Hello!
My name is Dr. Ryan Cloutier and I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics &
Astronomy at McMaster University.
My research focuses on detecting and characterizing the galaxy's most common planets around its most common stars (i.e. M dwarfs). These exoplanets, ranging in size between Earth and Neptune, lack a close analog in our solar system for detailed study. I use a variety of observational techniques to study these super-Earths and sub-Neptunes from many light years away, to contribute to our understanding of how these planets form and evolve. This involves investigating the occurrence rates of these planets, their bulk and atmospheric compositions, as well as many of the physical phenomena exhibited by their host stars that drive their evolution.