My vision is that Artificial Intelligence (AI)—the ability for a computer program to learn and think—could allow for overcoming the limitations that humans bring to data analysis. AI can review large volumes of data and discover specific trends and patterns that would not be apparent to humans. This makes AI a natural tool to look at missing links, such as those connecting to the formation of planetary systems and the origin of life on Earth, or to signals of advanced civilizations elsewhere.

I study the physics of explosive phenomena such as coronal mass ejections and solar flares, and how they affect Earth. These phenomena convert solar magnetic field energy into kinetic and thermal energy. The charged particles in the solar corona can be accelerated to relativistic particles (solar energetic particle events). SEPs can cause radiation hazards and disrupt communication and transportation systems. My goal is to reveal the origin, acceleration and transport mechanisms of these energetic particles by developing a model of particle acceleration at a non-spherical shock.

(Xiaohang's award was announced after publication of the print edition for Spring 2020.)

My research concerns volcanism on Earth and other planets. I study the physical processes that drive volcanic eruptions and use numerical techniques to model these processes. I also use radar data to complement and constrain my modeling work. I enjoy implementing mathematical models to carry out quantitative geological investigations. I’m a firm proponent of using radar instruments for planetary exploration and I’m keen on expanding my expertise in different radar techniques like ground penetrating radars, imaging synthetic aperture radars, and radar polarimetric imaging.

Clouds affect how much energy is being absorbed and reflected in an atmosphere. By regulating the heating and cooling rate of an atmosphere, clouds play a key role in shaping the weather and climate of a planet. Observations of planets beyond the Solar System, which are called exoplanets, suggest that clouds are prevalent in planetary atmospheres. My long-term research goal is to understand the chemical and physical processes in cloud formation, and to answer the question “How do clouds impact the evolution of planetary atmospheres?”

My research focuses on hot Jupiters. Hazes obscure the spectral signatures of gases present in the atmospheres of many hot Jupiters, making it hard to determine what the atmosphere is made of. I investigate if these hazes are formed through photochemical processes. Previous research has used 1D models that cannot fully capture the effects of the strong winds on hot Jupiters. My goal is therefore to adapt the 3D Global Climate Model that my research group uses to include photochemical hazes.

The surface of a planet is an expression of the interior dynamics of the body. I am interested in establishing fundamental links between both to learn more about the inner working principles and evolution of planets. Linking the volcanic deposits to the controlling mechanisms is the research topic that I am inspired by and thus my Ph.D. is dedicated to better understanding these relationships. It is fundamental to combine terrestrial with planetary volcanism, so I study eruption products of the 2014–2015 Holuhraun lava flow-field in Iceland and the Elysium volcanic province on Mars.