Mark Siebert: ‘Doing research allows you to figure out what kind of science you are passionate about and would consider diving into for the rest of your career’

Mark Siebert

Astronomy

Hollis, NH

Why did you choose Cornell?

I chose Cornell because of its outstanding resources for physics and astronomy, as well as its ties to Carl Sagan, who has always been a major inspiration for me and got me into the field in the first place.

What have you accomplished as a Cornell student that you are most proud of, either inside the classroom or otherwise?

I was fortunate enough to have an internship at the Berkeley SETI Research Center during the summer of 2018. During my time there I made great friends and observed with world-class instruments like the Green Bank Telescope and Parkes Observatory. In addition, I was given a research project to write a calibration routine that would help the group obtain new types of data that could be used for a variety of exciting science projects. The project was very successful and I presented my work at the January 2019 American Astronomical Society meeting where I was awarded a Chambliss medal.

If you were to offer advice to an incoming first year student, what would you say?

If you are interested in doing research during your time at Cornell, I would say get involved as early as possible. Not only is it an extremely exciting and rewarding experience, but it allows you to figure out what kind of science you are passionate about and would consider diving into for the rest of your career.

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