1. Can you describe your role in the SDSS collaboration and what you enjoy most about it?
I’m co-chair of the AGN Demographics working group so I organise and chair the telecons and help to coordinate some of the efforts across working groups and above. I’m also a member of COINS. I’ve loved getting to know a bunch of new people who all have different expertise and interests. The SDSS-V collaboration meetings are the most welcoming and friendly meetings/conferences I’ve been to!
2. Can you tell us about your educational background and how you got interested in the field of astronomy/astrophysics?
I grew up in a small town on the East coast of Scotland, not far from St Andrews and so my high school was involved in the University’s First Chances project whose aims were to raise the aspirations and attainment of local pupils. I chose to investigate the different methods used to detect exoplanets and by the end of the project, I had decided that I wanted to study astrophysics at St Andrews. I’ve continued to enjoy astronomy through undergrad, PhD, postdoc, so I’m still here! I’m currently a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow at the University of Edinburgh.
3. What projects are you currently working on and what are you most excited about?
The SDSS-V core quasar selection is quite different from previous iterations of the SDSS: SDSS-V is following up a large sample of X-ray selected quasars (mostly eROSITA) while previous surveys focused on optically selected quasars. I’m currently trying to understand if these quasar samples differ in their outflow properties.
4. Can you describe how you balance work and personal life, and what advice would you give to someone just starting in the field?
No work accounts on my phone! I like structure so I try hard to keep to a work schedule and come in to the office most days to keep my work and personal life physically separate. My advice would be to find people you enjoy working with.
5. Can you share with us a unique hobby or interest that you have outside of work?
Walking and bird-watching (particularly wading birds). Lapwings are my favourite and ducks are underrated!