Early Career Scientist Spotlights ("ECSS")
Early Career Scientist Spotlight ("ECSS") articles showcase the early career scientists working at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. The ECSS articles are intended to
highlight the research interests, science motivations, and achievements of the early career scientist community, and are a great way to learn a bit about some of
the wonderful and interesting people working at Goddard!
If you would like to nominate a GSFC early career scientist to be featured in a future ECSS article, please contact
Danielle Simkus,
Jenna Cann,
or any of our NGAPS+ officers.
Ramin Lolachi
Planetary Scientist
"Growing up I would read, with fascination, the accounts of planetary probes like Voyager, Venera, and Viking visiting other worlds and exploring them in astronomy books. From that point I was hooked."
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Nina Crnivec
Atmospheric Scientist
"Clouds are beautiful and ubiquitous in the sky, yet their diversity and multi-scale nature make it extremely difficult to properly represent them in weather and climate models."
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Daniel da Silva
Space Physicist
"It’s funny how a lot of people know that the solar wind exists, but they also are under the impression that the space between the planets is 100% empty of matter. How can both be true?"
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Erin Boettcher
Observational Astronomer
"I enjoy being in the dynamic environment that GSFC offers; it’s motivating to hear about how other people are tackling diverse and challenging science questions that are different from the questions I think about on a daily basis."
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Taylor Hutchison
Astrophysicist
"After my first night observing on the campus research telescope, I was hooked.... The night sky was a different kind of hidden, mysterious thing to marvel at – and since then, I’ve never looked back."
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Olivia Wilkins
Astrochemist
"Apply to opportunities that interest you, even if you don’t think you’re qualified! Scientists collect a wide range of skills that they can apply to topics outside their immediate area of expertise.... The only guarantee that you won’t get a research opportunity or an award is not applying at all."
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Andrew Feldman
Hydrologist/Biospheric Scientist
"With the increasing prevalence of extreme weather, there is no shortage of events that need to be evaluated with satellite observations to test whether our global models are adequately representing extreme biosphere responses."
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Joshua Pettit
Atmospheric Scientist
"The human impact on the atmosphere is much larger than people believe it is. Because the atmosphere just seems so massive, I think some people are unable to see that they can impact the world around them."
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Ryan Pfeifle
Astrophysicist
"I find it exhilarating to open a new set of data for the first time, knowing I have the privilege of being the first (or one of the first) human beings to ever see that data and then spotting something new that we didn’t know about before!"
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Michael Thorpe
Sedimentary and Planetary Geologist
"On the MSL team, we have an incredible group of scientists but also remarkable engineers. Daily operations require input from both sides and it’s truly amazing to watch how cohesive and smooth the rover runs because of this teamwork attitude."
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Atousa Saberi
Oceanographer
"Try to dig deep inside yourself and see what you like doing the most. It may not exist in the real-world, but you’re free to carve the path you’re interested in pursuing."
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Gonzalo Augusto Cucho-Padin
Space Scientist
"My passion for space physics started during my Ph.D. years, but the technical background needed to conduct research studies on this topic was built up several years earlier when I was working on agricultural remote sensing techniques."
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Stacey Huang
Radar Geodesist
"It’s a very intellectually stimulating job with a supportive community. I’ve tended to have problems with getting distracted easily, but having to wrangle with extremely difficult and open-ended problems every day is a great way to keep my mind fully engaged."
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Corey Austin
Gravitational Astrophysicist
"My dad was an electrician and he was very systematic in troubleshooting electrical circuits, so I learned a lot from him and it turns out that many of the methods are transferable to other situations."
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Katarina Yocum
Astrochemist
"Most people go to work to perform the same tasks each day, but as a research scientist I am always learning something new and figuring out how to answer questions that have never been answered before."
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Andréa Hughes
Planetary Scientist
"If I could give advice to my younger self, I would tell her to be patient, stay curious, be open to new opportunities, and to follow your own path."
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Thomas Fauchez
Planetary Scientist
"Finding a new exoplanet or assessing its potential habitability is fascinating, it is like a treasure hunt! Being a science-fiction fan is important for that as well as it helps to think outside of the box."
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Laura Vega
Astrophysicist
"Our successes are never free of adversity; accept that setbacks will happen. A growth mentality is knowing that failures are temporary, it is also having the persistence to move on, to not give up, and to see opportunities in failures."
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Chip Helms
Cloud Dynamicist/Instrument Scientist
"The question that intrigues me the most is how the interactions between clouds and their environments influence the evolution of tropical disturbances and, eventually, how they impact whether the disturbance falls apart or becomes a hurricane."
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Sanchita Pal
Space Scientist
"Networking with the community, discussing with eminent scientists, young scientists, and even undergrads can help in getting new ideas and ways to solve challenging research problems."
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Joel Dahlin
Solar Physicist
"I’m pretty excited when I get my hands on some new simulation data. I’m like a kid in a candy store trying out new and different ways to draw meaning from the data."
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Sarah Valencia
Lunar Petrologist
"I love to take my understanding of the chemistry of lunar rocks to help plan the science goals for the next generation of instruments and missions to the Moon."
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Zachary Nasipak
Gravitational Astrophysicist
"There are times where you or a colleague will be wrong or when none of your research seems to be working out. So be gracious to yourself and to others. Remember that being stuck or wrong does not mean you’re failing; you’re learning; you’re doing research!"
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Lettie Roach
Polar Climate Scientist
"One of my favourite moments has to be walking back to the research ship over Antarctic sea ice during polar night, under the Aurora Australis, and seeing a whale surface in the pool behind the ship. That was an absolutely unforgettable moment."
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Pukar Amatya
Remote Sensing Scientist
"A period of self-learning using a plethora of online resources and support from my colleagues was vital for me to be able to design a new landslide mapping system from scratch."
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Priyarshini Ghosh
Nuclear Astrophysicist
"Whenever experimental and theoretical data don’t agree, even after checking every nook and cranny—this point in time feels like one is at the brink of discovery. It is like a fairytale ending, or rather, beginning."
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Danielle Simkus
Astrobiologist
"I like taking complex science concepts, parsing them down, and trying to present them in a language and style of writing that is accessible to a broad audience."
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Agnit Mukhopadhyay
Space Physicist
"I see myself transitioning to roles that would help design next-generation tools for mapping and geospatial visualization that would result in aiding the existing infrastructure used to study Earth."
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Yasmina Martos
Earth and Planetary Scientist
"I was always very curious to know about where I live, our planet, the Solar System, and the Universe. My father fed this curiosity and at some point, I realized that I can study and learn about Earth and other planets every day if this is my job."
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Chris Bard
Magnetosphere Scientist
"I majored in both physics/astronomy and economics, since both fields use numbers to study the real world. I settled on astronomy for a career because even though both people and nature are difficult to understand, at least nature doesn’t change its mind!"
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Aaron Yung
Theoretical Astrophysicist
"When it comes to selecting a specific field to study, definitely pick something that you are truly passionate about and focus on the questions that really intrigue you."
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Fadji Maina
Hydrologist
"Studying the complexities of the Earth’s natural systems is most exciting to me... It is fascinating to understand how a tiny piece of Mother Nature works and how human beings are altering the natural systems."
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Amanda Steinhebel
High-energy Astrophysicist
"I cherished being a member of an international collaboration that gave me the opportunity to meet many experts in many different fields of study from many different places in the world and career stages."
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Abdullah al Fahad
Climate Physicist
"During my research, I realized climate change is the biggest challenge our generation will face in the coming years, and we need more active research in this field."
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Natasha Latouf
Exoplanet Scientist
"I wouldn’t have gotten to where I am today without my support system and friendships, and my only regret is not building them sooner!"
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Tibebu Getachew Ayalew
Space Physicist
"My advice to my younger self would be dream big, work hard, and never give up; then you can be anything you want to be, irrespective of your race, gender, or age."
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Liam Morrissey
Space Weathering Engineer
"While mainstream media is rightfully excited about visits to other planets, I believe we must first focus on having a sustained presence on a body in our own “backyard”, the Moon."
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Lisa Milani
Atmospheric Scientist
"Scientists never stop learning and, for me, scientific conversations and brainstorming sessions are the most successful way to keep learning from scientists around me."
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Milena Crnogorcevic
High-Energy Astrophysicist
"I love the process of resolving a problem and am absolutely overjoyed when I solve a puzzle, be it a code bug, scientific question, or a math problem. When I am stuck, I remind myself of how overpowering the joy of figuring things out is. That keeps me inspired."
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Ryan McGranaghan
Principal Data Scientist
"I believe in being led around by your curiosity, being in a state of spaciousness, being teachable, and being a student."
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Carina Alden
Space Weather Analyst
"Never. Ever. Give up. There will always be something that could stop you from trying, but if you want it bad enough, your passion will get you through the tough times."
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Gang Kai Poh
Space Physicist
"I often find the process of going outside of my comfort zone to explore new knowledge very rewarding, especially at that “Eureka!” moment when I finally grasp a new concept or idea."
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Akiko Elders
Atmospheric/Biospheric Scientist
"I have always been interested in Earth Science. I can remember as far back as elementary school modeling the impact of global warming using fish tanks, a bright lamp and ice cubes."
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Michela Negro
High-Energy Astrophysicist
"It was only in the last year of high school that I learned about electromagnetism and special relativity, and discovered my deep curiosity about Physics. I needed to know more about it!"
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Aleida Higginson
Heliophysicist
"I was a second year graduate student when I got invited to speak at a heliophysics workshop on my research project. That was incredibly intimidating but it was also so exciting that someone wanted to hear what I had to say!"
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Naomi Rowe-Gurney
Planetary Scientist
"During University, I loved astronomy, but I also loved meteorology. I didn’t know until much later that planetary atmospheric physics existed and that it was a perfect way to study them both."
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Mike Croteau
Satellite Geodesist
"While the idea of working on a mission to another planet or moon fascinated me, I realized that I was most interested in being part of Earth-focused satellite missions, helping to learn about our planet and solve problems here at home."
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Anna Zajczyk
Instrumental Astrophysicist
"The inner workings of the cosmos were fascinating to me from an early age, and this is what ultimately pushed me towards research in astronomy (the dark and starry skies in the village where I grew up helped to light this spark, too)."
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Nithin Sivadas
Space Physicist
"I am inspired by individuals who care about this world enough to seek what is true no matter how uncomfortable it may be, and motivated by those who care about society enough to seek what is just no matter how dangerous."
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Yuni Lee
Planetary Scientist
"I like to be creative and effective in the visualization of science analysis. I think research is truly meaningful when the result is well-communicated to readers, so I like to put time and effort into improving my skills."
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Nishan Kumar Biswas
Hydrologist
"While it is normal for the focus of our scientific careers to be on professional development, including publishing in high impact factor journals, never forget to do your best for humanity."
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Sambid Wasti
High Energy Astrophysist
"When we look at the size and power of these objects in the vast universe, it is humbling to know how insignificant we are in comparison. It is equally motivating to know that, despite that apparent insignificance, we are in a quest to investigate and explore it."
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Henrike Fleischhack
Gamma-ray Astronomer
"I am interested in studying gamma-ray sources such as supernova remnants and gamma-ray bursts, characterizing their energy spectra and light curves and comparing to theoretical models to figure out what makes them 'tick'."
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Samantha Wallace
Solar Physicist
"I am passionate about supporting the next generation of early-career women in STEM and first-generation college grads, and inspiring them to persevere."
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Joe Renaud
Planetary Scientist
"I find it amazing that the quantum mechanics and physics of microscopic grains in rocks and ice can ultimately govern the way an entire planet’s orbit changes over millions of years."
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Reem Hannun
Atmospheric Chemist
"Fieldwork is a nice change of pace from daily life in the lab or office, and it’s really satisfying to see an instrument you’ve worked so hard on go out and collect real measurements."
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Ronald Gamble
Theoretical Astrophysicist
"My mother recalls, vividly, that I first mentioned wanting to work for 'NASA' when I was four years old crunching on cereal in front of my solar system placemat."
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Jessica Noviello
Planetary Geologist
"On Earth, there are 5 major mass extinctions that we know of, and dozens of low-level events. I often wonder, if we assume life existed on an ocean world like Europa or a former one like Mars, what could have happened to wipe that life out by the present?"
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Graham Kerr
Solar Physicist
"The Scottish Space School and my visit to NASA JSC were eye-opening experiences. It became clear to me that studying physics at University would open up many varied opportunities and allow me to study something I was passionate about."
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Niama Boukachaba
Atmospheric Scientist
"A big dream comes true by completing small objectives and learning from our mistakes. Each day is a new one, so enjoy what you are doing, and be happy and proud of your achievements."
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Kyle Helson
Observational Cosmologist
"I really like solving interesting problems and answering big questions about physics and the Universe. I also like that my work involves a lot of different skills and not just one fixed method all of the time."
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Shahryar Khalique Ahmad
Hydrologist
"I am enamored by the notion of user-ready research – one that not only lives inside publications but also reaches the masses who are in need of the science and its applications… and that’s worth putting in all the effort!"
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Yukiko Yarnall
Laboratory Astrochemist
"After my research career, if I were a teacher, I would pass the splendor of science to young people who might want to become scientists and to the elder generation to stimulate their minds."
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Mike Shumko
Magnetospheric Physicist
"As a postdoc, I enjoy the independence to pursue my research ideas and the feeling I get when I discover something interesting."
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Jenna Cann
Astrophysicist
"Thinking about how far light has to travel in order to get to the telescopes I use for observing never fails to motivate me to keep trying to learn everything I can from the data I collect."
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Giuliano Liuzzi
Atmospheric Spectroscopist
"I would like to learn even more about how the instruments that observe planets and atmospheres are built and optimized, as I think it is important to have a critical perspective in how data are collected and analyzed."
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Emily Mason
Solar Physicist
"My favorite days are the ones when I sit down with a new science question and pore over hundreds of EUV observations to unlock the mystery."
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Drew Badger
Hydrometeorologist
"I think one of the coolest aspects of being in a research driven position is that there is always the potential that we will be the first person in the world to know something new, and then we get to tell everybody."
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John Ahlers
Astrophysicist
"We can look at an enormous object an absurdly far distance away and tell whether it is moving toward or away from us (within its system’s frame of reference) to a precision that is slower than the average person’s walking speed. I find that mind-blowing."
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Kira Olsen
Seismologist
"I am always learning new things about planetary science, which in turn gives me new ideas for how to use Earth science data to study icy worlds."
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Ashley Greeley
Magnetospheric Physicist
"I love that part of our goal as research scientists is to discover new things. Some people like to explore the physical unknown in distant continents, but I love the feeling of exploring the universe from my computer."
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Mariel Friberg
Atmospheric Scientist
"I realize the most enjoyable part of my career is a daily occurrence. I get to work on being in a state of inspirational flow that simultaneously develops me personally and professionally."
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Meriem Alaoui Abdallaoui
Solar Physicist
"I love the fact that I get to work on both theory and observations. I also love the fact that I have to adopt ideas from different disciplines and bring them into solar physics."
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Ryan Kramer
Atmospheric Scientist
"I spent an eye-opening summer interning at Goddard during my Sophomore year of college. That summer jumpstarted my passion for research, made me a more critical thinker, and helped me build a lot of confidence."
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Iban Ibañez Domenech
Systems Engineer
"I have enjoyed every second of this challenging journey being part of the most meaningful scientific missions I could have ever imagined."
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Svetlana Shkolyar
Astrobiologist
"Once you achieve a small victory, take the time to celebrate it. There will always be more goals to achieve and more work to be done. Celebrating your small successes is as important as achieving them and a key to feeling fulfilled."
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Tiffany Lewis
Theoretical Astrophysicist
"As a theorist, a large part of what can make a new project interesting is whether it both advances the technical execution of the modeling and our ability to interpret the physical world through a comparison with observed data."
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Cristian Ferradas
Space Physicist
"The aspect of my work I am most passionate about is sharing what I do with other people, whether it be at outreach events or just by explaining science and the excitement of space exploration to my family, friends, or even strangers."
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Adam Erickson
Computational Biosphericist
"Intuition is a powerful tool not only in math but in science, guiding practical and theoretical advances based on a growing foundation of knowledge."
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Erika Kohler
Planetary Scientist
"I thought it was fascinating that other planets could have storms too, and even crazier ones than Earth has. Since then, I was hooked!"
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Mijin Kim
Atmospheric Scientist
"I thought NASA was like an unrealistic place that can only be seen in movies or papers. It became realistic through visiting and collaboration during my Ph.D."
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Nazma Islam
High Energy Astrophysicist
"As a researcher, we need to constantly learn new skills and expand our knowledge in areas which are not exactly related to our field of expertise."
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Iker Liceaga Indart
Mechanical Engineer
"I would encourage all young students to try to find their true passion. It really pays off, as you will find yourself investing most of your time in something that has true meaning for you."
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Shiblee Barua
Computational Astrochemist
"I basically taught myself chemistry while working as a graduate teaching assistant in chemistry labs. My diverse academic background in physics, math and chemistry has helped me immensely in pursuing my career as a Computational Astrochemist."
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Remya Bhanu
Space Physicist
"It took me until the end of high school to realize that I did not have the vocation to be a doctor and that physics and chemistry were the subjects that captivated me most."
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Ethan Kruse
Exoplanet Astronomer
"I hope that by the end of my career we have detailed studies of the atmospheres of hundreds of Earth-like planets and maybe even signs of life elsewhere in the galaxy."
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Luoth Chou
Astrobiologist
"This curiosity drove me to wonder where life came from, and eventually made me question how life started and whether life can be 'out there'."
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Elijah Orland
Geomorphologist
"I eventually realized later in my studies that my interest in being outside wasn’t purely recreational—I wanted to learn more about what made my favorite places tick."
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Bea Gallardo-Lacourt
Space Physicist
"I was told by many people that I was wasting my time pursuing a scientific career and, although this was discouraging, I decided to take it as a challenge and prove them wrong."
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Beck Strauss
Planetary Geophysicist
"Geology is the science of understanding why the natural world is the way it is – why that mountain is over there, how this river got here, what that moon's magnetic field was doing a few billion years ago."
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Armaghan Abed-Elmdoust
Hydroscientist
"My long-term future research activities will be centered on sustainable water resources management and improving hydrological modeling. These are critical subjects to human societies."
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Benson Guest
X-ray Astrophysicist
"Volunteering at outreach events or teaching first year astronomy labs helped me take a step back so that the numbers and pixels on the screen once again became the giant spinning magnets at the centre of explosions in space."
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Yingxi Rona Shi
Atmospheric Scientist
"There is a sense of fulfillment the moment you discover a solution that solves a mystery."
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Danna Qasim
Experimental Astrochemist
"The research accomplishment that I am most proud of is my first first-author paper from my master's, because it was THE underdog paper."
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Danielle Gurgew
X-ray Astrophysicist
"I really enjoy the hands-on aspect of building and creating hardware that ultimately will be flown on earth-orbiting X-ray telescopes."
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Raphael Attié
Solar Astronomer
"Understanding how the Sun and other Sun-like stars power themselves and what makes them erupt has become not just a fundamental astrophysical question, but also a societal necessity."
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Denis Felikson
Cryospheric Scientist
"Writing a science research proposal is like putting together a puzzle: you choose what science questions you want to answer, what tools you will use, and who will be on your team."
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Casey Honniball
Lunar Scientist
"Right now, I focus on lunar water, but I am working to expand to other volatiles to make a comprehensive understanding of volatiles on the lunar surface."
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Michael Kirk
Solar Physicist
"Taking incredibly complex questions or ideas and breaking them down into bite-sized pieces that anyone can understand is my favorite part about being a professional scientist."
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Teresa Monsue
Astro/Helio Physicist
"I remember trying to count [the stars] at a young age, but giving up on it quickly. I felt that there was something bigger out there to understand."
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Burcu Kosar
Atmospheric Physicist
"Don't be afraid of stepping out of your comfort zone, that's where the greatest things happen!"
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Carl Malings
Air Quality Researcher
"I'm really looking forward to exploring the campus and getting to meet in person everyone who I've only met virtually so far."
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Alain Khayat
Planetary Scientist
"I am so amazed by how much one could learn about remote objects in the universe when analyzing the light that is received from them."
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Gioia Rau
Astrophysicist
"Resilience, perseverance, grit, and hard work are some of the magic ingredients behind every successful scientist."
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Melissa Ugelow
Atmospheric Chemist
"Something that amazes me is the diversity in the outer solar system moons."
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Odutayo Raji Rufai
Space Physicist
"The first inspiration was, of course, my older brother.... He informed me that I can veer into any profession with a degree in Mathematics."
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Zachary Erickson
Oceanographer
"I would like to help understand the potential benefits and risks associated with ocean-centric climate change mitigation."
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Carolyn Kierans
High-Energy Astrophysicist
"I really enjoy working on new mission concepts. You get to ask yourself: What type of measurements would I like to make to further understand our Universe?"
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