Renowned exoplanet researcher Sara Seager is set to return to her native Canada, leaving her position at MIT to join the University of Toronto, her alma mater. After two decades at MIT, Seager feels the timing is right for her homecoming to Toronto, where she grew up. She will be joining the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CITA) as a professor in September 2026, aiming to inspire the next generation of researchers and continue her groundbreaking projects.
One of Seager’s ambitious projects involves the search for potential life in the clouds of Venus. In a recent study, she co-authored a paper that suggested the presence of phosphine in Venus’s clouds, a chemical associated with non-oxygen-dependent organisms on Earth. While the findings were met with skepticism, Seager is pushing forward with the Morning Star project, which plans to send missions to Venus to investigate further.
Seager’s dedication to exoplanet research is evident in her work on Project Starshade, a mission designed to detect Earth-like exoplanets by blocking out the light of their host stars. Although the project is currently on hold, Seager remains committed to advancing the field of exoplanetary science.
CITA’s director, Shantanu Basu, expressed excitement about Seager’s return to Canada, highlighting her visionary leadership and interdisciplinary approach to research. Seager’s expertise extends beyond exoplanets to studying the conditions necessary for life, incorporating elements of organic chemistry and aerosols engineering into her work.
Seager’s imminent return to the University of Toronto signifies a homecoming for the accomplished scientist, who looks forward to contributing to cutting-edge research and inspiring future generations of scientists in her homeland.