I'm an ARC Professorial Fellow based within the Department of Astrophysics at the University of New South Wales. My group's research is centred on the detection and study of small, cool things - exoplanets and brown dwarfs - using a variety of observing techniques, including "Doppler Wobble" searches for planets to Sun-like stars and "Direct" detection searches in nearby star clusters.
The search for extrasolar planets, and the understanding of the habiltibility of those planets, is a key component of the global, multi-disciplinary astrobiology initiative. Our group is a key component of the Australian Centre for Astrobiology here at UNSW.
Current research projects include: the search for gas-giant and terrestrial-mass exoplanets as a member of the Anglo-Australian Planet Search team; surveys to detect unbound (ie. free-floating) planets in young nearby star clusters using methane imaging; imaging planets orbiting nearby stars with the Gemini NICI instrument; development work towards a multi-object planet search facility for the Anglo-Australian Telescope.
Prospective PhD students from UNSW and elsewhere interested in working in exoplanetary science are encouraged to contact me to discuss possible research projects. I have funds to provide top-up support of $6000 per annum for PhD students with APAs.
UNSW Physics Honours students can also undertake research projects in our group - details on projects currently on offer can be found to here.
Contact details
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Prof. Chris Tinney
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Dept of Astrophysics
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School of Physics
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University of NSW. 2052
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Australia
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Ph: +61 2 9385 5168
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Fax: +61 2 9385 6060
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cgt -at- phys.unsw.edu.au
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