I conduct research in Prof. Alex Filippenko’s research group where I do optical band observations on the Nickel Telescope at Lick Observatory. We mostly observe supernovae, but I have also used the Nickel to observe other transients such as the gamma ray burst, GRB230818A, which I observed last year with my friend and labmate, Neil Pichay. I also search for supernovae candidates in the Zwicky Transient Facility database. Outside of the astronomy department, I have been working on a project in the Nuclear Engineering Department, in Prof. Guanyu Su’s lab, for the past 2 years. I build fiber optic temperature sensors for high temperature use, in support of ongoing development of molten salt nuclear reactors. One of the most appealing aspects of studying astronomy is that the skills you learn can take you far from astronomy, but they often do seem to somehow make it back full circle.
The most rewarding experience I’ve had in the astronomy department has been working as a UGSI for AstroC10. Most of my students are freshmen and I find it really fascinating to watch people navigate a formative and dynamic period of their lives. It’s also rewarding to have been able to develop a rapport with many of my students.
I have plans on pursuing a PhD in nuclear engineering, or some other subset of applied physics, someday. But I’d like to take a few years after graduation to continue working at the FAA as a radar technician. And then far in the future, I’d like to be an astronaut, which would generally also require some sort of military aviation experience. I enjoy working on things that are directly applicable to the real world, and helpful to people. I also like working with my hands. Sometimes it’s easy to feel that astronomy is abstracted from daily life, but there are so many avenues to pursue astronomy-adjacent things if you seek them out.
Advice for future Astrophysics majors?
Never be afraid to ask for things. Learn your strengths and weaknesses; tap into what you’re good at and what you like doing. Like what you’re doing. Work hard and be useful, helpful, kind, enthusiastic, and earnest. Recognize that no task is below you, and that you can learn something from any experience. Don’t ever let someone tell you what you can and can’t do.