Abstract

The future for exoplanet science is dependent not only on successful missions such as TESS, JWST, and Roman, but also on building bridges to the geology, planetary science, and data science communities. It is by using the resources and experiences from these other disciplines that we can uncover more subtle trends within exoplanetary data and establish a holistic connection between stars and planets. As part of my interdisciplinary research, I study the patterns in stellar abundances using the Hypatia Catalog, the largest elemental abundance dataset for stars near to the Sun. Because stars and planets are formed at the same time, meaningful connections can be made between the chemical properties of stars and their orbiting planets. I will discuss how stellar abundances may be used to determine the raw materials available during planet formation, which impact the surface composition, tectonic processes, and other planetary geochemical cycles which directly influence the overall habitability. I will also describe my work on M-dwarf stars, which are the most common stars in the galaxy and easiest for detecting rocky planets, but are extremely difficult to observe and characterize.