Adrien Houge

I am a 3rd year PhD student from the Astrophysics group of the University of Exeter (UK), now at the European Southern Observatory in Garching (Germany) for a few months. My research focuses on the coagulation of small dust grains in discs surrounding young stars, and how they shape habitable worlds. More precisely, I am interested in how their properties (e.g. composition and structure) influence their ability to grow into planetesimals and protoplanets. I am also part of Alien Earths, a new NASA-funded astrobiology research team. Before that, I obtained my Master’s degree at the University of Liège, in Belgium, where I worked on the transit timing variations in TRAPPIST-1 planets. Beyond work, I enjoy a whole range of outdoor activities, from hiking and camping to climbing and ice swimming!