Bibiana Prinoth is being honoured by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), an organisation that brings together astronomers from across the world. The doctoral prize is awarded annually to early-career researchers whose theses are judged to have made particularly significant scientific contributions.
Each year, the IAU’s nine scientific divisions select one laureate each, meaning that only a small number of doctoral graduates worldwide are recognised.
"It is a great honour and still feels unreal. I hope it can inspire others to follow their curiosity and show that there are many different paths into research", says Bibiana Prinoth.
Research on extreme exoplanets
In her thesis, Bibiana Prinoth studied the atmospheres of so-called ultra-hot Jupiter planets – gas giants with extremely high temperatures. Using advanced spectroscopy, she analyses starlight that passes through planetary atmospheres, making it possible to identify chemical elements across vast distances.
In its citation, the IAU highlights her contributions to characterising this type of extreme exoplanet atmosphere. Particular attention is given to the first robust detection of titanium oxide in a planetary atmosphere using transmission spectroscopy, published in the scientific journal Nature Astronomy, with Bibiana Prinoth as first author.
"What fascinates me most is that we can learn so much about planets hundreds of light years away through tiny changes in starlight. Detecting very weak signals is a major challenge. I still remember when we identified titanium oxide in the data, a moment that reminds you why research is so exciting", says Bibiana Prinoth.
Recognition in global competition
The IAU PhD Prize is awarded to research deemed to have exceptional scientific quality and clear international impact. The distinction is therefore a mark of excellence at a global level.
"I feel very honoured by this recognition in an international competition and see it as acknowledgement of both my own work and the research environment I have been part of. Research is fundamentally a collaborative effort", says Bibiana Prinoth.
From Lund to the international research stage
Bibiana Prinoth carried out her doctoral studies at the Division of Astrophysics at the Department of Physics in Lund. She now works as a researcher at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Garching, outside Munich, where she continues to study exoplanets and develop methods for analysing their atmospheres.
As part of the award, the laureates are invited to present their research at the IAU General Assembly in Rome in August 2027.
"The prize motivates me to continue exploring exoplanets, especially cooler and potentially more Earth-like worlds. New telescopes are opening up opportunities to study smaller planets and perhaps identify environments where life could exist", says Bibiana Prinoth.
The International Astronomical Union (IAU)
Bibiana Prinoth's thesis in the Lund University Research Portal.