Professor Giovanna Tinetti

Professor of Astrophysics

Dept of Physics & Astronomy

Faculty of Maths & Physical Sciences

Joined UCL: 18th Jun 2007

Research summary

Professor Giovanna Tinetti is Head of the Astrophysics Group, UCL Department of Physics & Astronomy, and Director of the UCL Centre for Space Exochemistry Data at Harwell.

She is the Principal Investigator of Ariel, the European Space Agency's next medium-class (M4) science mission to be launched in 2028. She is also co-founder and co-director of Blue Skies Space Ltd, which aims at creating new opportunities for science space satellites.

Select appointments and achievements include Principal Investigator of the European Research Council-funded program Exo-Lights (2014-2019), and Institute of Physics Moseley medal 2011.

Awarded a PhD in Theoretical Physics from the University of Turin in Italy, Giovanna Tinetti has continued her academic career as NASA Astrobiology Institute fellow at Caltech/JPL and then as European Space Agency external fellow in Paris, before moving to UCL in 2007 as STFC Aurora and then Royal Society URF Fellow.

Prof. Tinetti has authored / co-authored over 180 research papers and has delivered over 260 talks, seminars and public lectures internationally.

Teaching summary

Currently teaching Physics of Exoplanets, PHAS0068.

Academic teaching experience: http://giotin.org/pages/teaching.html

PhD students supervised

Lara Anisman, UCL Physics Department, Dec. 2019-present
Quentin Changeat, UCL Physics Department, Oct. 2018-present
Gordon Yip (second supervisor), UCL Physics Department, Oct. 2017-present
Billy Edwards, UCL Physics Department, Nov. 2017-Dec. 2019
Mario Damiano (co-supervisor), UCL Physics Department/INAF, Dec. 2015-2018.
Tiziano Zingales (co-supervisor), UCL Physics Department/INAF, Nov. 2015-2018
Angelos Tsiaras, UCL Physics Department, Oct. 2014-2017.
Giuseppe Morello (second supervisor), UCL Physics Department, Oct. 2013-2016.
Marco Rocchetto, UCL Physics Department, Oct. 2014-2016.
Emma Barton (second supervisor), UCL Physics Department, Oct. 2013-2016.
Ryan Varley, UCL Physics Department, Oct. 2012-2016.
Marcell Tessenyi, UCL Physics Department, Oct. 2010-2013.
Camilla Danielski, UCL Physics Department, Oct. 2010-2013.
Morgan Hollis, UCL Physics Department, Oct. 2010-2013.
Ingo Waldmann, UCL Physics Department, Oct. 2009-June 2012.
David Kipping, UCL, Physics Department, Oct. 2007-2010.

Education

Universita degli Studi di Torino: First Degree, Laurea |
Universita degli Studi di Torino: Doctorate, Doctor of Philosophy | 2003
Politecnico di Torino: Other higher degree, Masters | 1999

Biography

PhD in Theoretical Physics from University of Turin (2003), she has coordinated at UCL a team on exoplanets since 2007. Royal Society University Research Fellow (2009-2017). ESA External Fellow (2005-2007), NASA Astrobiology Institute/NRC Fellow at Caltech/JPL (2003-2005), Predoc and Postdoc at Caltech and University of Southern California, (2001-2003).

Select appointments and achievements:

- Head of Astrophysics Group, UCL Department of Physics & Astronomy. June 2020-present

- Director – UCL Centre for Space Exochemistry Data. November 2018-present.

- Principal Investigator, Ariel (ESA M4 mission) payload consortium, June 2015-present

- Chief scientist, Twinkle space mission, June 2014-present

- Principal Investigator, ERC-funded programme "Exo-Lights", 2014-2019.
- Principal Investigator EChO (ESA M3 candidate mission) payload consortium, 2011-2014.

- Editor of American Astronomical Society DPS journal, ICARUS.

- Counts over 180 peer reviewed publications and over 260 invited talks/seminars on exoplanets.

Select awards:

- Cavaliere dell'Ordine al merito della Repubblica italiana (Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic), March 2020.

- Institute of Physics Moseley Medal 2011 for pioneering use of IR transmission spectroscopy for molecular detection in exoplanet atmospheres.

- NASA Group Achievement Award with Swain and Vasisht for first detection of methane in an exoplanet (2010).

Recent appointments in advisory boards:

- Hubble/Spitzer panel chair/TAC member

- ESO Espresso Instrument Science Team,

- ESA Exoplanet Roadmap Advisory Team (2009-2010).

Publications: Show more publications

Contact

Tel: +44 (0)2035495806 (Ex: 33481)
Email: g.tinetti@ucl.ac.uk
Web: http://www.giotin.org
Address: Department of Physics & Astronomy
Gower Street
London
WC1E6BT