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Meet: Therese Kucera
Solar Physicist on the SOHO Team
SM&A Corporation/Goddard Space Flight Center
Who I am
For the past three years I have been working
as a solar physicist on the team of the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory
(SOHO). I work with two of the instruments in particular, the Coronal
Diagnostic Spectromer and the Solar Ultraviolet Measurements of Emitted
Radiation. I help to operate them, deciding when they should observe what
and coordinating with people working with other instrument, spacecraft,
and observatories so that we can observe the same things at once in many
different ways.
I analyze the data we get back, studying different
features in the Sun's atmosphere (like prominences and active regions).
I work with the data so that I can compare it to the predictions of different
models of how the Sun works.
I also work with teachers who are figuring out how
to use our data and information in their classrooms.
My education
I am from Evanston, IL, a suburb of Chicago. I'm the oldest of three
daughters. I started getting interested in astronomy when I was in grade
school (before that I wanted to study dinosaurs), but I didn't really
think of it very seriously as a career because 1) I was told you had to
be good at math - which I thought meant (yawn) arithmetic and 2) I heard
it was very hard to get a job as an astronomer. Still, though, I made
a point of taking astronomy in high school, and I was in a high school
astronomy club. I took all the standard college prep classes, including
math and science.
When I started college (at Carlton College, in Minnesota)
I didn't know what I wanted to do, although I think most of the people
who knew me figured I'd go into science. I did very well in my first physics
class (a feat never to be repeated) and enjoyed it. I kept taking physics
and ended up majoring in it.
I still was not sure what I wanted to do, but I thought
as long as I was considering going to graduate school, I'd go ahead. I
entered the U. of Colorado Department of Astrophysical, Planetary, and
Atmospheric Sciences because I figured I was interested in all those things
and couldn't go too far wrong.
I started out taking atmospheric science classes,
but then I heard from another graduate student that there was a professor
looking for a student to work with radio data from the Sun. That sounded
interesting - I wanted to work with data and the Sun seemed to combine
my interests in both astronomy and the Earth. I did my thesis work studying
solar flares.
When I was finishing up graduate school I started
asking around about jobs. Someone I'd worked with told me that her group
at NASA/Goddard was looking for a young scientist for a two-year position,
and I got the job. When that job ended, I went to the scientist in charge
of SOHO at Goddard to ask if they had job openings and here I am!
What I like about my job
My job is full of interesting challenges.
I have a variety of things to do and am always learning.
Sometimes I work as part of a team, sometimes alone.
I usually get to decide what I do & when.
I work with great people.
What I don't like
It's usually pretty inactive - lots of staring at
computer screens. Of course, this is true of many professional jobs these
days.
If I want to stay in my field there are not all that
many places I can work and live.
Other interests
I manage to keep pretty busy outside of work. These days it is
mostly bicycling, dancing, reading, and practicing the mandolin.
Some advice
Pay attention to what you actually like doing, both in and out
of school. When you have a job someday you'll probably be spending at
least eight hours a day at it - it's best if you enjoy it!
Learn More From My Chats
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