What is the highest degree in astronomy/physics you have received? PhD
What is/was your most recent academic position in astronomy/physics? adjunct researcher
What has been your career path since you completed your degree? three postdocs then tenured position.. then untenured position then finance
What were the most important factors that led you to leave astronomy and/or academia? A change of scene…. improved pay!
What is the job title for your current position? manager
What is the name of your company/organization/institution? NAB
What city and country do you live in and/or work in? Melbourne, Australia
What is your social background? Are there any identifiers that you think are particularly relevant? none
What do you do for fun (e.g., hobbies, pastimes, etc.)? Run Mount Burnett Observatory
List your favorites. Band (or singer/composer/etc.), recent film, current TV series, food, color, pet. Parks & Recreation
What’s something you greatly miss about grad school? What about something you definitely don’t miss? The freedom to explore what you wanted. On the other hand the freedom brought a terror of failure with it
If you have made a career change, what was your age at the time? 35
What have been particularly valuable skills for your current job that you gained through completing your degree? Independent thinking and the ability to break down a mathematical problem into component parts
What advice do you think advisors should be giving students regarding their career path? Advisors should be more open minded about careers outside academia and advise students to develop their soft skills
What, if any, additional training did you complete in order to meet the qualifications of your current position? none
What job hunting or networking resources or other advice/resources did you use to land your current position? networking through colleagues
Describe a typical day at work. 1/3 maths, 1/3 people management and 1/3 meetings
How many hours do you work in a week? 40
What is your salary? nan
What is your level of satisfaction with your current job? high
What are the most enjoyable aspects of your job? Least enjoyable? Working with a diverse team in a challenging environment. The down side is lack of job security
What do you like most about your working environment? Dislike most? I love the friendships and collegiality of my team
What opportunities does your job provide to be creative and/or to take initiative? I am a mathematical modeller so the opportunity is always there
How satisfied are you with your work-life balance in your current job? I work from home one day a week
How family-friendly is your current position? Very
What advice do you have for achieving work-life balance (including having a family)? Don’t wait…
Do you still interact with people who work (directly) in astronomy and/or are you still involved in astronomy in some way? Very much so
Were there any emotional difficulties or social consequences to your career choices? Do you have any advice for those who are thinking of switching careers, but are wary of the side effects? Yes I still love astronomy and occasionally miss the research
ASA Early Career Researcher Chapter 