I study the structure and dynamics of planets, with a particular focus on the generation of magnetic fields by planets. I am currently a co-investigator on NASA’s Juno mission, a polar orbiter around Jupiter, where I am most closely involved in measurements of the planet’s magnetic and gravitational fields. In very recent work, my research group and collaborators have shown that Jupiter’s magnetic field has an unexpected morphology suggesting that the interior structure of Jupiter is more complex than a simple sphere of metallic hydrogen. In other work, my group is currently investigating Saturn’s magnetic field, a planet which, despite its similarity to Jupiter, generates a magnetic field that is very different from that of Jupiter.
Awards and Achievements
- Fellow of the Royal Society