Matt Craigie – Astrophysics PhD Student
What have you been doing since graduating from Year 12 at Noosa District State High School?
I've been studying at The University of Queensland and working as a tutor part-time. I started my academic career by doing a Bachelor of Advanced Science majoring in Physics. Now I'm completing a PhD in Astrophysics, which is the scientific study of the universe and everything in it.
Although I'm still deciding on an exact career, I'd like to keep my options open and use my data science skillset to help with some of the challenges that Australia and the world are facing, such as transitioning to sustainable energy sources and providing global access to food.
What inspired you to pursue astrophysics?
In preschool, I received a science encyclopedia for children, which I loved because it had lots of interesting pictures. Growing up, I revisited it numerous times and was captivated by the content. This is where my interest in science started.
Astrophysics is exciting as it deals with fascinating concepts such as stars, galaxies, and black holes. I specialise in cosmology, where we study the physics of the universe. I really enjoy digging into the big picture, fundamental questions of how the universe works.
How did you decide what subjects to study in Years 11 and 12?
After attending science enrichment camps during high school, one thing led to another, and I was fortunate to travel to America for a science research internship. There I worked on an astrophysics research project and got a lot out of it. That was the catalyst for choosing senior maths and science subjects and, ultimately, the research path I’m on now. In short, I simply followed what I liked doing.
How do you balance your study and work with your health and wellbeing?
Listening to experts and asking for help is a large part of how I manage my health and wellbeing. I'm fortunate to have a strong support network in my PhD studies, so, if I'm ever struggling, I have people to chat with who can help me. This usually means relaxing a little and cutting back on work. Time spent getting back to 100% is always time well spent.
What other advice do you have for senior students?
What other advice do you have for senior students? Always be on the lookout for ways to make new connections and open yourself up to new opportunities. It may seem like extra-curricular activities are a time-sink, but they can be incredibly valuable for networking and learning new skills. Connections will open doors, and hard work will help you walk through them.
If you could travel to any known planet, which planet would it be and why?
I would travel to the planet Kepler-452B, which orbits around a star a million billion kilometres from Earth. It’s one of the most Earth-like planets ever discovered so it would (probably) be safe to walk on. And it might also have oceans.