When I was a teenager I saw the northern lights for the first time. In retrospect, I realize that it was a fairly unimpressive display, but at the time I was completely mesmerized. However, it wasn't until I started graduate school several years down the road that I got involved in space research. The more I learned about space science and the aurora, the more interested I became in studying the topic.

Keeping the Bigger Picture in Mind
After I finished my bachelor's degree in physics, I knew that I wanted to pursue a PhD in physics, but I was not certain of the specific focus I would take. During my first year of graduate school, I was taking courses full-time but also started to get involved in the space physics research group, focusing on auroral studies using sounding rockets. One of my favorite aspects of sounding rocket research is that it is a relatively short-term project (~3-4 years), so you can be involved in a project from its beginning to its completion during the course of your graduate studies. I ended up being involved in two overlapping rocket projects. The work involved everything from building and testing the instruments to analyzing and publishing the data. It was a really ideal way to experience so many different aspects of space research all in one project.

The research that I am doing now for the MAARBLE project has been somewhat different from the research I did for my PhD. Previously I was focused mainly on particle measurements in the ionosphere; now I am focused mainly on wave measurements in the magnetosphere. I have been working on developing a database of wave parameters that is being made available to the public. Specifically, I have been working on calculating high-level wave products in the ULF range using data from both the Cluster and THEMIS spacecraft. The database is designed to make it easy for other scientists to look at identical wave products from multiple spacecraft. A lot of my time is spent processing data, but I am also able to then use the wave products from the database to look at properties of waves. Since I am looking at waves in the ULF range, I've been studying electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) wave properties. The database makes it possible to look at the statistics of various properties of EMIC waves, such as peak wave amplitude or polarization.

I intentionally wanted to find a post-doc position that would allow me to broaden my specialization within Earth's space environment. I really admire the senior scientists who spent time developing their expertise in several areas. I am really interested in the questions about the small details we observe, such as, “What is causing this specific auroral feature?” or “What is the implication of these waves at this location?” but in order to find the best answers, it is important to approach the question from different angles and to always keep the bigger picture in mind.

How to Get Involved in Science Research
I wouldn't say it is easy for a young talented scientist to develop a successful career, but I also wouldn't say it is impossible. There are certainly difficulties. It is definitely not possible for every person graduating with a PhD to get a postdoc, or for everyone who has spent time as a postdoc to get a tenure-track faculty position, because there just aren't enough positions available. The competition gets higher as you go along. With that said, it seems to me that anyone who ends up doing something other than science research is doing so by choice. If you decide that science research is the best choice for you, I think it is nearly always possible to find a way to overcome any setbacks that can (and likely will) happen along the way.

I think that getting involved in research is a really good first step to take. Any sort of research involvement is helpful. Many people change their area of research, so it is not even important to spend a lot of time trying to choose the perfect area. Even really similar topics can provide very different experiences, depending on the specific project and the people you are working with. Often it can be possible to get involved in a project just by asking, so don't be afraid to talk to people and ask questions. It also helps to get to know people who have similar interests and are at your same level. If you know other students who are also interested in space research, it is likely that you are both going through similar things, such as applying for jobs or schools at the same time, or taking the same placement tests. Having a group of peers is really good for sharing information and providing support to one another.

Striving for a Balanced Life
One of the biggest challenges for me was to learn to take time for myself outside of work. In science research, there is always something more you can be doing. There is never a day when, at the end of the day, your work is finished.  As a graduate student, this was especially challenging for me, because I never felt like I was doing enough. I often worked every day of the week for many hours each day, and this is what the majority of the graduate students were doing. There were some seasons where it felt impossible to live any differently. During the good seasons, I was able to recognize that this lifestyle is very unhealthy and would quickly lead to burnout.
 
It has been a slow process for me to really embrace the time I take for hobbies or activities outside of work. Early on I felt like I would fall behind if I didn't spend all day at the office, and I had a lot of guilt about leaving at a normal time of day. However, once I started forcing myself to do things aside from working, I started to recognize that this balance allowed me to be more focused and productive with the hours I was spending at the office. It still sometimes seems counter-intuitive to not work all night when a big deadline is approaching, but I always remind myself that the best outcome will happen if I strive for a healthy and balanced life.

Eleni Chatzichristou

MAARBLE Outreach Team