Male scientific archetypes usually get much credit when we talk about science, be it Einstein, Newton, or Feynman. Newton, famously said that he was able to see far because he could stand on the shoulders of giants.

In my young career experience, those giants have been some brilliant female professors who gave me crucial opportunities. My first break and exposure to astronomy came from being selected at the CUREA summer program at Mount Wilson Observatory. Prof. Paula Turner was very kind enough to take care of all selected students, both on an academic and non-academic level and logistics.  

When I struggled to find further opportunities in my astronomy career, Prof. Joanna Mikołajewska gave me an opportunity to work under her guidance. This was the first time I could learn and earn a stipend at the same time. She not only supervised me but also invited me for dinner to her home on multiple occasions. It was a great gesture on her part that made me feel welcomed to a completely different but beautiful Polish landscape.

Even after a very strong research background, I still struggled to secure further positions in astronomy. This is when Professor Joanne Dawson gave me the opportunity to work with her. I switched from optical to radio astronomy and felt rather naive but I remember her telling me, your knowledge is like a seed that will grow and become a tree as you go along. She has helped me tremendously during my degree and made me a mature researcher. 

I remember attending a young career astronomer’s seminar by Prof. Jocelyn Bell Burnell who told all students to believe in themselves and be stubborn and determined in your PhD. Those words were said to all participants but somehow struck close to home.

Beyond these personal experiences, I feel great inspiration from the historical greats. I have tremendous affection towards Hypatia of Alexandria who was brave and brilliant. I say to myself sometimes, “I dream in the symmetries of Emmy Noether’s world. There is no physical law that defies Noether’s theorem. And last of all I agree with Marie Curie that, “I am among those who think that science has great beauty.” One needs an internal beauty to appreciate the beauty of nature and that’s why women and highly empathetic male scientists see the aesthetic side of it.