Second-year student Rachel Fernandes won funding support for travel to the 3rd Advanced School on Exoplanetary Science (ASES3), which was held in Vietri sul Mare (Salerno), Italy, from May 27-31.

Rachel's research interests are planet formation with a background in dynamics of young disks. Her current research focus is on exoplanet characterization and habitability with the NASA NExSS Earths in Other Solar Systems (EOS) team at the University of Arizona. Her advisor is Associate Professor Ilaria Pascucci. Rachel anticipates that attending ASES3 will help her formulate long-range research plans for her graduate work and help her to build professional relationships with international researchers.