Name

Casey Deen

School

University of Texas at Austin

Degree Program

Sixth year PhD student in Astronomy

Previous Degrees

Bachelor of Science in Physics from Texas A & M University, 2004

Dissertation Title

An Investigation of the Physical Parameters of Young Stellar Objects

Research Interests

Instrumentation and star formation

Advisor

Daniel T. Jaffe

Advisor’s Research Focus

Studies of the Interstellar Medium; Star formation; Instrumentation

Hobbies

Mountain biking, dominoes, reading

Graduate School – Application Process

How did you select your graduate school and program?

When it came to selecting a graduate school for my PhD in astronomy, I applied to several schools in Texas without researching any. University of Texas was the most reputable school that accepted me. I visited the campus and met some people in the department, but other than that, I did not follow a process in selecting a school.

What did you do to prepare yourself for graduate school?

Hands-on research experience and a senior honors thesis both prepared me for graduate school and helped strengthen my application.

For my honors thesis I tried to construct a spectrometer to study light pollution. Although it was unsuccessful, it gave me a lot of experience. That helped prepare me both personally and academically for my program. I also tried to get as much research experience as possible. I knew that although my grades and test scores mattered, exposure to research would hold more weight on my graduate school application than anything else. I worked in labs over the summer and also attended conferences to gain hand-on experience.

Did your application requirements include standardized test scores?

Yes, I submitted GRE scores when I applied to my PhD program in astronomy at University of Texas. To prepare for the test I enlisted the help of my undergraduate advisor. He held practice sessions to help the senior-class students prepare for the test. I learned simple test-taking strategies in these preparation sessions that aided me when I took the exam.

How did you choose faculty to approach for letters of recommendation?

For letters of recommendation, I approached faculty who knew me as more than a face in the classroom. I chose professors who I had worked with and performed research for.

Do you have any other tips for a student who is considering applying to graduate school in astronomy?

For a student considering applying to a PhD program in astronomy, I would stress the importance of a good educational foundation, in addition to writing ability. Writing is an area often overlooked for science undergrads because they are so focused on their science knowledge. But at the graduate level, being able to communicate and defend your ideas in writing is crucial. I would strongly advise a prospective student to take a few writing courses before the program. I would also recommend having a firm grasp of math and physics, in addition to a basic understanding of quantum mechanics before beginning a graduate program in astronomy. Understanding computer programming and language will also help.

Besides taking courses to lay a strong educational foundation for graduate study, I recommend students also get as much research experience as possible. Personally, I found that my undergraduate study did not prepare me for the level of research I would be performing in my PhD program. My undergraduate program did not teach me how to perform research or even how to attack a problem when the answer is not in the back of a textbook. If students are serious about pursuing a PhD in astronomy, they should consider taking on special research projects as undergraduates in order to gain exposure to the field.

Graduate School – The Program

How long is your program and how is the curriculum distributed?

My PhD program in astronomy at University of Texas takes 6 years to complete. I had 8 required classes spread over the first 2 years. Since I completed my second year, I have been working toward my dissertation. I am now in my final year.

What is the focus of your dissertation research?

My dissertation is called “An Investigation of the Physical Parameters of Young Stellar Objects.” For my PhD research, I examine star formation.

Can you describe the process of researching for and writing your dissertation?

My dissertation has been a long process. When I first entered graduate school, I had no clue about what I wanted to research. First, I chose an advisor who worked in telescopes and instrumentation, and he suggested a masters-level project for me. After I completed my masters project on star formation, I had enough general knowledge to craft a PhD proposal.

For other doctoral students in astronomy who might be in the process of choosing a topic, I recommend enlisting the help of their advisor. An advisor can help uncertain students hone potential topics. Advisors can also offer their own experience during the process of choosing a topic because new students might not know the ins and outs of a research area.

What role does your advisor play in your education?

My advisor has played an important role in my education at University of Texas. He is the person who points me in the right direction and encourages me to take another perspective when I reach a dead end or cannot understand something. His role is not to explain it all for me, but he draws attention to where I am going wrong and helps me look at a problem with a fresh perspective. My advisor has been a great resource in my education, and I have a lot of respect for him.

I recommend other students get the most out of their own advisor by first selecting the best advisor for their own research interests. Different advisors have different mentoring styles, and different students have different working styles. It is important for an advisor and a student to be compatible. Students who are selecting an advisor can talk to other graduate students who have already made the selection because they can offer some insight.

In addition to selecting the right advisor, students should feel free to ask questions. Advisors are experts and students are not, so students should not be afraid of looking dumb to their advisor. However, I would caution that while advisors are there to help, students are responsible for their own education. Advisors can introduce students to important people in the field and help with research questions, but it is ultimately the students’ responsibility to take ownership of their academic progress.

Graduate School – Paying for It

How much does your PhD program cost?

My tuition costs around $8,000 per year.

How are you funding your education?

At University of Texas, most graduate students in the astronomy department receive assistantship positions that fund all or part of the costs of graduate school. I worked as a teaching assistant for the first year of grad school, had a fellowship for the next 3 years, and my adviser hired me as a research assistant for the final 2 years of my PhD. Taken all together, I have been able to cover a good portion of my school expenses.

Graduate School – Living Life

What are the time commitments for a PhD in astronomy?

Studying for a PhD in astronomy is essentially like a full-time job. In addition to research and dissertation tasks, there is a lot of effort involved with my research assistant appointment. Furthermore, because I am studying in a science field, I must also read all of the current papers to keep up on recent developments. I would say that I spend 40 to 60 hours each week on school work. But I also spend my fair share of time vegging out on the couch like any other normal person.

How has graduate school affected your personal life?

Graduate school does affect my personal life, but the impact is not terrible. My significant other is also in graduate school and that makes it easier because we both understand the daily obligations and stress. The most negative impact on my personal life is that it is difficult to “switch off” and relax, because there are no set working hours in graduate school.

In order to balance my schoolwork with my personal life, effective time management is crucial. Establishing a routine is an important time-management strategy for me. For students trying to juggle personal obligations with graduate school, it’s important to find a strategy that works and stick with it.

Graduate School – After Graduation

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In 5 years, I see myself doing research at a university or other research institution. I have also considered pursuing a career as a professor or a position working on scientific instrumentation at a research facility.

I would love to work as a professor, and in the future, I might pursue that possibility. However, in the educational career track, there is somewhat of a bottleneck at the professor level. The step from post-doctoral work to becoming a professor is an incredibly competitive and difficult transition, and most people with that ambition do not achieve it. Although teaching is one goal, I am open to a variety of other career paths.

With a PhD in astronomy, I might find an unexpected project that takes me in another direction, and I am comfortable with that possibility. Astronomy is not about fame and fortune. People work in this field because they genuinely enjoy it, and as long as I am doing something that interests me, I am happy.

Graduate School - Advice

What insights can you offer a student who is interested in pursuing a PhD in astronomy?

If you are a student who is interested in pursuing a PhD in astronomy, I would first recommend that you consider your deadlines carefully when planning your research project. Be realistic about your expectations when conducting your research, especially in regard to time constraints. For example, I think adding an instrumentation component to a PhD in astronomy is a wise choice, because it will open up a lot of job possibilities. However, if you choose this option, you will have to ensure that your dissertation does not depend on the instrument you build. Instruments take a long time to complete, and it is unlikely that you will be able to finish it in time to complete your dissertation. Be aware of deadlines and be practical in your research goals.

My second piece of advice is not to worry about the details and how they relate to the bigger picture of your career. I believe that, in the job market, the area of research and the specific methods you use in your doctoral study are less important than having the PhD. You will learn interesting facts and research methods, but in the job market as a whole, they are irrelevant. Having a doctoral degree in astronomy demonstrates an ability to analyze data, come to conclusions based on those observations and actually execute a research plan. You do not necessarily need a PhD to think critically, but having the degree demonstrates that you can. In the job market, having a PhD will matter a lot more than the specific details of the degree.