Millar-Blanchaer
Research Group

University of California, Santa Barbara

Our research group focuses on exoplanet detection and characterization using high-contrast imaging and polarimetry. We develop new instrumentation, observational techniques, and data analysis methods to push the boundaries of what we can learn about planets outside our solar system.

Personally, my research is motivated by a desire to better understand our origins, through the study of planet formation and evolution, and to develop a better sense of our place in the universe, through the long-term search for Earth-like planets. In particular, I'm interested in the detection and characterization of directly imaged of exoplanets, brown dwarfs and debris disks (extra solar analogs to our own Kuiper and asteroid belts). My work involves a mix of instrumentation, observation and data analysis. Take a look around the website, and please get in touch if you see anything that interests you! Click here for a list of my first-author publications, or on the ADS icon for a full list.

News and Travel

Aug 24, 2025 Updates
The website has been migrated to be hosted on github.io and has several quality of life improvements
Aug 24, 2024 Opportunities
Potential Graduate Students: I'm likely to take on a new graduate student in Fall 2024.
Aug 24, 2024 Updates
I've just completed a much needed website update. Please browse around!
Aug 20, 2024 Conferences & Travel
At SPIE also don't miss talks from students of mine: Sofia Hillman (UCSB Undergrad), Rebecca Zhang (UCSB Grad) and Skyler Palatnick (UCSB Grad).