Student Information
Graduate Student
Astrophysics
The College of Lib Arts & Sci
Long Bio
Finnegan Keller is a Presidential Graduate Assistant in the Exoteric Lab at the School for Earth and Space Exploration. His primary objective is to leverage the intersections between astronomy, planetary science, and astrobiology to characterize planets around other stars. His research experience in exoplanetary science has concentrated on formation, both of planetary systems and life, as well as planet phase curve and spectral simulations. He is also versed in event planning, execution, and budgeting for large astronomical outreach programs. Outside of astronomy, he is a passionate world percussionist, an avid reader of classic and modern fantasy, and the world’s biggest proponent of matcha lattes. Finnegan is from central Los Angeles, where he grew up in the shadow of Griffith Observatory. He completed his undergraduate degree in physics at Brown University in May 2025.
Education
Ph.D. Astrophysics, Arizona State University (2025-Present)
Sc.B. Physics (Astrophysics Track), Brown University (2021-2025)
Publications
Finnegan M. Keller, Fei Dai, and Wenrui Xu. "Higher-Order Mean-Motion Resonances Can Form in Type-I Disk Migration." The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 996, no. 1, Dec. 2025, p. 12.
Finnegan Keller, Tiffany Kataria, Laura M Barge, Pin Chen, Yuk Yung, and Jessica M Weber. “An Exploration of Origin of Life for Exoplanetary Science”. Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences, vol. 12, 2025, p. 1544426.