Lessons learned from leaving academia
I wrote a commentary for the October 2019 issue of Physics Today on my experience and lessons learned from leaving academia.
Read MoreFive Steps to Go from Science to Product
After a few years of working with engineers, I look back on my MESSENGER experience with a fresh perspective and an appreciation for the engineers I never met who created and operated the spacecraft. Now at First Mode, I use this experience to bridge the communication gap between scientists and engineers.
Read More"Space is hard." But why?
Every time a spaceflight failure occurs, the phrase “space is hard” will invariably be uttered in response. What is it that makes space so hard?
Read MorePost-conference ruminating on non-traditional careers
I organized a successful panel about non-academic careers at a planetary science conference. However, I had previously underestimated the level of toxicity regarding nontraditional career paths despite having experienced it firsthand.
Read MoreQuestioning the status quo in pursuit of lowering planetary mission costs
The first step in effecting change is admitting that there is a problem. In order to disrupt the status quo, the planetary science community must first make changes in our culture and assumptions regarding missions.
Read MorePh.D. programs fail to train students for non-academic careers
All too often, Ph.D. students leave grad school with no idea of how to find jobs outside a traditional academic or research career track. If you’re in that boat, here are some resources to get started.
Read MoreWhere to start your NewSpace job search
Interested in working in commercial space but not sure which companies to target in your job search? Check out this map of the NewSpace ecosystem.
Read MoreFaster, Better, Cheaper: A maligned era of NASA's history
With the advances in small satellite technology and the success of the MarCO CubeSats at Mars, it's time to revisit lessons from NASA's 1990s Faster, Better, Cheaper era.
Read MoreThe positive tension between space scientists and engineers
One of the most critical elements of a successful space mission is effective communication between two species: scientists and engineers.
Read MoreResources for discovering non-academic career options
Here are some resources for figuring out what non-academic career options might be available to you.
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