Supported by the University of Cambridge's Enhancing Research Culture Funding.
Focused on researchers in the field of astronomy, astrophysics and cosmology.
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Open to all.
<aside> <img src="/icons/stars_yellow.svg" alt="/icons/stars_yellow.svg" width="40px" /> Welcome to the Monthly Astro Career Talk Series!
Ever wonder what life’s like after an astrophysics degree? Maybe you're figuring out your next move or just curious about the real-life experiences of others.
Either way, the Monthly Astro Career Talk is where you’ll hear it all—no sugarcoating, just honest stories from people who've been through it.
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<aside> <img src="/icons/rocket_yellow.svg" alt="/icons/rocket_yellow.svg" width="40px" /> What’s it about?
Each month, we bring in a guest speaker who shares their journey—whether it's in academia or industry.
The beauty of this series is that every talk is different, with each topic offering its own unique charm. Some talks pull in undergrads, others resonate more with postgrads or postdocs—there’s something for everyone.
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<aside> <img src="/icons/calendar_yellow.svg" alt="/icons/calendar_yellow.svg" width="40px" /> WHEN
See next planned event: Next Speaker
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<aside> <img src="/icons/map-pin-alternate_yellow.svg" alt="/icons/map-pin-alternate_yellow.svg" width="40px" /> WHERE
Battcock Centre for Experimental Astrophysics
https://www.astro.phy.cam.ac.uk/about/directions-and-contacts/getting-here
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Agenda
12:00 - 12:20 Short self-introduction from Dr. Sonali Shukla
12:20 -13:00Â Q&A: any career related questions from the audience is welcome!
Talk title: Astrophysicist & Career Consultant: Dual Perspectives on Careers
Theme: Academic Career
Time: Thursday 19th June 2025, 12:00 - 13:00
Venue: F17 in the Battcock Centre
Lunch: Pizza will be provided for lunch
Bio:
Dr Sonali Shukla holds a PhD in astrophysics from Vanderbilt University, USA. Her research areas have included understanding the formation of young low-mass stars and disks around young stars and brown dwarfs. She spent a year as a pre-doctoral fellow at the Spitzer Science Center, Caltech, and continued her research as a postdoctoral researcher at Penn State University. She is currently a Careers Consultant for the University of Cambridge's Careers Service, specialising in supporting PhD students and postdoctoral researchers particularly in STEM disciplines.
She also serves as an astronomy tutor for the Institute of Continuing Education, Cambridge. She has previously worked in education and public outreach, both as the Astronomy Outreach Assistant at the Institute of Astronomy and Public Engagement Coordinator at the University of Cambridge. Previously, she served as Assistant Director for the physics department at the University of Maryland, where she developed novel outreach and educational programmes, particularly to increase inclusion and diversity of students in the physical sciences.
| Month | Day | Speaker | Industry | Country of Residency | Remote/In-person | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 19 | Dr. Sonali Shukla | Careers Consultant | United Kingdom | ||
| 🇬🇧 | In-person | Careers Consultant, Careers Service, University of Cambridge | ||||
| Summer Break | ||||||
| Oct | TBC | Reveal later | Entrepreneurship | United Kingdom | ||
| 🇬🇧 | In-person | Judge Business School | ||||
| Nov | TBC | |||||
| Christmas Break | ||||||
📚 Past talks include: