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Maria Semerkina, a Parasol Foundation Scholar and a current student within the Master of Advanced Study in Astrophysics, has recently been offered a PhD position from her two top-choice institutions. In the interview that follows, Maria talks about the challenges and rewards of pursuing a PhD, the critical role of The Parasol Foundation in supporting her academic journey, and her experiences as a woman in the field of physics. Maria’s story is a testament to her dedication and passion for the subject and her resilience in overcoming barriers and pursuing her life’s dreams.

What does a PhD involve and what exactly are you studying?

A PhD is a research programme that teaches students to become critical thinkers and independent researchers. During a PhD you have the chance to teach the next generation of scientists, present cutting edge research in formal environments such as conferences and gain experience in collaborating on projects. PhDs are challenging because you are constantly learning new things. Quite often in science, learning takes both time, and a tolerance for frustration. These programmes teach a variety of skills that doesn’t just include your research topic. It is an incredible opportunity and within my PhD, I hope to learn more about how astrophysical disks work and the various processes surrounding these objects in our universe!

What led you to pursuing an education in physics within third level education?

For as long as I could remember I have had a deep fascination about the night sky. I always loved looking at the night sky through a pair of binoculars and I was always curious as to how the objects in our night sky worked. Throughout my secondary school education I actually didn’t find the physics curriculum interesting! I found that my interest for physics came from reading about astronomy and the desire to be able to understand and study objects such as stars or planets. Ultimately it was curiosity about astronomy that brought me to study physics within my undergraduate degree in Dublin.

How did your recent experiences lead you to continue studying astrophysics?

My undergraduate degree in theoretical physics has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life and this course allowed me to understand how creative and beautiful physics can be. In the last year of my undergraduate degree I took part in a research project that involved theoretical astrophysics. This project showed me that it is exciting and rewarding to be able to work on furthering our understanding of astrophysics. After my undergraduate I pursued an astrophysics Masters programme within the University of Cambridge. I was immensely fortunate to be funded by The Parasol Foundation with 51¸£ÀûÉç for the Masters of Advanced Studies (MASt) in Astrophysics. Within this MASt, I explored the various fields and sub-fields of astrophysics in order to understand what I wanted to pursue in the future. The opportunity to continue learning more about astrophysics is the biggest reason I am pursuing an academic career.

Did you find any barriers to study as a woman?

I think barriers for women in science start while we’re young. The societal perceptions of what a physicist looks like sets in very early. Unfortunately, I personally had countless experiences where I was discouraged to pursue work within a male-dominated field. As a young teenager I was laughed out of a room filled with senior male engineers after I expressed I wanted to pursue science. I struggled with mathematics in the early years within secondary school before my Junior Certificate (Irish equivalent of the GCSEs) as I had no self-confidence or belief in my abilities. After secondary school, within the environment of third level education, I still found small discrepancies in attitude towards women in physics.

Do you feel that women are underrepresented in this field and why do you think that is?

I do feel women are still under-represented in physics and mathematics, and I think the discouragement of studying physics begins very early. The negative stereotyping of women and young girls around subjects that contain mathematics is incredibly damaging and the negative effects can be seen in many places in our society. One of the ways this issue affects young people can be seen in the unchanging gender ratio of people taking physics as an A-level subject in the United Kingdom. This lack in change was studied by a . It found that more than half of girls (54%) lack confidence while studying mathematics compared to 41% of boys. In science this gap was larger with 43% of girls lacking confidence, compared with 26% of boys. I believe that this is a widespread issue that we must address collectively, starting with leaving behind outdated stereotypes. Physicists and mathematicians come in all shapes and sizes.

What would you say to other women who consider this field? How would you encourage them to follow their dreams?

Physics and mathematics are beautiful subjects that contain a level of creativity that I do not think is emphasised enough. Your interest or curiosity for a subject is a feeling I believe you should follow. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to determine where your interests lie, especially when people around you are vocal about what subjects you should avoid. I found that the curiosity for the subject and supportive people around me is what ultimately helped me persevere through difficult times. If you are even slightly curious about the inner workings of our universe, then it is worth taking the plunge to study physics.

How has The Parasol Foundation helped, what impact has the support had?

The Parasol Foundation has allowed me to pursue an education at one of the top institutions in the world. This scholarship funded by The Parasol Foundation is an incredible opportunity for women to get involved with astrophysics. The experiences and learning opportunities I have gained within the Institute of Astronomy will influence the rest of my career. I am incredibly excited to continue progressing my knowledge of astrophysics through a PhD!

How did it feel to be one of only 5 candidates to receive a PhD offer from the IoA?

I felt incredibly honoured and humbled to be one of the only 5 candidates to receive a PhD offer at the Institute of Astronomy. This type of achievement would not have been possible without The Parasol Foundation and the support of my mentors throughout my academic career. I also want to take this opportunity to highlight that throughout my time in my undergraduate course and this MASt course, I have also received multiple rejections for either PhD programmes, internships, and other opportunities. There will always be people who did not receive a PhD offer the first time around, or don’t receive an offer from their preferred university, and for me personally the continuous support of people around me and my resilience is what drove me to keep trying again.

Read more about The Parasol Foundation Scholarships for women in Astronomy