Dr. Kristen McQuinn is an Assistant Prof. of Physics and Astronomy at Rutgers University. In this episode, Dr. McQuinn and I chat about her non-traditional path to Astrophysics, her experience in graduate school as a mother of two young children, her insights on some experiences along the way, and her advice for aspiring students.
Dr. McQuinn earned her undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering at Lehigh University. After working in the industry for 9 years, she applied for graduate school and completed her PhD in Astrophysics at the University of Minnesota in 2010. She stayed as a postdoc at UMN for 5 years and then worked as a Research Scientist at University of Texas at Austin before joining her current role.
Dr. McQuinn’s science interests are focused on the formation and history of low-mass galaxies, predominantly in the nearby Universe, and what such galaxies can tell us about the history of the universe. Specifically, she is interested in using low-mass galaxies to probe different epochs of the cosmic time (including the earliest epochs of evolution) and to study individual processes, such as the formation of stars, the evolution of chemical elements, and the impact of star formation on the gas and structure of a galaxy.
I hope that you will enjoy listening to this episode! Subscribe, share this episode with your friends, and let me know your thoughts in the comments!
Sources:
Dr. McQuinn’s research website
Music credits: Epidemic Sound
