2023 astronomy Ph.D. graduate honored for dissertation work, mentoring and leadership

The Astronomical Society of the Pacific has honored recent UC Santa Cruz Ph.D. graduate Maggie Thompson for research "considered unusually important to astronomy." In its September 16 announcement, the organization summed up why Thompson won its 2024 Robert J. Trumpler Award by quoting one nominator who said that her dissertation work “will be seen as the start of something new in astrophysics.”

Thompson’s dissertation sat at the intersection of astrophysics, geochemistry, and meteorites to answer fundamental questions about the origins of rocky-planet atmospheres, what compositions are feasible, and how to differentiate what gasses may be signs of life versus naturally forming. Thompson explored these questions through a range of scientific methodologies including developing novel laboratory experiments on meteorites and modeling expertise in planetary climate, photochemistry, and geochemical evolution.

As facilities like the James Webb Space Telescope begin to probe the properties of rocky exoplanets directly, Thompson's compelling cross-disciplinary work is critical to interpret those observations, the society stated. Her research included meteorite experiments that constrain how outgassing from rocky exoplanets produces molecules that set the stage for the development of an atmosphere.

In addition, Thompson’s modeling efforts demonstrated how methane—one of the few readily detectable biosignatures with current facilities—is produced in the absence of life. In her paper, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, Thompson outlines a three-pronged approach to determine if observations of abundant atmospheric methane could be a sign of life.

"With the James Webb Space Telescope actively detecting methane," the award announcement states, "Thompson’s work is foundational to the search for extraterrestrial life."

Thompson has also served as a research mentor to more junior graduate and undergraduate students, as well as serving as an organizer in the Bay Area region, for the Rising Stargirls astronomy workshops. The society also cited Thompson’s engaging presence as a public speaker and her leadership roles as a member of the American Astronomical Society’s Early Career Task Force and as a National Osterbrock Leadership Program Fellow.

Thompson is currently a NASA Hubble Fellowship Program Sagan Fellow at the Carnegie Institution for Science’s Earth and Planets Laboratory, where her main research interest is to use experimental techniques to understand the link between atmospheres and the bulk composition of rocky exoplanets. As part of this work, she also collaborates with researchers at ETH Zürich in Switzerland.

Thompson will be presented with her award at a gala on Saturday, November 9. Established in 1889, the nonprofit Astronomical Society of the Pacific uses astronomy to increase the understanding and appreciation of science and to advance science and science literacy.