Originally from Hull in Yorkshire, Sean's journey from undergraduate studies to cutting-edge research in Belfast offers an inspiring glimpse into the world of astrophysics and the path to a PhD.

Sean's passion for astrophysics was ignited during his undergraduate years. While pursuing a mathematics degree, he found himself drawn to the astrophysics modules on offer. "One in particular was called “Planet, Exoplanets and Life”, and I thought that's the coolest name for a module ever," Sean recalls. "I started studying that and immediately fell in love with the field." This newfound passion led Sean to pursue postgraduate studies, first with a master's degree at the University of Warwick and then on to his current PhD at Queen's.

The transition from master's to PhD has been an enlightening experience for Sean. He explains, "I did my master's at Warwick and that was a 12-month research masters, which is kind of like a PhD year zero because you're doing purely research. However, the main difference is that you're under a lot more of a time constraint." In contrast, Sean finds that the PhD offers more freedom to explore unexpected findings. "If you find something weird, you can chase after it for a bit," he says, highlighting the flexibility that comes with doctoral research.

When asked about his typical day as a PhD student, Sean paints a picture of diverse activities. "Typical day would be a lot of coding: writing software that will analyse any data or trying to plot that data in graphs so that you can get a better idea of what's going on." But it's not all about numbers and data. "Also, a lot of writing," Sean adds, emphasizing the importance of communication skills in scientific research. "You still need to be able to write. Simply because there is quite a lot of writing involved: writing papers, writing reports and then a lot of editing involved with that as well."

One of the most exciting aspects of Sean's work is the opportunity to be at the forefront of discovery. "I think one of my favourite things is when you find something weird in your data or your analysis and you just end up going down the rabbit hole of what's causing this," he enthuses. "It's also knowing that quite often you're one of the first people to come across these anomalies or you're a part of a very small select few people that are trying to look at that data."

For students considering a similar path, Sean's advice is encouraging. "I definitely recommend doing it! It's difficult, there are hard times, you may struggle for motivation at times, but ultimately when you get really stuck into something and you really love doing it, you just find that motivation from somewhere and that's what drives you to keep doing it." He also emphasizes that success in research isn't solely about academic performance. "You don't have to be good at physics in the sort of conventional sense of like good at exams, good in school because research is a totally different thing. Everyone here isn't A star students, we're all just regular people who are good at doing research."

Sean's journey from Hull to Belfast, from undergraduate studies to PhD research, serves as an inspiring example for aspiring scientists. His story highlights the excitement of scientific discovery, the challenges and rewards of doctoral research, and the diverse skills required in modern astrophysics. As Sean continues his work in the search for exoplanets, he stands as a testament to the opportunities available for those willing to reach for the stars.

If you want to join our dynamic School of Mathematics and Physics at Queen's University Belfast, it’s your chance! We're seeking exceptional candidates for full-time PhD positions across cutting-edge research areas, from Astrophysics to Mathematical Sciences. Learn more on our website here.

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For enquiries please contact Daria Pudovkina at: d.pudovkina@qub.ac.uk