Courtesy National Science Foundation

David Charbonneau is a Professor of Astronomy at Harvard University. After studying math and physics at the University of Toronto, he completed his PhD in Astronomy at Harvard. He then spent three years at the California Institute of Technology as the R.A. Millikan Fellow prior to returning to Harvard. His research interests focus on the discovery and characterization of planets around other stars (called exoplanets), with the goal of identifying planets that could host life. He led the teams that make the first measurement of the density and composition of an exoplanet, and the first studies of the atmospheres of exoplanets. His work has been recognized by numerous international awards, including the Sackler Prize in the Physical Sciences, the NASA Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement, and the Waterman Award from the National Science Foundation