Institute for research on exoplanets

Probing a new class of exoplanets

An international team led by UdeM astronomer gets a clearer picture of what is likely the most abundant type of planet in the Universe. It was a daunting task that took five years and the accumulation…
astroMIL: the Moon, 50 years later

The Institute for Research on Exoplanets and the Université de Montréal invite you to discover the new MIL Campus during this cosmic party that will be commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission and…
9th edition of the Maunakea Graduate School

Five Canadian graduate students had the chance to attend the Maunakea Graduate School (MKGS), which took place between April 2nd and 13th. Under the supervision of professional astronomers, the students were able to design scientific programs…
24h of science : Astronomers visit elementary schools

As part of the 24h de sciences, the Institute for Research on Exoplanets, in collaboration with the Centre for Research in Astrophysics of Quebec (CRAQ), proposed the activity “An Astronomer in your Classroom”. During the week…
Inaugural Sureau Bursary awarded

2019 Sureau Fellow We are proud to announce that the first ever iREx Sureau Bursary has been awarded to Ariane Deslières, an undergraduate student at the University of Ottawa. Ariane, who was selected amongst a pool…
2019 International Day of Astronomy

Come and join the iREx and many other cosmic partners at the 2019 International Day of Astronomy organized by the Rio Tinto Alcan Montreal Planetarium and the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC). This event will…
Astronomy on Tap – MTL (in French) – May 28th at 7:00PM

Astronomy on Tap – MTL in French will take place at Pub l’Île Noire, on May 28th, 7:00PM. Don’t miss it! Your speakers: Mohamad Ali-Dib, postdoctoral researcher at the Université de Montréal Anne Boucher, Ph.D. student at…
Jason Rowe wins the 2019 Emerging Scholar Award at Bishop’s University

Bishop’s University just announced that iREx member Prof. Jason Rowe has been awarded the 2019 Emerging Scholar award. The Emerging Scholar awards recognise outstanding researchers and creators whose work has made a significant impact on their disciplines…
An Astronomer in Your Classroom – 24h of Science

The Institute for Research on Exoplanets, in collaboration with the Centre de recherche en astrophysique du Québec (CRAQ), is organizing the “An Astronomer in Your Classroom” activity within the framework of 24h of science. “An Astronomer…
JWST Completes Critical Milestones in February 2019

The month of February 2019 saw the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) successfully pass a series of tests meant to simulate the extreme conditions of a rocket launch into space. These tests were especially important, as…
TESS, the Planet Hunter

The hunt for exoplanets continues! The number of discovered exoplanets has now reached over 4000, yet there are many more waiting to be unveiled. TESS, a NASA mission, will probe the stars closest to the Sun…
Meet our 2019 Summer Interns

The iREx team is very pleased to present our 2019 summer interns! They will be joining us in early May and will be working on a variety of projects with our researchers until late August. Simon…
Nicolas Cowan awarded CASCA’s 2019 Harvey B. Richer Gold Medal

Nicolas Cowan, professor at McGill University and member of iREx, is the recipient of the 2019 Harvey B. Richer Gold Medal. This Canadian Astronomical Society (CASCA) medal is awarded every two years in recognition of major contributions by a…
Astronomy on Tap – MTL (in French) – March 26th at 7:00PM

Astronomy on Tap – MTL in French will take place at Pub l’Île Noire, on March 26th, 7:00PM. Don’t miss it! Your speakers: Émilie Parent, Ph.D. student at McGill University Annabelle Richard-Laferrière, M.Sc. student at the Université…
Too much sodium turns a star blue

An international team of astrophysicists, led by researchers from the Université de Montréal, has identified a star on which a sodium-rich asteroid has crashed, drastically transforming its apparent color. These results raise many questions about the…

The Institute

We are living at a pivotal time in human history, as technology is advancing to the point that we will be able to answer one of the most fundamental questions: Are we alone in the universe? This quest…

Our team

The Institute for research on exoplanets (Institut de recherche sur les exoplanètes, or IREx) consists of about 40 professors, researchers and postdoctoral fellows and students from the Université de Montréal and McGill University. The team also collaborates with…

Join us!

iREx promotes diversity in its workforce. It encourages members of visible and ethnic minorities as well as women, Aboriginal people, persons with disabilities and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities to join the team….