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by A&S News听

听A pioneer in the study of exoplanets and exoplanet atmospheres, is returning to her alma mater, the University of Toronto (U of T), to join the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CITA) as North Star Distinguished Professor, starting September 1, 2026.听

鈥淚鈥檓 excited to return home as a faculty member, researcher and mentor at the institution where my academic journey began, and to push the boundaries of discovery with forward-thinking collaborators across disciplines,鈥� says Seager, a native Torontonian and U of T alum who grew up a few blocks from the downtown campus.听听

Seager鈥檚 research will be supported through cross-appointments with the Departments of and , as well as the with funding from the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics.听听

She joins CITA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where she will complete her tenure as Professor of Physics, Professor of Planetary Science and Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Prior to MIT, she was with the Carnegie Institute of Science and the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, New Jersey. In 1999, she received her PhD from Harvard University. In 2023, she received an for her leadership in the fields of astrophysics and planetary science. She earned a bachelor of science in the math and physics specialist program at U of T in 1994.听

Throughout her distinguished career, which includes the Kavli Prize in Astrophysics, a MacArthur Fellowship (or 鈥済enius grant鈥�) and the distinction of Officer of the Order of Canada, Seager has conducted ground-breaking research into the detection and study of exoplanet atmospheres, with a focus on what those observations reveal about the possibility and presence of life.听

Seager鈥檚 quest for Earth-like exoplanets 鈥� 鈥淓arth 2.0鈥濃�� and signs of life on them听guides her efforts in space-based searches. She was Deputy Science Director of the NASA space mission , a space telescope which has discovered hundreds of planets orbiting nearby stars. She led NASA-sponsored Starshade mission concept studies, establishing the feasibility of starshade science and technology for directly imaging Earth-sized exoplanets around nearby Sun-like stars. Her search also includes missions designed to look for signs of life closer to home, within the atmosphere of Venus.听

鈥淲e are delighted to welcome Professor Seager to the CITA community,鈥� says , interim director of the institute. 鈥淗er visionary leadership in exoplanet research, especially her groundbreaking work on atmospheric characterization and the search for biosignatures, aligns perfectly with CITA’s mission to push the frontiers of theoretical astrophysics.鈥�听

CITA is Canada’s national research centre based in the Faculty of Arts & Science at U of T and is dedicated to the advancement of theoretical astrophysics and our understanding of the universe. Its dual mission is to foster interactions within the Canadian astrophysics community, in part through its national postdoctoral fellowships, postdoctoral and research associate fellowships, and extensive student supervision.听

鈥淧rofessor Seager鈥檚 arrival marks an incredibly exciting moment for the faculty, CITA and the Canadian scientific community,鈥� says Stephen Wright, interim dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science. 鈥淗er inventive, interdisciplinary research agenda promises to ignite new collaborations and inspire a new generation of scientists.鈥�听

As for what she has planned for when she arrives, Seager will establish an ambitious interdisciplinary research program. This initiative will rethink the habitability of planets and accelerate the search for life across the cosmos. Her program is built upon the synergy of exoplanet astronomy, laboratory organic chemistry, computational physics and aerospace engineering.听听听

She will also continue to lead the , a series of privately and publicly funded space missions to Venus. The first mission, in partnership with Rocket Lab, will launch a spacecraft to Earth鈥檚 solar system neighbour, targeted for 2026. The series of missions will study Venus鈥檚 atmosphere to search for organic molecules that could indicate the presence of life.听听

鈥淯 of T has consistently led the way in transformative research,鈥� said Seager. 鈥淚鈥檓 deeply honoured to join this community of visionary thinkers dedicated to innovation and impact.鈥�听

Find more details on ,听听and听.听Listen to an interview with Professor Seager on听, .