My main research topic is to design, develop, and exploit instrumentation for high contrast and high angular resolution applications in astronomy. Over the last 20+ years, I have contributed to the development of optical interferometry (nulling interferometry), and of stellar coronagraphy. In particular, I am designing, implementing, and exploiting vortex coronagraphs on various high-contrast imaging instruments, including the METIS project for the ELT. My most recent research interests focus on leveraging the power of machine learning techniques in the context of high contrast imaging.
Besides instrumentation, I am interested in the detection and characterization of extrasolar planetary systems. In particular, I have been focusing on debris disks, and exozodiacal disks in particular, which I have studied with various infrared interferometers (check out the related press releases published in 2006 and 2014). I am now mostly working on the detection (and characterization) of extrasolar planets.