Education

My academic journey and qualifications in the field of astronomy.

PhD Student

University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
Sep 2026 - Present

Pursuing doctoral studies at the University of Toronto.

Research Assistant in Astronomy

Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
Jun 2025 - Present

Specializing in theoretical and simulation astronomy with focus on dynamics of planetary systems. Conducting research on evolution of protoplanetary disks and AGN accretion disks.

Achievements

  • Proficient in hydrodynamic simulations using Athena++ and N-body simulations using REBOUND/REBOUNDx
  • Two papers in planetary dynamics published/accepted and one under review

Publications

  • Zhuoya Cao, Yaping Li*, Douglas N.C. Lin, Shude Mao, Planet Migration in Protoplanetary Disks with Rims, under review by the Astrophysical Journal, arXiv:2511.21328.[link]
  • Xiaochen Zheng, Zhuoya Cao*, Shigeru Ida, Douglas N.C. Lin, Shude Mao, A Robust Launching Mechanism for Freely-Floating Planets from Host Stars with Close-in Planets, accepted by the Astrophysical Journal, arXiv:2601.09835.[link]
  • Zhuoya Cao, Jiamu Huang, Douglas N.C. Lin, Tingtao Zhou, Prolific Nitrogen Production and Metallicity Gradient in AGN Accretion Disk, in preparation.

Talks

  • Planet Migration in Protoplanetary Disks with Rims[link]
  • A Robust Launching Mechanism for Freely-Floating Planets from Host Stars with Close-in Planets[link]

Posters

  • Zhuoya Cao, Yaping Li, Douglas N.C. Lin, Shude Mao, Planet Migration in Protoplanetary Disks with Rims. The International Conference on Exoplanets and Planet Formation, Dec 2025, Shanghai, China.
  • Zhuoya Cao, Yaping Li, Douglas N.C. Lin, Shude Mao, Convergent and Divergent Planet Migration Driven by a Dead Zone in Protoplanetary Disks. The 247th AAS Annual Meeting, Jan 2026, Phoenix, United States.

B.Sc. in Mechanics and Astronomy

Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Aug 2021 - Jun 2025

Comprehensive foundation in astronomy and dynamics, incl. fluid mechanics and N-body dynamics.

Achievements

  • Full GPA for astronomy courses (4.0/4.0)
  • Scholarship for Comprehensive Excellence of Tsinghua University
  • Tsinghua Xuetang Scholarship (for Tsien Excellence Program)
  • Minister of Sports, Student Union of Xingjian College
  • Undergraduate research project on planetary dynamics and super resolution

Publications

  • Zhuoya Cao*, Abraham Loeb, Morgan MacLeod, On the coincidence between the close passage of HD7977 and the Pliocene-Pleistocene transition, Scientific Reports 16, 115 (2026).[link]
  • Zhuoya Cao, Fujiang Yu, Mingyu Li, Zheng Cai*, HST to JWST Super-Resolution Imaging by ControlNet, in preparation.

Talks

  • On the coincidence between the close passage of HD7977 and the Pliocene-Pleistocene transition[link]

Posters

  • Zhuoya Cao, Abraham Loeb, Morgan MacLeod, A Comet Shower at the Pliocene-Pleistocene Transition Triggered by the Close Approach of HD7977. The Annual Meeting of the Earth 2.0 Space Mission, Aug 2025, Shanghai, China.

Exchange Undergraduate in Astronomy

Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
Sep 2023 - Feb 2024

Complement fundation in astronomy from cosmology, stellar physics to planetary physics

Achievements

  • Undergraduate research intern on astronomical image reduction from Seimei telescope