Tereza Constantinou
Cambridge, UK
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Abstract
I am a 4th year PhD student 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
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)
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)
Comparative Biosignatures
Constantinou, T., Jordan, S., Cramner, M., Rimmer, P.B. - We welcome comments and feedback!
Preprint submitted to MNRAS
Did Venus ever have oceans?
Constantinou, T., Gillmann, C., Jordan, S., Rimmer, P.B., Rimmer, A., Turbet, M.
Chapter to be published in Scrivener-Wiley book
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)
A dry Venusian interior constrained by atmospheric chemistry
Constantinou, T., Shorttle, O., Rimmer, P.B.
Nature Astronomy (2024)
• Read about it in the Guardian, or hear me talk about it on BBC World Service Science In Action (among >750 pieces of media coverage worldwide).
• Murdin Prize for best PhD publication.
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 page, and CV below.
Talks and Posters
15. Invited seminar: "Defining lifeless worlds with Venus"
CSH, University of Bern, Switzerland, October 2025
14. Invited seminar: "Defining lifeless worlds with Venus"
GFD Seminars, ETH Zurich, Switzerland, October 2025
13. Shortlisted talk: "Was Venus Ever Habitable?"
James William Award Colloquium, UK, June 2025
12. Co-hosted seminar: "Habitability of Icy Moons"
LCLU Coffee Meetings, Cambridge, UK, April 2025
11. Talk: "Comparative Biosignatures"
Best Presentation Award
LCLU Science Day, Cambridge, UK, March 2025
10. Invited talk: "Was Venus Ever Habitable?"
VeRaDo Kick-off Meeting, Graz, Austria, November 2024
9. Invited Poster: "Comparative Biosignatures" and co-organiser of breakout session
Origins Federation, Cambridge, UK, September 2024
8. Invited: LCLU Annual Science Day, Cambridge, UK, March 2024
7. Invited Seminar: "Link Between Geochemistry and Atmospheres"
LCLU Coffee Meetings, Cambridge, UK, January 2024
6. Talk: "Was Venus Ever Habitable?"
Rocky Worlds III, Zurich, Switzerland, January 2024
5. Talk: "Was Venus Ever Habitable?"
IoA Wednesday Seminar, Cambridge, UK, October 2023
4. Invited Poster: "Was Venus Ever Habitable?"
Life in the Universe II, Boston, US, September 2023
3. Talk: "Was Venus Ever Habitable?"
UKEXOM 2023, London, UK, August 2023
2. Talk: "Was Venus Ever Habitable?"
LCLU Science Day, Cambridge, UK, March 2023
1. 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
Often found on weekend adventures, cycling trips around Cambridge, out for a coffee & a pastry, bouldering, or trying to earn a solo gliding license when the weather allows! I also love to slow solo-travel as much as possible, with only 1 continent to go!
(also see CUGC expedition here)
