Dr. Rachel Maxwell (she/her/hers)

Planetary Magnetist
Planetary Magnetospheres Laboratory (695)

Did you always know that you wanted to study Planetary Science?

Yes and no! When I was ten years old, I attended Space Camp in Huntsville, AL, and knew that I wanted to be an astronaut or some sort of scientist who studies space. I focused on physics in high school and went to Purdue University to study physics, thinking that really all there was to study about space was astronomy (which I also love). It wasn't until my sophomore year of college that I met Professor Jay Melosh and learned that planetary science 1) exists and 2) was something I could study. It honestly felt like something out of Star Trek! So, while I've always known that I would study something space related, I feel very fortunate to have stumbled upon a field that matches my passion for planetary exploration.

10-year-old Rachel wearing an astronaut outfit. She is preparing to simulate an astronaut's experience aboard the International Space Station as a part of her week-long stay at Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. She traveled with her fifth-grade class and has been waiting for this trip the WHOLE YEAR.
Credit: Lindbergh Schools/LEAP Program

What is your research focus?

My focus is on planetary crustal magnetism, which is a fancy way of saying that I study rocks on other planets that are magnetic. Rocks get magnetized in the presence of a magnetic field (think Earth's global magnetic field), so old rocks tell you something about what was happening with the magnetic field at the time that the rock formed. I study crustal magnetism on the Moon and Mars, which don't currently have a global magnetic field but must have once had one because we see evidence of it in the magnetized crust. My work uses these clues (the magnetized crust) to determine what the ancient magnetic field on these bodies must have been like. Were their magnetic fields aligned approximately with their spin axis, like how the magnetic poles on Earth are approximately line with the geographic poles? How strong was the field? When did the field go away? These questions inform our understanding of the interior of these bodies because certain conditions must be met in the outer core of a planet in order for it to generate a magnetic field. I use a variety of modeling techniques to try to match magnetometer data from spacecraft that orbit the Moon and Mars to try to answer these questions.

What aspect(s) of your work are you most passionate about?

I'm most passionate about the work I've done in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). In grad school, I was a lead organizer of a graduate student led group called Geoscientists Encouraging Openness and Diversity in the Earth Sciences (GEODES). We held workshops and discussions focused on our three main themes: 1) raise awareness of barriers to minoritized groups in STEM, 2) improve feelings of community and belonging within the department, and 3) provide professional development opportunities for all members of our department. At Goddard, I'm helping the NASA-PEER program to mentor and support post-bac researchers, and to help them feel at home in science and prepare for grad school. I owe a lot of my perseverance in science to the people who mentored me and supported me on my journey, and I enjoy passing on that same care to others who are starting out on their own journeys.

Rachel wearing a model of the New Horizons spacecraft as a hat. Rachel interned at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab during the summer of 2015, which happened to line up with New Horizon's flyby of Pluto. She and the other interns got to participate in the Pluto Festivities.
Credit: Rachel Maxwell

What is one of your favorite moments in your career so far?

I think my answer to this might be a bit surprising to anyone who's gone through a PhD program. My favorite moments of my career have been my Qualifying Oral Exam and my Thesis Defense, specifically the parts where I got to talk with my thesis committee. These discussions are always terrifying, but while preparing for them, I told myself that I might be stuck in a room with four world experts on magnetism, but they were also stuck in a room with me! I got to talk about the things I was passionate about and ask them questions about the things I didn't understand. It turned into a really lively and enjoyable discussion, and I think my committee was impressed by the questions I was asking. The moral of the story is: always ask questions, even when you're intimidated! You'll grow as a result, and any scientist worth their salt will appreciate your interest and creativity.

If you were to expand your current research focus, what new topic(s) would you explore?

I would expand my current research focus to include more modeling methods. I'm always really excited when I find a new method I haven't used before. One of the pitfalls of modeling is your assumptions: you have to really have a good handle on what assumptions you're making, why you're making them, and whether they're valid assumptions to make for the work you're doing. Not all models make the same assumptions, so sometimes one model is better in one situation and a different model is better in another situation. If I had infinite time, I would work with every modeling technique I've found because I like the confidence that using multiple models can bring that tell you the answers agree, or you'll find out that they don't agree and there's something you need to think more about. Plus, I like the coding that comes along with each method!

What early career advice do you have for those looking to do what you do?

My advice is to try as many different kinds of research as possible! I started my planetary science career by doing some light reading on craters, then did some research using UV/Visible/IR spectroscopy, and ultimately fell into planetary magnetism in grad school. I wouldn't have found my passion for crustal magnetism if I hadn't taken a leap of faith and started something new and exciting. And now I have a better appreciation for things that aren't my current focus because I've had experience with so many topics!

Rachel and her partner, Jack, wearing St. Louis Cardinals hats with the pride flag colors. She was very excited that the Cardinals were hosting a Pride Night while she was home to view the 2017 Solar Eclipse and made sure to book tickets as soon as she found out.
Credit: Randy Maxwell

Tell us about a unique or interesting component of your work-life balance.

My partner of 10+ years is also a planetary scientist, so sometimes our home life turns into a mini science conference, but without the pressure to impress or make progress. We just talk about the things that we find cool and confusing. I feel very lucky that I get to nerd out at work AND at home!