Kerri Cahoy

Researcher Seeks to Discover Who Else Might be Out There

For anyone who has ever wondered whether the vast universe contains worlds or life forms similar to our earthly variety, Dr. Kerri Cahoy can more than relate; she quite likely ponders the thought a half-dozen times daily.

Cahoy, like many others, began asking cosmic questions as a starry-eyed youngster. Her interest began during a fourth-grade science project and grew exponentially. "Somewhere amidst the encyclopedias, the crayons, the paste, the blue-lined paper and the scissors, I was also crafting the beginnings of my lifelong passion for space exploration," Cahoy said. "I want to help explore new frontiers and answer, 'Are we alone? Are there other worlds out there like ours?'"

Cahoy, a Connecticut native who earned her doctorate in electrical engineering from Stanford University, is pursuing those big questions as part of the NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP), a competitive fellowship which is administered by Oak Ridge Associated Universities. Cahoy's assignment is in the field of exoplanet science, which involves the study of planets that revolve around other stars—much like the planets in our solar system revolve around the sun.

There are some 300 known exoplanets, most of them bigger than Jupiter. The NPP research team is working on designing a space-science mission that could study these and other, yet-to-be-discovered exoplanets. Cahoy's efforts focus on designing spacecraft missions, science instruments and computer models that assist scientists in photographing and further understanding exoplanets.

Specifically, Cahoy is assisting in the design of a spacecraft that will hold a space telescope and a special instrument called a coronagraph that takes pictures of planets around other stars, aiding researchers in finding exoplanets. She's also creating computer models of what exoplanets might look like, exploring what exoplanets are made of and providing an idea of the cameras and optics that will be necessary to take useful pictures.

Cahoy's enthusiasm and skill in exoplanet research has not gone unnoticed. "Kerri is uniquely talented in ways that are very well-suited to her work," said Dr. Tom Greene, who mentors Cahoy along with Dr. Mark Marley.

"It is very unusual for one person to be highly skilled in such diverse engineering and science activities," Greene added. "Along with these skills, Kerri's tenacity and excellent analytical ability combine to position her well for making real progress in understanding other planets."

Cahoy's passion for her research is unmistakable. "This is a great opportunity. It puts me in touch with just the right people, and in the right places," she said. "But it's up to me to remember on a daily basis what my goals are, what I want to accomplish, and to put in the time and effort."

Looking ahead, Cahoy plans to continue her research in exoplanet science, striving to understand the planets in our solar system and beyond. She wants to teach and mentor as a professor at a university or a scientist at an institute.

She also hopes to participate in, and eventually lead, an active mission exploring the universe. Is it a big dream? Sure. But probably not too otherworldly for a researcher who already spends so much of her time among the stars.