Hello!

My name is Annabelle Niblett and I am a first year PhD Student at the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory working with Professor Sukrit Ranjan. In 2026, I was awarded both a University Fellowship through the University of Arizona and a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. My primary areas of interest are exoplanets, planetary atmospheres, planetary evolution and formation, and theoretical astrophysics. With the Ranjan group, my initial research project focuses on determining how we can constrain abiogenesis theories through Mars exoploration. In my free time, I enjoy running, hiking, reading, and visiting local coffee shops.

Academic and Research Background

In June of 2026, I graduated from Dartmouth College with a double major in Physics and Astronomy (high honors) and a minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. At Dartmouth, I worked with Professor Elisabeth Newton studying hot Jupiters and M-dwarfs. Under her mentorship, I completed an undergraduate thesis entitled Hot Jupiter Atmospheres Through Time.

During off-terms, I worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory under Dr. Chris Fryer simulating light curves of type Ic supernovae and at NASA JPL under Dr. Sam Halverson advancing radial velocity detrending techniques for exoplanet detection. My past research areas include the northern lights, the transit and radial velocity methods for exoplanet detection, core-collapse supernovae, cataclysmic variable stars, the lithium depletion boundary for M-dwarfs, and exoplanet atmospheres.

Service and Leadership

I prioritized service within the Physics and Astronomy Department and gender-based violence work during my time at Dartmouth, advocating for gender minorities across different campus communities. In the spring of 2023, I restarted Dartmouth’s dormant Physics and Astronomy Society, serving as co-president of the organization continously until September of 2025. In this capacity, I coordinated student involvement in the hiring of a new faculty member, planned events geared towards community building and academic support of students, and acted as a liaison between undergraduates, faculty, and staff. I also served for two terms as an undergraduate DEI coordinator, planning events specifically aiming to bring together students and faculty who identified as gender minorities. Finally, I spent two terms as an astronomy teaching assistant, running labs, grading assignments, administering exams, and holding office hours.

Outside of the Physics and Astronomy Department, I dedicated my time to gender-based violence work. Through the Sexual Assault Peer Alliance, I received 40 hours of training to be endorsed as a peer support resource and served as the organization’s outreach chair. As a Sexual Violence Prevention Project peer facilitator, I ran mandatory termly trainings about campus resources and positive relationships for freshman and sophomore students. Under the Student and Presidential Committee on Sexual Assault, I advocated for the needs of the student body with campus administrators, engaged in policy work, and planned campus-wide events. I look forward to continuing my outreach and leadership at the University of Arizona.