Tereza Constantinou

Tereza Constantinou

Cambridge, UK
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Abstract

I just completed my PhD at the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, supervised by Prof. Oliver Shorttle and Dr Paul B. Rimmer, and funded by STFC. I research planetary science and astrobiology.

I grew up in Nicosia, Cyprus. After high school, I moved to the UK where I studied Physical Natural Sciences (BA/MA) and Astrophysics (MSc) at Trinity College, University of Cambridge. I then took 2 years off before my PhD: partly working remotely (ML Lead in a startup; for more info see my LinkedIn), and partly travelling (wherever covid allowed; for more info see non-research or ask!)

Introduction

My doctoral research is focused on a central challenge in astrobiology: to find life, one must first be able to define lifelessness. I studied the planetary atmosphere, volcanism, and weathering of Venus to deconstruct the fundamental processes of an abiotic world. This work culminated in a framework for how to search for life, and its absence, beyond our solar system.

Publications

Equifinality of Venus-like CO2 atmospheres

Constantinou, T., Shorttle, O., Nicholls, H.

MNRAS, 2026

Comparative Biosignatures with systemic retrievals

Constantinou, T., Shorttle, O., Cramner, M., Rimmer, P.B.

MNRAS, 2026

First Detection of Deuterium in Venus's Extended Exosphere

Weichbold, F., Lammer, H., Scherf, M., Schmid, D., Simon-Wedlund, C., Volwerk, M., Mazelle, C., Stenberg Wieser, G., Constantinou, T., et al.

Nature Communications, preprint

The rainout of formaldehyde favors a formose-based origin of life in shallow ponds

Scherf, M., Constantinou, T., Rimmer, P., Woitke, P., Ferus, M., Lammer, H., Cassone, G., Weichbold, F., Eminger, P., Nemeckova, K., Kacina, J.

Nature Communications, preprint

Powerful Lightning On Venus Constrained By Atmospheric NO

Constantinou, T., Shorttle, O., Rimmer, P.B.

Planetary Science Journal, 2025

Prediction of sulphate hazes in the lower Venus atmosphere

Woitke, P., Scherf, M., Helling, C., Rimmer, P.B., Ferus, M., Lammer, H., Weichbold, F., Nemeckova, K., Eminger, P., Kacina, J., Constantinou, T.

Planetary Science Journal, 2025

Did Venus ever have oceans?

Constantinou, T., Gillmann, C., Jordan, S., Rimmer, P.B., Rimmer, A., Turbet, M.

Scrivener-Wiley, forthcoming chapter

Abiotic Ozone in the Observable Atmospheres of Venus and Venus-like Exoplanets

Calder, R., Shorttle, O., Jordan, S., Rimmer, P.B., Constantinou, T.

MNRAS, 2025

Large Interferometer For Exoplanets (LIFE). XIV. Finding terrestrial protoplanets in the galactic neighborhood

Cesario, L., Lichtenberg, T., Alei, E., Carrión-González, Ó., ... Constantinou, T., ... the LIFE Collaboration

Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024

Hydroxide Salts in the Clouds of Venus: Their Effect on the Sulfur Cycle and Cloud Droplet pH

Rimmer, P.B., Jordan, S., Constantinou, T., Woitke, P., Shorttle, O., Hobbs, R., Paschodimas, A.

The Planetary Science Journal, 2021

Photochemistry of Venus-like Planets Orbiting K- and M-dwarf Stars

Jordan, S., Rimmer, P.B., Shorttle, O., Constantinou, T.

The Astrophysical Journal, 2021

For a complete list of preprints, conference abstracts and research briefings see my Google scholar and CV above.

Talks and Posters

  1. Invited seminar. "Defining lifeless worlds with Venus." CSH, University of Bern, Switzerland, October 2025.
  2. Invited seminar. "Defining lifeless worlds with Venus." GFD Seminars, ETH Zurich, Switzerland, October 2025.
  3. Shortlisted talk. "Was Venus Ever Habitable?" James William Award Colloquium, UK, June 2025.
  4. Co-hosted seminar. "Habitability of Icy Moons." LCLU Coffee Meetings, Cambridge, UK, April 2025.
  5. Talk. "Comparative Biosignatures." Best Presentation Award, LCLU Science Day, Cambridge, UK, March 2025.
  6. Invited talk. "Was Venus Ever Habitable?" VeRaDo Kick-off Meeting, Graz, Austria, November 2024.
  7. Invited poster. "Comparative Biosignatures"; co-organiser of breakout session. Origins Federation, Cambridge, UK, September 2024.
  8. Organised. LCLU Annual Science Day. Cambridge, UK, March 2024.
  9. Invited seminar. "Link Between Geochemistry and Atmospheres." LCLU Coffee Meetings, Cambridge, UK, January 2024.
  10. Talk. "Was Venus Ever Habitable?" Rocky Worlds III, Zurich, Switzerland, January 2024.
  11. Talk. "Was Venus Ever Habitable?" IoA Wednesday Seminar, Cambridge, UK, October 2023.
  12. Invited poster. "Was Venus Ever Habitable?" Life in the Universe II, Boston, US, September 2023.
  13. Talk. "Was Venus Ever Habitable?" UKEXOM 2023, London, UK, August 2023.
  14. Talk. "Was Venus Ever Habitable?" LCLU Science Day, Cambridge, UK, March 2023.
  15. Invited talk. "Venus as Candidate for Constraining Volcanism and Surface Conditions." RAS Specialist Discussion Meeting: Abiotic baselines in astrobiology, London, UK, January 2023.

Acknowledgements

Planetary Chemistry: We study the evolution and habitability of planets in the solar system and around other stars.

Planetary Astrochemistry Lab: We experimentally simulate planetary environments and use them to test prebiotic chemistry.

Leverhulme Centre for Life in the Universe: We aim to develop a deeper understanding of life, its emergence, and its distribution in the Universe.

Supplementary: Non-research

I favour the micro-adventure: cycling day-trips around Cambridge, weekends away scrambling with friends, bouldering, waking early for a long walk toward a light-roast coffee and a pastry, inching closer to a solo gliding license when the skies permit.

Sometimes the itch gets the better of me and I go further. A stretch of solo travel. Bikepacking!! Have just succesfully defended my thesis, and have set off on a ~6 month bikepacking trip, leaving Cambridge and cycling east.

Walking the Camino Portugués Central
Figure 1. Walking the Camino Portugués Central
Bikepacking around the Cairngorms
Figure 2. Bikepacking round the Cairngorms
Gliding over Cambridgeshire
Figure 3. Gliding over Cambridgeshire
(also see CUGC expedition here)
Kayaking in Antarctica
Figure 4. Kayaking in Antarctica