Hi everyone! I am Giulia, a PhD student in Physics at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and the Meteorological Institute at the Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich (LMU). I am passionate about atmospheres, and I conduct research in studying the Earth as an exoplanet.
I grew up in Ostia, the neighbourhood of Rome (Italy) near the seaside. I obtained my Bachelor's degree in Physics in 2020 from Sapienza University of Rome. Then I moved to Munich, Germany, where I received my Master of Science in Physics at the Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich (LMU) in 2022.
I am a Student Representative and part of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) Committee of ESO. In my free time, I love travelling, being outside in the nature and playing basketball!
My work is at the interface between atmospheric physics and exoplanet atmospheres. Using 3D radiative transfer models, I perform detailed simulations of the Earth System and create hyper realistic disk-integrated spectra of the Earth as an exoplanet. The full list of my publications can be found on NASA ADS and Google Scholar.
Atmospheric physics
I study Earth's global albedo and clouds radiative response in 3D radiative transfer simulations using the state-of-the-art code MYSTIC.
I have experience with satellite data (like the MODIS MCD43D surface albedo data) and atmospheric reanalysis products (ERA5).
I built a 3D global cloud generator algorithm to treat cloud vertical overlap and heterogeneity in 3D radiation schemes, which is crucial to correctly represent ERA5 reanalysis cloud properties and to compare with satellite products.
exoplanet atmospheres
I use a catalogue of disk-integrated observations of the Earth as an exoplanet to benchmark clouds and surface features in 3D radiative transfer simulations.
This validation approach is performed using both intensity and polarised light. I can study if polarisation gives us more information about the characterization of the planet.
I have observing experience with the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Paranal (Chile) and I was awarded a P114 proposal as a PI to characterise the atmosphere of a Hot Jupiter.
Projects
Earthshine observations
Earthshine, the sunlight reflected from Earth's atmosphere
onto the Moon, mirrors how we might observe Earth as an exoplanet. I use a 3D
radiative transfer model to simulate Earth as an exoplanet in intensity and
polarisation, comparing the results with Earthshine observations. This approach
helps me study how atmospheric and surface properties affect the
characterization of Earth as an exoplanet.
Paper in preparation (coming soon!)
Earth as an exoplanet
I perform 3D radiative transfer simulations to
understand the spectral and temporal variability of Earth-like exoplanets. My research particularly focuses on the effect of clouds and different land
surfaces, which are related to the habitability of the planet.
Paper submitted (coming soon!)
Hyperspectral albedo maps
I developed an hyperspectral albedo dataset for Earth called
HAMSTER, which play an important role in correctly representing the spectral,
temporal and spatial variability of Earth's surface reflectivity. This has many
implications in Earth System Models to correctly tackle Earth's climate and in
remote sensing applications.
I studied how long exomoons orbiting free-floating planets
(FFPs) can retain liquid water. Through close-encounter simulations, I
determined the exomoon's orbital parameters after staying gravitationally bound
to the escaping planet. Assuming tidal heating as the sole heat source, I
modeled the orbital and atmospheric evolution to study surface temperature
changes over time.
As a Student Representative at ESO, I have been dedicated to enhancing the conditions and working environment for PhD students while serving as a liaison between students and the Office for Science. I coordinated Student Reps activities, and my main responsibilities included welcoming new students, organizing Mental Health Awareness events, and managing conflicts within the student community with the support of workplace advisors.
My involvement in these activities has allowed me to grow personally and professionally, and I am grateful for the support of my fellow Student Representatives.
Community Work
During my time at ESO, I am co-organizing the topical weekly meeting series "Stellar Coffee and Planetary Tea". I also co-organized various events, including the Social Day for the Department of Science and the Astronomy-for-Non-Astronomers talks.
In addition, I am a member of the ESO Student Selection Committee and I was also involved in the ESO Summer Research program 2024, co-advising a student.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
I initiated an informal discussion series on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) and served as the first Student Representative on the ESO DE&I Committee, where I contributed to organizing talks and announcements and acted as a resource for students on these topics.
Additionally, I played a role in outreach, representing ESO at the European Patent Office Girls' Day and co-developing the Pale Blue Dot project to inspire young children about our planet's uniqueness.
Outreach
I co-developed the Pale Blue Dot project to inspire young children about our planet's uniqueness from an astrophysical and Earth science perspectives.
I also represented ESO at the European Patent Office (EPO) Girls' Day to share my path as a women in STEM.
In the News
You can check out my interview with the Exoplanet Diversity SPP 1992 team at this LINK.
My work on exomoons orbiting free-floating planets got a press release from LMU, Origins, MPE and OCA. You can read more about our results in our interviews for Le Monde, Science News, and Ciel&espace.
My hobbies
I have a passion for traveling, exploring new destinations, and immersing myself in the diverse cultures and stories of people from all walks of life. I’m always excited to try different ethnic foods, and in my free time, you'll often find me playing basketball, swimming, or capturing moments with my camera.
During my travels, I enjoy taking photos! Here you can find a small collections of photos taken during some of my best travels.
giulia.roccetti@eso.org giuli.roccetti@gmail.com
Office E.5.25, European Southern Observatory (ESO), Karl-Schwarzschild-Straße 2, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany
