The CHEOPS space telescope, which was developed and built at the University of Bern, has been orbiting the Earth since 2019 and observes exoplanets, i.e. planets outside our solar system. Jo Ann Egger is a doctoral student at the Physics Institute at the University of Bern and has been a member of the CHEOPS scientific team since June 2024. She is the youngest member and the first female student in the team.

Egger’s fascination with the universe sparked as a child. While studying physics at the University of Bern, she then decided to embark on the path of space exploration. Today, she researches exoplanets and has developed, among other things, a model that she can use to calculate how a particular planet might be structured from its size and weight: What kind of atmosphere does it have? Is it mostly made of rock? Or is there perhaps water?

Among other things, Egger works with data from the CHEOPS space telescope: “It’s a special feeling when you get data straight from space. At first, this responsibility made me nervous because each observation costs a lot of money.” Inspired by her model, she proposed an observation program for CHEOPS together with her doctoral supervisor Yann Alibert, Co-Director of the Center for Space and Habitability. With “Hot Water Worlds,” Egger is now leading her own first observation program to detect potentially water-rich planets close to their star.

In the meantime, Egger has already been involved in around 20 scientific publications, which is a remarkable achievement as a doctoral student. As a calm yet determined individual, she has already earned a great deal of respect in the scientific community. So there is every indication that she will become a leading voice in exoplanet research.