About Me
Hi, my name is Brett Addison. I was a Ph.D. student at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in the Department of Astrophysics and Optics (School of Physics) working on exoplanet detection and characterization. I commenced my graduate studies in July of 2010 and I have just been awarded my PhD (April 2015)! I am a member of the exoplanetary science group here at UNSW and also associated with the Australian Centre for Astrobiology (ACA).
My research involves carrying out radial velocity follow up measurements of transiting planet candidates from the HATSouth transit survey and measuring the spin-orbit alignments of transiting exoplanets by observing the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect using the newly commissioned fibre bundle CYCLOPS2 at the Anglo-Australian Telescope. This research will help us better understand the processes involved in the formation of planets and the mechanisms driving planetary migration and spin-orbit misalignments.
Other areas of research interest include atmospheric studies of exoplanets and the detection of biosignatures in planetary atmospheres (basically anything pertaining to exoplanetary science, astrobiology, and the search for life). For more details on my work, please check out my research page.
Outside of astronomy (whenever I have free time if that ever exist when you are a Ph.D. student), I enjoy running, surfing, tennis, and other outdoor activities. I played on the tennis team at Florida Tech where I did my undergraduate degrees and on the varsity team back in High School.
University of New South Wales – Sydney, NSW Australia
Ph.D. Astrophysics, Measuring the Spin-orbit Alignments of Extrasolar Planets – April 2015
Florida Institute of Technology – Melbourne, FL
B.S., Astronomy & Astrophysics, Magna Cum Laude – December 2009
B.S., Mathematical Science, Magna Cum Laude – December 2009
Riverview High School – Sarasota, FL
May 2005
Australian Centre for Astrobiology Scholarship – University of New South Wales
Award amount: $4,000AUD
August 2014
University International Postgraduate Award (UIPA) – University of New South Wales
Award amount: $57,140AUD per annum
July 2010 – February 2014
UNSW Exoplanetary Science Ph.D. Top-Up Scholarship – University of New South Wales
Award amount: $6,000AUD per annum
July 2010 – February 2014
Fred Sieber Foundation Scholarship – Florida Institute of Technology
Award amount: $6,000 per annum
January 2007 – December 2009
Florida Full Bright Futures Scholarship – Florida Institute of Technology
Award amount: $4,000 per annum
August 2005 – December 2009
Dean's List (GPA > 3.5) – Florida Institute of Technology
2005 – 2009
Astronomical Society of Australia (ASA)
July 2010 – present
Australian Centre for Astrobiology (ACA)
July 2010 – present
Sigma Pi Sigma – Physics Honor Society
2008 – present
Phi Eta Sigma – Freshman Honor Society at Florida Institute of Technology
2006
Students for the Exploration & Development of Space – Florida Institute of Technology chapter
Treasurer: 2008 – 2009
Member: 2007 – 2009
Society of Physics Students – Florida Institute of Technology chapter
Vice President: 2007 – 2008
Member: 2006 – 2009