Ryan Cloutier

Assistant Professor, Physics & Astronomy

0000-0001-5383-9393

Ryan is an observational astronomer who specializes in the detection and characterization of extrasolar planetary systems around distant stars, with a focus on low-mass red dwarf stars, the most common stars in our galaxy. Red dwarfs host abundant populations of small planets, yet many open questions remain regarding their formation pathways, compositions, and evolutionary processes. Ryan's research program addresses these questions through a combination of population-level studies of exoplanets—from massive gas giants to small terrestrial planets—alongside detailed measurements of individual planets’ masses, atmospheres, and interiors, and efforts to characterize their host stars’ compositions and magnetic properties, all using observations from major space- and ground-based observatories. This complement of approaches allows Ryan to connect the observable properties of planets to the astrophysical processes that produce and sculpt the diversity of planets throughout our galaxy.