1. Can you describe your role in the SDSS collaboration and what you enjoy most about it?
I am the former Lead Scientist for SDSS-V Chile (2021-2023) and CoCo representative of the Chilean National Time Allocation Committee (CNTAC, 2020-2021). I enjoy the collaborative spirit in different areas of SDSS-V and the respect among their members regardless of their hierarchy.
2. Can you tell us about your educational background and how you got interested in the field of astronomy/astrophysics?
I have always wondered about the sky, looking at their marvellous objects each time I had the opportunity. I also enjoyed Physics lessons in high school, especially when I learned Kepler equations to determine periods of planets. I realized the power of Physics to understand the cosmos. Then, a bachelor’s degree in astronomy opened in my country, Chile, and I was fortunate to be admitted to the program. I liked extragalactic astronomy at the university, so I continued my studies for a PhD at the same institution, where I learned about cosmological simulations that I have developed and used since then. Before my current academic position, I got several postdoctoral positions, including observing and working in astronomical observatories. I also worked as an observer for APOGEE-2 SDSS-IV in LCO.
3. What projects are you currently working on and what are you most excited about?
I am working on a project about the co-evolution of stellar populations and supermassive black holes in nearby massive galaxies. In addition, I am studying the environmental effects of the large-scale structure at the low-mass regime, such as two-halo galactic conformity and secondary bias. Besides this, I am the Director of the PhD program in Astronomy and Planetary Sciences at my institution.
4. Can you describe how you balance work and personal life, and what advice would you give to someone just starting in the field?
It is not easy, especially when one has a leadership role in a scientific project or an institution. I try to follow a schedule that balances my work and personal life. My advice is to arrange that schedule with goals that can be achieved and always leave time for sharing with family, relatives, or friends.
5. Can you share with us a unique hobby or interest that you have outside of work?
I like to play table tennis. I usually practice it on weekends.