Elizabeth Cunningham PhD in Theoretical Nuclear Physics, University of
Surrey, 2006 -2010
Now: Planetarium Astronomer at Royal Observatory Greenwich
My PhD work involved the determination of nuclear potentials to describe nucleon
elastic scattering from exotic nuclear targets with non-zero spin. On completion of
my PhD I was offered several postdoctoral opportunities in the US and Portugal but
these were not compatible with both my husbands and my own career and life
ambitions. With no positions available in the UK and the funding prospects for
fundamental nuclear physics bleak, I was forced to consider alternative career paths.
I currently work in a permanent position at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. I am
involved in delivering and developing the schools, public and family science outreach
program, principally using the planetarium. A significant part of my job is
communicating scientific ideas and concepts to children and the public. During my
PhD I was given many opportunities to develop my communication and teaching
skills through participation in conferences, seminars, science festivals and
demonstrating for undergraduates and high school students. These skills, as well as
the general knowledge of physics and astronomy obtained during my studies at
Surrey are essential in my daily work.
When not delivering our programs to our audiences I spend the majority of my time
creating planetarium shows and maintaining our planetarium system. In this work
the computer programming and analytical skills developed in my PhD have proven
invaluable to me. Whether I’m trying to calculate a flight path through Saturn’s rings
or trying to diagnose a problem with projector system I use the problem solving skills
developed during my PhD every day.
While I don’t use my understanding of nuclear physics often in my day to day work I
am determined not to lose the knowledge I gained during my PhD. I therefore
maintain as active research collaboration with nuclear theory colleagues at Surrey as
a visiting fellow. Although my current employer is supportive of this work the
majority of it is done in my own time.