A full copy of my CV is available here (Last updated January 2025)
A complete list of my publications is available via ADS

CV Summary

Klarman Fellow - Cornell University
Oct 2024 - Present

Research Associate - University of Bristol
Apr 2024 - Jun 2024

PhD in Astrophysics - University of Bristol
2020 - 2024
Supervisor: Dr. Hannah Wakeford
Research Focus: From Hot Jupiters to Super-Earths: An Exploration Exoplanet Atmospheres with Space-Based Telescopes
  • Awarded Outstanding Excellence in a Doctoral Dissertation in the Faculty of Science

Master's Year Abroad - Center for Astrophysics | Harvard-Smithsonian
2019 - 2020
Supervisor: Dr. James Kirk
Thesis Title: LRG-BEASTS: Ground-Based Transmission Spectroscopy of the Atmosphere of the Highly Inflated Hot-Saturn WASP-21b
  • The final year of my MPhys was spent at the CfA thanks to the University of Southampton's flagship scheme

MPhys Astrophysics with a Year Abroad - University of Southampton
2016 - 2020
Classification: First Class
  • Awarded Best Project by a Year Abroad / Final Year Research Finalist and Most Outstanding Performance on an MPhys Degree by the School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southampton

Talks, Seminars, and Colloquia Highlights:
  • June 2024 - ExoCoffee, Max Plank Institute for Astronomy, Germany
  • April 2024 - UK Exoplanet Community Meeting, University of Birmingham, UK
  • December 2023 - Astrophysics Seminar, University of Bristol, UK
  • October 2023 - Stars, Planets and ISM Seminar, UT Austin, TX, USA
  • March 2023 - Special Seminar, NASA Goddard, MD, USA 
  • March 2023 - Special Seminar, University of Maryland, MD, USA 
  • November 2022 - Celebrating JWST's first six months of exoplanet data, Ringberg Castle, GermanyCe
  • May 2022 - Astro Seminar, American Museum of Natural History, NY, USA
  • May 2022 - Planetary Lunch, University of California: Santa Cruz, CA, USA
  • April 2022 - CIERA Science Happy Hour, Northwestern University, IL, USA 
  • April 2021 - UK Exoplanet Community Meeting, University of Birmingham, UK
  • May 2020 - Exoplanet Presentation Seminar Series, Center for Astrophysics | Harvard Smithsonian, MA, USA 
  • May 2020 - STARGATE Collaboration Seminar

Publications:
First Author
  1. JWST COMPASS: NIRSpec/G395H Transmission Observations of the Super-Earth TOI-776b
    Alderson, L., et al. 2025, AJ
  2. JWST COMPASS: NIRSpec/G395H Transmission Observations of the Super-Earth TOI-836b
    Alderson, L., et al. 2024, AJ, 167, 5
  3. ​Early Release Science of the Exoplanet WASP-39b with JWST NIRSpec G395H
    Alderson, L., Wakeford, H.R., Alam, M.K., Batalha, N.E., Lothringer, J.D., The JWST Transiting Exoplanet Community Early Release Science Team et al., 2023, Nature, 614, 664-669
  4. A Comprehensive Analysis of WASP-17b's Transmission Spectrum from Space-Based Observations
    Alderson, L., et al. 2022, MNRAS, 512, 4185
  5. LRG-BEASTS: ground-based detection of sodium and a steep optical slope in the atmosphere of the highly inflated hot-saturn WASP-21 
    Alderson, L., et al. 2020, MNRAS, 497, 5182​

Co-Author
  1. JWST-TST DREAMS: A Precise Water Abundance for Hot Jupiter WASP-17b from the NIRISS SOSS Transmission Spectrum
    Louie, D., Mullens, E., Alderson, L. et al., 2025, AJ, 169, 86
  2. JWST-TST DREAMS: A Super-Solar Metallicity in WASP-17 b’s Day-side Atmosphere from NIRISS SOSS Eclipse Spectroscopy
    Gressier, A. et al., 2025, AJ, 169, 57
  3. The HUSTLE Program: The UV to Near-Infrared HST WFC3/UVIS G280 Transmission Spectrum of WASP-127b
    Boehm, V. A. et al., 2025, AJ, 169, 23
  4. JWST COMPASS: The first near- to mid-infrared transmission spectrum of the hot super-Earth L 168-9 b
    Alam, M. K. et al., 2025, AJ, 169, 15
  5. BOWIE-ALIGN: A JWST comparative survey of aligned vs misaligned hot Jupiters to test the dependence of atmospheric composition on migration history
    Kirk, J. et al., 2024, RAS Techniques and Instruments, 3, 691
  6. JWST COMPASS: The 3-5 Micron Transmission Spectrum of the Super-Earth L 98-59 c,
    Scarsdale, N. et al., 2024 AJ, 168, 276
  7. JWST-TST DREAMS: Non-Uniform Dayside Emission for WASP-17b from MIRI/LRS
    Valentine, D. et al., 2024, AJ, 168, 123
  8. A Benchmark JWST Near-Infrared Spectrum for the Exoplanet WASP-39b
    Carter, A. L. & May, E. M. et al., Nature Astronomy, 2024, 8, 1008–1019
  9. JWST COMPASS: A NIRSpec/G395H Transmission Spectrum of the Sub-Neptune TOI-836c
    Wallack, N., Batalha, N., Alderson, L., et al., 2024, AJ, 168, 77
  10. Quantifying the Transit Light Source Effect: Measurements of Spot Temperature and Coverage on the Photosphere of AU Microscopii with High-Resolution Spectroscopy and Multi-Colour Photometry
    Waalkes, W., et al. 2024, ApJL, 962, 1
  11. Double Trouble: Two Transits of the Super-Earth GJ 1132b Observed with JWST NIRSpec G395H
    May, E. M., & MacDonald, R. J., et al. 2023, ApJL, 959, 1
  12. JWST-TST DREAMS: Quartz Clouds in the Atmosphere of WASP-17b
    Grant, D. et al. 2023 ApJL, 956, L29
  13. Detection of Carbon Monoxide's 4.6 Micron Fundamental Band Structure in WASP-39b's Atmosphere with JWST NIRSpec G395H
    Grant, D. et al. 2023, ApJL, 494, L15
  14. Early Release Science of the Exoplanet WASP-39b with JWST NIRSpec PRISM 
    Rustamkulov, Z.;     The JWST Transiting Exoplanet Community Early Release Science Team et al. 2023, Nature, 614, 659-663
  15. Early Release Science of the Exoplanet WASP-39b with JWST NIRCam 
    Ahrer, E-M.;     The JWST Transiting Exoplanet Community Early Release Science Team et al. 2023, Nature, 614, 653-658
  16. Early Release Science of the Exoplanet WASP-39b with JWST NIRISS 
    Feinstein, A.D.; The JWST Transiting Exoplanet Community Early Release Science Team et al. 2023, Nature, 614, 670-675
  17. Photochemically-produced SO2 in the atmosphere of WASP-39b
    Tsai, S-M.; The JWST Transiting Exoplanet Community Early Release Science Team et al. 2023, Nature
  18. Identification of carbon dioxide in an exoplanet atmosphere
    The JWST Transiting Exoplanet Community Early Release Science Team 2023, Nature, 614, 649-652
  19. Importance of Sample Selection in Exoplanet Atmosphere Population Studies,
    Batalha, N. E.; Wolfgang, A.; Teske, J.; Alam, M. K.; Alderson, L.; Batalha, N. M.; López-Morales, M.; Wakeford, H. R.; 2022, ApJ
HEADER IMAGE CREDIT:  NASA, ESA, G. BACON