"Choosing a career is not something that needs to be done quickly no matter how much people pressure you. I did not get accepted in my first attempt at grad school and part of it was because I was not sure if that is what I want to do. I had to take some time to myself and figure that out and when I re-applied a year later I felt more confident in my decision to do so. "
What inspires you?
The act of making people excited about science.
What did you want to be when you were younger?
I did want to be an astronaut, but also a marine biologist and archeologist. I guess one of those sort of panned out!
Which subjects did you enjoy at school?
Science.
What would you like to tell your younger self?
It is ok to not be the traditional "sciency" girl.
Why did you choose STEM?
I liked the fact that you could uncover new things since there is still a lot to learn about different things.
How important is it for you to stand out?
Not that important. I do like standing out but it's not my main intention.
What difficulties did you face in the industry, as a woman?
I have gotten incidents when I've been underestimated or comments like "I do not look like an astrophysicist".
What advice would you give to the next generation of female scientists?
Don't let anybody tell you you cannot do something.
"I decided on astronomy when I was in high school due to a date I had at a planetarium. The date didn't work out, but my interest in astronomy got renewed. After that I took a summer program at Yale before my senior year of high school and after that my parents encouraged me to apply for college in the US. I ended up going to LSU for a degree in Physics. During my stay there, I participated in 3 different REUs which helped me start deciding what I wanted to focus on in Astronomy: stars. Afterwards, I took a gap year and then I finally wound up where I am currently: the University of Michigan."
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