy. Some of the results from my research include the first spatially resolved spectrum of an exoplanet, detection of hundreds of previously unknown binary star systems, and the first detections of planets around so-called "B-type" stars, which are some of the fiercest and most short-lived stars in the galaxy.

One of my research interests is the study of exoplanets during the phase when they are still in the process of forming, and interacting with other material around their parent stars. I participate in the management of the ENTROPY survey, which studies young planets that have recently formed and are still growing by gathering gas from their surroundings.

PLATO is an ESA-led satellite project due for launch around Dec 2026, which will detect planets using the so-called transit technique. I am part of the PLATO consortium as work package leader and Science Core Team member. PLATO is expected to be the facility that will provide us with the first robust statistical measurements of how common Earth-like planets are in the Universe.

I also work with developing new concepts for detecting and characterising Earth-like planets, including the development of STARE which would be a satellite capable of detecting Earth analogs around the nearest stars through a technique called astrometry, and the development of ways to combine a starshade in space with large telescopes on the ground on Earth for the purpose of directly imaging Earth-like planets and searching for so-called biomarker molecules that could be indicative of life on their surfaces. I participate in the development of the LIFE concept, which is foreseen to be a constellation of satellites in space that would be capable of to detecting and studying Earth-like (and other) planets at infrared wavelengths. I am also a science team member of METIS, which is an instrument being developed for the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) with the expected capacity to detect Earth-like planets around the nearest stars.

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