Email: catyp@astro.indiana.edu

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What do you do in your job?

As a Professor of Astronomy at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, I teach astronomy to undergraduate students, and work with graduate students who are obtaining their Ph.D. degrees in astronomy and astrophysics. In addition to teaching, I also conduct research on the evolution of stars in the Milky Way Galaxy through observations of stars in clusters.

What kind of research do you do?

You can find out about my research at www.astro.indiana.edu/catyp/research.html.

How did you get interested in astronomy?

From reading books! As a teenager, I knew I wanted to work in science because that is what was the most interesting to me. I read many books about different fields, and found books by Asimov, Hoyle, and Gamow about physics and astronomy to be the most interesting. I especially enjoyed learning about the evolution of stars, which astronomers were just beginning to understand in detail in the 1960's, when theoretical computations could be carried out on the new, large, mainframe computers. Those computers were, of course, not nearly as powerful as those on astronomers' desktops today!

While I always enjoyed looking at the sky, learning about the Universe always interested me more. And today, my research is in the area of stellar evolution, understanding how stars form, evolve, and die, and how they effect the environment around them.

How long to I have to go to school to become an astronomer?

Most astronomers take undergraduate degrees in Physics or Astronomy, and then go on to graduate school in Astronomy or Astrophysics. While in undergraduate school, most students participate in summer research internships at observatories or universities. These research internships are funded through the National Science Foundation's Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program.

Graduate students typically study for four to six or seven years before completing their Ph.D. degrees. Then they often spend 3-6 years as postdoctoral fellows, developing their research program before taking permanent jobs.

What subjects should I study in high school to become an astronomer?

Math, certainly! And also physics, chemistry, and other sciences. Students should also get a good general education, and learn to write well. Writing is very important in science, because it is how we communicate our discoveries to other scientists and to the public.

If I want to be an astronomer, what should I study in college?

Physics, math, and astronomy are all important subjects. Computer science is also important, and some fields of engineering can be useful, too. Many radio astronomers began as electrical engineers. See our website for information on Indiana University's undergraduate program in Astronomy.

How can I afford to go to graduate school if I'm interested in astronomy?

Graduate students in astronomy usually work as teaching assistants or research assistants while they are in graduate school. They work about 20 hours per week and are paid between $15,000 and $30,000 per year, depending on which university they attend. Universities in areas with a very high cost of living pay more, while universities with lower costs of living usually pay a bit less. While students don't get rich, they do make enough money to get by. Their fees and tuitions are usually paid by the universities they attend.

You can find information about graduate study in astronomy at Indiana University on our website at astrowww.astro.indiana.edu/grad_program.shtml. Be sure to look at our webpage with advice on selecting a graduate school.

Is it hard to get a job as an astronomer?

Once young astronomers have completed their graduate studies and their postdoctoral fellowships, they begin to look for permanent jobs. Many astronomers become professors at colleges and universities, and many others work at observatories and national laboratories. Astronomers also work in public outreach, organizing and presenting public programs, developing curriculum materials, and helping science teachers learn about astronomy. Finding permanent jobs in astronomy can be a struggle, because there are more astronomers than jobs, but most students eventually land jobs in the field.

What jobs have you had during your career?

As a graduate student at the University of Hawaii, I worked as a research assistant assisting a professor with his studies of peculiar stars that have magnetic fields and starspots. After completing my Ph.D., I worked at the University of Washington as a postdoctoral fellow, studying the compositions of stars in globular clusters. When my postdoctoral work was complete, I joined the staff of the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Tucson, where I worked for more than twenty years. In 2001, I left Kitt Peak to become a professor at Indiana University, where I now teach and conduct research.

How has changing technology affected your work life?

Advances in technology during my career have completely changed how astronomers do research. Data are obtained using digital cameras instead of photographic plates, computers allow us to tackle much more difficult and comprehensive research projects that were possible decades ago, and our data and research papers are now available on line. The Internet allows astronomers all over the world to communicate and work together, and the way we work has become more international.

In any job, and especially in scientific fields, it is essential to continue to learn to use new tools. In research, I must compete with all astronomers, including more senior colleagues and with newly-minted Ph.D.'s and even graduate students for research funds and access to telescope time and data. If I don't make skilled use of the latest tools and techniques, I can't compete successfully.

What is it like to be a woman working in science?

The number of women entering astronomy graduate programs has more than tripled since I started graduate school in the early '70's. The number of women at scientific conferences has increased, as has the number of women in technical positions on observatory staffs. It is now much less common to be the only woman at a working meeting. This is a BIG improvement! And the future looks bright for women in astronomy. Half of the undergraduate students majoring in astronomy are women now, and the fraction of new Ph.D.s who are women continues to rise.

What advice would you give to help young people prepare to enter the workforce?

Find a field and a job that you love. I love what I do, and enjoy each and every day. And each day is filled with new challenges and new learning. For me, this a big part of what makes my job so exciting.

Have you encountered any obstacles during your education or career?

I think everyone encounters obstacles! We all find family, health, and other personal problems that can slow down, postpone, or even derail our education and research - and our families come first. For astronomers, the weather can be a big obstacle, too. Time on research telescopes is usually allocated months in advance, and if the weather is bad, astronomers are out of luck - usually having to reapply for more time the next year. Bad weather can impact our research in a big way - even causing graduate students to spend another year (or two!) in graduate school. Other obstacles can involve finding the right next job as an astronomer advances from graduate student to postdoc to a permanent job, whether at an observatory, at a college or university, or in a research center. Choices are limited, and the search for the right match for each person can provide a significant obstacle. The research provides obstacles, too - research is always challenging, and it's typical to encounter many obstacles through the progress of a research project, from data problems through software that doesn't do quite what you expect, to reviewers who don't understand the results.

I've found my share of obstacles throughout my career. For each one, I try to find a way around, over, under, or through the problem, and always ask for help when I need it. Overcoming an obstacle is just another challenge, and a part of the process of research. I think the secret is to expect and anticipate obstacles and to see them as a part of every-day life - not as a special, unfair burden. It's a perspective that has helped me not to be overwhelmed or stopped by obstacles.

When and where were you born?

Sorry, I don't provide these personal details. The information that is available is the dates of my undergraduate (1971 from Harvey Mudd College) and Ph.D. (1975 from the University of Hawaii) degrees. I was born and raised in California.

Where can I get more information?

Additional websites with interviews that might be useful are the following:

• 2001 IU Homepages interview by Susan Williams
• 2004 IU Research and Creative interview by Karen Grooms
• Focus to Infinity, an article by Doug McInnis in the Harvey Mudd College Bulletin, Spring 2008 issue.

The American Astronomical Society has an excellent website for information about careers in astronomy. The National Optical Astronomy Observatory also has information about being an astronomer. Professor Kris Sellgren at Ohio State University has collected several links with information about careers in astronomy.