The 'Missing Link' of Black Holes Has Been Found
Research2RealityAstronomers finally have long-awaited evidence of the existence of intermediate-mass black holes, thanks in part to gravitational waves.
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Dr. Emily Deibert
Gemini Science Fellow, Gemini South Observatory/NSF's NOIRLab
Hi! My name is Emily Deibert, and I'm a Gemini Science Fellow at the Gemini South Observatory in La Serena, Chile operated by NSF's NOIRLab. In August 2022, I defended my PhD in Astronomy & Astrophysics from the University of Toronto. Prior to starting my PhD, I completed an Honours Bachelor of Science in Astrophysics, English, and Mathematics from Victoria College at U of T. In early 2026, I will be moving to the University of Waterloo.
Scroll down to learn more about my research and other activities, or view my full CV here.
Research
My research focuses on observations of exoplanet atmospheres in the optical and near-infrared. I use high-resolution, ground-based telescopes around the world to try to learn more about hot Jupiters and super-Earths, and to shed light on the formation and evolutionary histories of these distant worlds.
Along with my colleague Adam Langeveld, I'm currently the Principal Investigator of a Large and Long Program at the Gemini South Observatory titled SPECTRE-GHOST (Spectroscopically Probing Extremely hot Climate of TRansiting Exoplanets with GHOST). Nominally scheduled to obtain observations between the 2024B and 2027A semesters, SPECTRE-GHOST will carry out a comprehensive survey of ultra-hot Jupiters in both transmission and emission in order to learn more about their atmospheric compositions and dynamics.
In my recent publication "High-resolution Dayside Spectroscopy of WASP-189 b: Detection of Iron during the GHOST/Gemini South System Verification Run", I used high-resolution optical spectra from the new Gemini High-resolution Optical SpecTrograph (GHOST) instrument at the Gemini South Observatory in order to study the atmosphere of the ultra-hot Jupiter WASP-189b. In this paper, I presented the first atmospheric analysis of an exoplanet with GHOST, using data I obtained during the instrument's System Verification run in late 2023. With just three hours of pre-eclipse observations, we made a strong detection of iron emission in the planet's atmosphere, confirming previous results and demonstrating the efficacy of GHOST in observing and characterizing exoplanet atmospheres.
Click below to learn more about my research interests, or check out my full publication list on ADS.
Science Writing
I'm currently a staff science writer and editor at Research2Reality, where I write articles on Canadian science news and manage a team of science writers. I've also contributed freelance work to various other outlets. Take a look at some of my work below, or click through to my full portfolio.
Weird weather: Metal rain and super-high temperatures on an ultra-hot exoplanet
The Conversation
How Much Stuff is There in the Universe?
New ScientistJust how much stuff is there? Is it possible to estimate the quantity of matter in the observable universe in any meaningful way?
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Teaching & Outreach
I'm also passionate about science outreach, teaching, and communication. I've given various public talks, helped organize science outreach events, and have been a teaching assistant for numerous courses at U of T. Here are some initiatives I've been involved in:
Contact
You can contact me through email at emily.deibert@noirlab.edu.
Address
Gemini South Observatory
Casilla 603
La Serena, Coquimbo
Chile