How to become an Astrophysicist | My path from school to research (2004-2020)
TLDRThis script narrates the journey of a scientist from her school days to becoming an astrophysicist, emphasizing the importance of pursuing one's passion. The speaker candidly discusses her academic path, the challenges of higher education, and the financial considerations of pursuing a PhD. She shares her experiences in research, the privilege of using telescopes around the world, and the joy of contributing to the field of astronomy. The narrative underscores the value of curiosity, learning, and the pursuit of a career in science.
Takeaways
- 🌟 The speaker emphasizes the curiosity-driven nature of scientists, often stemming from childhood fascination with the world.
- 🎓 The journey from a student to a scientist is not well-understood by many, especially without personal connections to the scientific community.
- 💰 The speaker acknowledges the importance of discussing costs at each stage of education and career, as financial considerations are a significant factor for many.
- 🏫 The speaker's path was influenced by privilege, including access to education, supportive parents, and an all-girls school environment free from gender stereotypes.
- 🔭 Initially disliking physics, the speaker's interest grew as the subject matter became more complex and related to astronomy, a lifelong passion.
- 📚 Good grades were a means to an end for the speaker, opening doors to further education but not necessarily indicative of future success in science.
- 🏛️ The speaker pursued an undergraduate master's degree at Durham University, enjoying the experience and making use of the department's resources.
- 💡 The realization that a career in engineering was not fulfilling led the speaker to return to astrophysics, driven by a passion for understanding the universe.
- 📈 The speaker's salary fluctuated throughout their career, from a graduate scheme at Rolls-Royce to a PhD and subsequent research fellowships, highlighting the variability of scientific careers.
- 🌍 Travel and international collaboration were significant aspects of the speaker's PhD and post-doctoral work, emphasizing the global nature of scientific research.
- 🎓 The completion of a PhD involves rigorous examination and defense, proving one's capability as an independent researcher and expert in a specific field.
- 💼 The speaker's career as an astrophysicist involves research fellowships, where they propose and conduct research within a budget provided by the institution.
Q & A
What is the common misconception about scientists mentioned in the script?
-The misconception is that scientists are not normal people and that they only care about science all day every day, which is not true as they are just individuals who have a deep curiosity about the world around them.
Why did the speaker choose to study physics, further maths, physics, and chemistry in her final two years of high school?
-The speaker chose these subjects because they were her favorites, and she was most interested in them, which made her more likely to enjoy her homework and study time.
How did the speaker's interest in astronomy influence her academic choices?
-The speaker's interest in astronomy led her to realize that space is a part of physics, which motivated her to pursue physics more seriously and eventually choose it as one of her subjects in her final two years of high school.
What was the speaker's undergraduate degree?
-The speaker did an undergraduate master's degree in Physics with Astronomy at Durham University, which took four years to complete.
How did the speaker finance her university education?
-The speaker financed her university education through a student loan, which included tuition fees and living costs, totaling around six thousand pounds per year.
What was the speaker's initial career path after graduating from university?
-After graduating, the speaker initially took a job at Rolls-Royce in an engineering graduate scheme, working on jet engines, which was not directly related to her passion for astrophysics.
Why did the speaker decide to leave her job at Rolls-Royce and return to academia?
-The speaker left her job at Rolls-Royce because she realized she was not passionate about the work and missed discussing space and astrophysics, which led her to return to academia and pursue a PhD.
What was the main focus of the speaker's PhD research at Oxford?
-The speaker's PhD research focused on how galaxies change their shape over the lifetime of the universe.
What is the purpose of a PhD according to the speaker?
-A PhD is meant to prove that the candidate is an independent researcher, capable of coming up with a question, devising a feasible way to answer it, and reporting the findings to contribute to the body of knowledge in their field.
How did the speaker's career evolve after completing her PhD?
-After completing her PhD, the speaker held two research fellowships at universities, first at Nottingham and then at Oxford, where she continued to do research in astrophysics.
What advice from her father has guided the speaker's career choices?
-The advice from her father was to do something she loves, so she would never feel like she was working, which has motivated her to pursue a career in astrophysics and continue learning.
Outlines
🌟 Journey to Becoming an Astrophysicist
The speaker reflects on the misconception that scientists are not 'normal' and shares her personal journey from being a curious child to becoming an astrophysicist. She explains that her interest in science was sparked by her curiosity about the world, which led her to pursue a career in science. The speaker acknowledges her privileged background, including being born in a country that values girls' education and having supportive parents. She also discusses the financial considerations of pursuing higher education and her path from high school to university, where she studied physics with astronomy, and her eventual realization that her true passion was astrophysics.
🎓 University Experience and the Transition to Research
The speaker details her university experience, emphasizing the importance of good grades as a means to open doors but not as the ultimate goal. She pursued an undergraduate master's degree in physics with astronomy, enjoying the opportunity to use telescopes and make lifelong friends. Financially, she relied on a student loan system common in the UK, which she describes as manageable due to its repayment structure tied to income. After graduation, she took a break to scuba dive and engage in marine conservation in the Bahamas, reflecting her passion for the ocean. However, she soon realized her true calling was in astrophysics, leading her to leave a well-paying job at Rolls-Royce to return to academia for her PhD at Oxford, where she studied the evolution of galaxies.
📚 The Path to Independent Research and Career in Astrophysics
The speaker outlines the process of becoming an independent researcher through a PhD, emphasizing the importance of developing and answering original questions in the field of astrophysics. She shares her experiences of traveling for conferences, using telescopes around the world, and the rigorous process of defending her thesis. After successfully completing her PhD, she secured research fellowships at universities, allowing her to continue her passion for astrophysics. The speaker concludes by reiterating the advice that has guided her career choices: to pursue what she loves, ensuring that her work never feels like a chore.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Curiosity
💡Astrophysicist
💡Educational Path
💡Physics
💡Astronomy
💡Research
💡Privilege
💡Student Loan
💡Graduate Scheme
💡PhD
💡Research Fellowship
Highlights
The speaker reflects on the common stereotype of scientists being abnormally focused on their work.
The journey from a curious child to a professional astrophysicist is often unclear to those unfamiliar with the scientific community.
The importance of acknowledging the privilege and support that facilitates a career in science.
The transformative experience of high school, where physics became the speaker's favorite subject.
The significance of astronomy in inspiring a lifelong passion for physics and space.
The speaker's academic excellence, achieving all A's in A-Levels, and its role in university admission.
The value of hard work and practice in mastering subjects like math and science.
The speaker's undergraduate experience at Durham University, including the unique opportunity to use the department's telescopes.
The financial aspect of higher education in the UK, including the speaker's experience with student loans.
The realization of a mismatch between the speaker's job at Rolls-Royce and their passion for astrophysics.
The decision to leave a well-paying job to pursue a PhD in astrophysics at Oxford.
The fulfillment and happiness derived from working on a PhD focused on the evolution of galaxies.
The process of defending a PhD thesis and the importance of proving original research.
The speaker's career as a research fellow, working on independent projects in astrophysics.
The impact of advice from the speaker's father on their life choices and career path.
The continuous learning and evolving perspectives that define a scientific career.
The speaker's anecdote about the distractions of social media and the humorous moment of realizing the recording was still going.
Transcripts
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