1. Can you describe your role in the SDSS collaboration and what you enjoy most about it?
Advisory Council member. Being a part of big, vibrant, diverse and welcoming scientific community.
2. Can you tell us about your educational background and how you got interested in the field of astronomy/astrophysics?
In high school I was focused on the goal of becoming an astronaut, but later set that aside when I learned I would most likely have to pursue a career as a military pilot. So in my first year of university I decided that studying the stars would be the next best thing. I have never regretted that choice!
3. What projects are you currently working on and what are you most excited about?
I am very excited at our team’s work to use APOGEE spectra to measure the magnetic field properties of low-mass stars and to understand how stellar magnetism affects global stellar structure.
4. Can you describe how you balance work and personal life, and what advice would you give to someone just starting in the field?
One of the best pieces of advice I received early in my career about this is that, instead of thinking of work-life balance as a dichotomy, better to think of it in terms of our lives having three major types of things that one can devote time to: family (e.g., spouse/kids), vocation (i.e., career), and avocation (e.g., hobbies). And one can reasonably expect, with great effort, to be excellent at any two of those three things at a given time. Earlier in my career, I decided to prioritize excellence in family and vocation. Now that my kids are nearly grown up, I am shifting my priorities toward excellence in vocation and avocation. In other words, it is possible to “have it all”, just not “all at once”!
5. Can you share with us a unique hobby or interest that you have outside of work?
My very best friend and I have known one another since the 7th grade, and we still make it a priority to remain close. We do that by staying up all night playing video games one night per week (of course there are occasionally weeks when it’s simply not possible). We have maintained this “hobby” together for 30 years and still going!