Astrobiologist of the Month
September
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Every month we feature two astrobiologists from around the world. Our aim is for everyone to get to know each other, connect and network. If you would like to be featured, let us know here.
✉️ ramses [dot] ramirez [at] ucf [dot] edu
🌎 Orlando, Florida, USA
Opportunities
Undergraduate students
PhD students
Postdoc
RAMSES RAMIREZ
“I am a planetary and atmospheric scientist that simulates the atmospheres of potentially habitable terrestrial planets within our solar system and beyond. Not only does my work assess habitability in our own solar system, but it helps astronomers determine which exoplanets are the best targets for follow-up studies.”
Position
Assistant Professor of Physics at the University of Central Florida
Career Pathway
I had first completed my aerospace engineering degree (B.S.) from the Georgia Institute of Technology. I switched gears soon after that, taking some geology courses at the University of South Florida before completing my Master's Degree in Planetary Geology from Arizona State University. I had capped off my university studies with a Ph.D in Geosciences (Astrobiology minor) at the Pennsylvania State University.
I had two postdoc positions. First, I was a research associate at Cornell University before moving to Japan to work as a research scientist at the Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI).
Research Topics
Recent work has focused on the climate of early Mars, atmospheric escape, and improving upon definitions of the habitable zone used to find potentially habitable planets. We are also interested in understanding atmospheric-magma ocean evolution and in investigating additional solar system atmospheres, like Titan and Venus.. I believe that studying both our solar system and exoplanets leads to greater knowledge of planets and the possibility of life on them.
Why did you decide to become an Astrobiologist?
I have always been interested in aliens and on life on other planets. Space is awfully big and I strongly doubt that we are alone in this vast cosmic expanse. My lab is helping to develop the theories that will lead to the first discovery of life on another planet. That is just one of the many exciting things about my career!
If your lab/research group had a nickname, what would it be?
The Planetary Hub (or just "The Hub" for short)
Are you accepting students?
Undergraduate and PhD students; Also Postdocs!!