Emma Esparza-Borges

​​​​​​​Hosted at ESAC

Proposal Title: Isotope Ratios in Exoplanet Atmospheres with JWST

Emma studied her Bachelor’s degree in Physics and Master’s degree in Astrophysics (with a specialization in Observational Astrophysics) in Tenerife, Spain. She did her PhD in the field of exoplanet atmospheres in the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), specializing on the development of novel techniques to analyze ground-based and JWST observations for the characterization of exoplanet atmospheres. Her research was further enhanced by research stays at the Center for Astrophysics (CfA, Cambridge, MA, USA) and the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI, Baltimore, MD, USA), where she collaborated with leading experts on the analysis of JWST observations of transiting exoplanets.

Emma’s project aims to study the atmospheres of exoplanets, both as individual objects and as a population, to understand their formation and evolution processes as well as how they shaped the currently observed exoplanet physical and chemical properties. To do so, she will analyze JWST observations in an innovative way to obtain observational constraints on isotope/isotopologue ratios in exoplanet atmospheres, which are key tracers of planetary formation and evolution scenarios.

Ekaterina Ilin


​​​​​​​Hosted at ESTEC

Proposal Title: How does a planet make its star burst?

Ekaterina (she/her) completed her PhD in 2022 at the University of Potsdam and the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (Germany), where she studied stellar flares, large magnetic explosions in the upper atmospheres of low-mass stars. In 2023, she joined the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON) where she is specializing in multiwavelength observations of stellar activity and star-planet interactions.

Ekaterina's project will exploit photometric light curves from space telescopes to search for young planets that reveal themselves through planet-induced flares. These planets are challenging to identify with traditional planet detection methods due to the star's vigorous activity, yet represent a critical phase in planetary evolution that is poorly understood. To reveal the signature of star-planet interaction in systems where the planet has yet to be discovered, Ekaterina will use new and archival observations from ESA's Cheops mission, as well as data from Plato, an ESA medium-class mission, to be launched soon.

Gregor Rihtaršič

​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Hosted at ESTEC

Proposal Title: Constraining Dark Matter with Colliding Clusters: Deep and Wide

Gregor received his Bachelor’s degree in physics at the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia) and his Master’s degree in astrophysics at Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich (Germany), where he investigated active galactic nuclei in galaxy clusters using cosmological simulations. He continued with a PhD at the University of Ljubljana, specialising in strong gravitational lensing in galaxy clusters using data from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) through his involvement in CAnadian NIRISS Unbiased Cluster Survey (CANUCS) and Vast Exploration for Nascent, Unexplored Sources (VENUS) survey and through JWST observations of the Bullet Cluster.

At ESA, Gregor aims to investigate the nature of dark matter using galaxy cluster collisions. Mergers of galaxy clusters, such as the Bullet Cluster, act as the largest particle colliders in the Universe. They provide insight into self-interaction properties of dark matter if their mass distribution is accurately reconstructed using gravitational lensing. To achieve this, Gregor will use data from the JWST to peer deeper into cluster fields and uncover faint gravitationally lensed galaxies, and data from ESA’s Euclid mission, which will provide wider sky coverage, to expand the sample of suitable cluster mergers.

Peter Stephenson

​​​​​​​Hosted at ESAC

Proposal Title: From Occultations to Airglow: Resolving Saturn’s Evolving Upper-Atmosphere

Peter (he/him) studied Physics at the University of Oxford and completed his PhD at Imperial College London, where he investigated cometary ionospheres, focusing on the unexpected behaviour of electrons observed during ESA’s Rosetta mission. In 2022, he took up a postdoctoral position at the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at the University of Arizona. There, his research has focused on the unusually hot upper atmospheres of the giant planets using ultraviolet (UV) observations. Across the outer Solar System, from Jupiter to Neptune, the upper atmospheres are far hotter than can be explained by solar heating alone, presenting a long-standing 'energy crisis'.

At ESA, Peter’s research will focus on the structure and evolution of Saturn’s atmosphere using UV observations from the NASA/ESA Cassini-Huygens mission. Absorption of UV light, arriving from either the Sun or distant stars, and direct emissions from the atmosphere provide key constraints on atmospheric temperature, structure, and composition. By combining these observations with atmospheric and radiative transfer models, he will map the global structure of Saturn’s upper atmosphere over the 13-year Cassini mission and investigate the seasonal variability of auroral heating and the redistribution of energy throughout the thermosphere.

Paola I. Tiranti

​​​​​​​Hosted at ESAC

Proposal Title: Eyes on Jupiter’s Great Red Spot: JWST as the vanguard for Juice

Paola studied Physics with Astrophysics at Northumbria University before completing her MSc in Theoretical Physics at the University of Edinburgh in the UK. She completed her PhD at Northumbria University on the upper atmospheres and aurorae of the Solar System’s giant planets using observations from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

Paola’s research at ESA will focus on new JWST observations of Jupiter’s Great Red Spot. These observations are the first of their kind, tracking the famous storm across the planet to understand how activity in the lower atmosphere affects the upper atmosphere. Her work will reveal how different layers of Jupiter’s atmosphere respond to waves generated by turbulent storms, and how energy is transported and redistributed across the planet. Paola’s findings will help prepare for and complement observations from ESA’s upcoming Juice mission.

Jiří Žák

​​​​​​​Hosted at ESTEC

Proposal Title: : Planet migration in the era of large atmospheric missions

Jiří did his undergraduate degree in physics in Brno, Czechia, a city where he also grew up. He later spent part of his Master’s studies at IAC in the Canary Islands, Spain, and then moved to ESO and the University of Jena in Germany for his PhD. His first postdoctoral position was at the Czech Astronomical Institute, where he worked on science with PLATOSpec, an instrument supporting ESA’s Plato mission

At ESA, Jiří's project will focus on the evolutionary pathways of gaseous exoplanets, which remain poorly understood due to degeneracies in planet formation models and processes such as clouds and hazes that hinder the interpretation of atmospheric observations. By exploring these phenomena, his work will advance how we interpret exoplanetary atmospheric data that will soon be available at the population level for the first time. Building on his previous experience, Jiří will combine space- and ground-based data to directly support ESA's Ariel mission and exploit unique synergies across ESA's missions, such as Ariel and Plato.

Further information:  Research Fellowships in Space Science | RF FAQ | RF contact form | All current RFs

Last modified: 21 April 2026