As a teen in India, Anushree turned fascinated with house exploration however by no means imagined it was a profession inside her attain. On Worldwide Girls’s Day, we’re thrilled to share Anushree’s inspiring story.
Now a Postdoctoral Fellow serving to NASA examine whether or not there’s ever been life on Mars, Anushree displays on her unbelievable journey and why it’s necessary to “by no means cease dreaming” with regards to your profession targets.
The place it began
In 2003, like many throughout the globe, Anushree was captivated by the Columbia shuttle’s house mission.
“I wasn’t actually conscious of house journey earlier than I tuned into that mission, so my thoughts was blown by the truth that astronauts may conduct scientific experiments in house,” Anushree explains. “Added to the truth that one of many crew members, Kalpana Chawla, was the primary lady of Indian origin to fly to house, and I used to be completely gripped.”
The crew spent 16 days in house earlier than the mission led to catastrophe and Columbia broke aside throughout re-entry.
“It was a horrible tragedy, however the legacy of the Columbia crew sparked one thing inside me. It impressed a calling that grew stronger over time,” Anushree remembers.
Making it occur
Decided to seek out out the place her new ardour may take her, Anushree spent her spare time absorbing an entire new subject of examine.
“Everybody anticipated me to pursue a profession in civil companies, which is very revered again residence, however my fascination with house by no means left me,” explains Anushree, who went on to finish a level in Historical past and Anthropology.
After graduating from the College of Lucknow, Anushree recalled “I began researching house sciences, particularly Area Biology, a time period that was extremely popular again then. Later, I found Astrobiology, taking quick programs and devouring a variety of assets to construct my scientific data.”
However there was one last hurdle to beat earlier than she may begin her house journey.
“For my mum and pop, it was like sending their daughter to an unknown world. No person in my household had ever studied science so it was a extremely large deal,” Anushree displays. “They took some convincing, however my mother and father noticed my ambition and believed in me sufficient to take a threat.”
Lastly, she managed to safe a spot on a Biotechnology Masters course within the UK that allowed to her to delve into astrobiology-focused analysis.
Residing the dream
Specializing in Geomicrobiology, Anushree’s analysis earned her a short-term placement at NASA’s Goddard Area Flight Centre engaged on a Mars mission and several other analogue expeditions. Quick-forward to the top of her Masters, Anushree heard a couple of PhD alternative at The Open College that matched her space of analysis.
“I had no concept if I’d be chosen once I utilized. Discovering out I used to be profitable was a very wonderful second. Absolutely funded PhDs are exhausting to return by, particularly for a global candidate like me,” Anushree stated.
“I really feel so fortunate to have been a part of AstrobiologyOU the place specialists throughout quite a lot of disciplines work collectively to know the place life could also be discovered and contemplate the ethics round house exploration – it was a captivating place to be.”
Residing and dealing a great distance from residence, Anushree discovered consolation in being a part of a nurturing group.
“I received a lot assist from AstrobiologyOU’s admin group, teachers, and different college students. It felt like a household,” Anushree recollects. “The entire expertise was like a dream come true.”
Life on Mars?
After years of dedication to her analysis, Anushree noticed a gap on NASA’s Mars Rover programme.
“My work centred round understanding the habitability of early Mars environments, so it was an amazing match. I couldn’t consider that I used to be accepted to be a part of such necessary analysis.”
Anushree elaborates, “I’m a part of two large missions – analysing and deciphering information units direct from Mars and offering mission-critical assist for operations on the floor. We’re trying to reply the large query – was there life on Mars?”
Reflecting on every part she’s achieved since leaving residence, Anushree describes her spotlight.
“I left the OU as a physician, that’s fairly exhausting to beat! Whereas stepping out of the campus on my final day, I touched the soil as a result of this place gave me an entire new id,” says Anushree. “It can at all times be particular to me, and I’ll be perpetually grateful to the OU.”
Hoping to encourage others, Anushree had this recommendation:
“When you’ve got a ardour, by no means cease dreaming – it takes numerous endurance and dedication, however the end result may very well be wonderful.”
“By no means take something as a right – I did numerous volunteering at first of my profession. It enabled me to construct a community and acquire unbelievable expertise.”
“Keep true to your work and persevere – I turned a physician and landed my dream job engaged on NASA’s robotic missions to Mars, simply think about what you’ll be able to obtain.”
