Songhu Wang awarded inaugural 51 Pegasi b Fellowship

Yale Astronomy postdoctoral associate Songhu Wang has been awarded the inaugural 51 Pegasi b Fellowship by the Heising-Simons Foundation. He will join a group of three other fellows from UC Berkeley, Caltech, and MIT to form the inaugural cohort.

Songhu Wang’s research expertise draws on both observational and theoretical approaches to break new ground toward understanding exoplanet formation and evolution. He led planet detection research mission of the Antarctic-based Chinese Small Telescope ARray (CSTAR). He also has done analytic and computational work to elucidate interactions in planetary systems.  

According to the Heising-Simons Foundation, “the 51 Pegasi b Fellowship Program provides an opportunity for exceptional recent doctoral scientists to conduct novel theoretical and observational research in planetary astronomy… The fellowship program supports postdoctoral fellows to advance our fundamental understanding of exoplanets, protoplanetary disks, solar system formation, planetary atmospheres, or other closely related topics. The fellowship program recognizes early-career investigators of significant potential and provides them with the opportunity to conduct independent research that will establish them in positions of distinction and leadership in the field and will be disseminated in publications and otherwise.”

“The program also sponsors an annual planetary astronomy symposium to increase and facilitate the exchange of information and ideas in the field through the networking of students, postdoctoral researchers, young faculty members, and established researchers.”

-Adapted from text by S. Basu