Anna Humphrey is a physics major, with an astrophysics emphasis and an applied mathematics minor. Originally from Boise but with roots in Sicily, astronomy has always been a passion for her. Her starry journey at Boise State took her to the Across the Universe VIP, where she is mentored by Brian Jackson.
Brian Jackson is professor in the department of Physics and leads this VIP. We reached out to Anna and Brian to learn more about what this VIP is like and their experience working together (responses have been edited for clarity).
Anna Humphrey
What gets you out of bed everyday?
My passion and love for everything: Astronomy and space. I love learning about the aspects of our universe that interest me the most – and having the privilege and opportunities to learn about them is what has motivated me to keep going.
What is your research focus?
My research is focused on Exoplanets, we look at star systems that we believe are experiencing orbital decay which means they are falling into their star!
What do you like to do for fun?
I love anything outdoors when the weather is nice, but my favorite is stargazing – we have amazing dark skies in Idaho and I take every opportunity I can get to those dark skies. I also love hiking, and Boise has some amazing trails!
What got you interested in the Across the Universe VIP?
I wanted to get involved in my community as soon as I could. When I started at BSU, my advisor told me about Research VIPs and the experience they can get me. When I started browsing through my options, Across the Universe caught my attention because the material covered and what we study is everything I find interesting and dream to learn more about. When Brain Jackson first told me about the experience I would gain, the opportunities I would be offered, and my role in the research I was particularly captivated and thrilled to join the project. I knew this research would open up connections and experience that would benefit me in my future research!
What does a typical day in your VIP look like?
A typical day in my research is filled with data analysis and problem solving. I have an amazing team of other undergraduate students who are just as passionate about the material we cover as I am. We also have weekly meetings where we share our progress on the project, go over new research articles, and listen to presentations on new research or progress. We also have the opportunity to utilize the BSU observatory to gather our own data which can be used to make real progress on the project. It’s truly amazing to contribute to such an interesting research project and have the opportunity to connect and collaborate with other students and researchers!
What is one thing about astronomy that you find the most intriguing?
How vast the universe is. Looking at different objects in our sky like stars or galaxies, we are looking at how they appeared in the past. Light takes thousands of years, sometimes millions to reach our eyes, depending on how far away the objects are. When you look up into our night sky, some of those stars have already finished their life cycle and may no longer exist, all that would be left would be their remains!
Describe your research in one sentence.
We analyze transit data from exoplanet star systems, looking at their transit times and orbital period we can produce a light curve which shows the decrease in the stars brightness as the planet crosses over the front of the star from our perspective ( which is what a transit is) – from said light curve we analyze the time it takes for the exoplanet to complete one orbit. Very long sentences. I’m so sorry!
What keeps you going in your research journey when things get hard?
Knowing that I am contributing to a project that matters, and the more I work on this project the more I learn. I love to help the other undergraduate students learn more about this project. I have the ability to make real connections with important figures in this research field which is extremely important for me in my future in graduate school. The project can have its rough patches, but I am doing this for my future and it’s truly extraordinary to know that the work I do is beneficial and important for this project!
What’s next for your work?
Poster presentations at a BSU conference! Being involved in VIP research means I have access to opportunities like presenting at conferences at BSU.
For anyone considering undergraduate research, what advice do you have?
Jump into the deep end even if it’s a little scary and even if you’re not sure how the research will go or how to start the process. Professors in your department and advisor are a great resource to utilize when getting involved in research. VIP research is an amazing way to get started and get some experience during your undergraduate degree, and there are so many amazing projects to contribute to.
Brian Jackson
What was your motivation behind starting this VIP?
Space science is very cool, and I’ve had lots of students ask how they can get involved in our research program. Offering a VIP seemed like a nice entry point for students to dip their toes in the waters of space science research.
What is your superpower?
I can be very, very stubborn.
What is one thing you would say for anyone considering joining the Across the Universe VIP?
Don’t stress if you don’t already have experience doing research. The whole point of the VIP is for people to get an introduction to research.
Can you talk about your experience working with Anna?
Anna has served as a senior student, helping advise some of our more junior students in the VIP. She has a very calm, thoughtful demeanor that I think helps struggling students feel reassured, even as they encounter obstacles in the course of their research.
What’s one advice you have for current or future VIP undergrad researchers?
Do it! Even if you end up deciding that research isn’t for you, having the experience is very important for understanding how scientific research actually works. There’s never been a time in history when basic science literacy was more important.