Maxwell Millar-Blanchaer works on the direct imaging of exoplanets, brown dwarfs (slightly larger than planets, but not quite stars) and debris disks. Imaging exoplanets directly requires overcoming significant technical challenges since they are relatively faint objects right next to very bright objects. He uses a technique called polarimetry, which involves taking advantage of the wave nature of light to detect fainter disks than otherwise possible. Millar-Blanchaer’s research is of a mix of building and characterizing astronomical instruments, carrying out observations and developing new data analysis techniques.