Eduardo Balbinot | Dark Energy Survey

Eduardo searches for faint stellar populations in the Milky Way halo.These include dwarf galaxies, faint star clusters, and other extended substructures. His main motivation for studying these is to understand the mass assembly in the Local Group and ultimately link it to the broader cosmological context. In particular, he is trying to use the total number of streams in the halo to constrain the shape and granularity of the Milky Way dark matter distribution.

We asked Eduardo a few more questions — here’s what he had to say:

When did you know you wanted to be a scientist?

I always knew I was not fit for a conventional job. The main motivation was my family which was always very encouraging and open to scientific discussion.

What motivates / inspires you?

Finding what has never been seen before. Being the first to lay eyes on a new object, a deeper image or even a beautifully huge catalogue makes me feel very lucky and motivated.

Do you have any hobbies or play any sports?

I brew beer, run and cycle. In that order =)

What is your favorite space-related image, and why?

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap140425.html

I would have to say the globular cluster Messier 5 as seen by HST/ACS.

Globular clusters are these once thought to be simple objects that tell the story about a very early age in the Universe. HST has shown that they are much more complex which has created very exciting challenges to understand how stars form in such harsh environments.

What is your favorite book, movie, and/or TV show?

Movie: Alien (1979) TV Show: Seinfeld

If you weren’t a scientist, what would your dream job be?

I would probably be a baker near some beach.

What is your secret talent?

I can juggle (balls and clubs).

What do you think has been the most exciting advance in physics / astronomy in the last 10 years?

The advent of large photometric surveys (such as DES and SDSS) that led to the discovery of a very complex Milky Way halo. Many new dwarf galaxies and halo substructures that we are still trying to make sense of.

Any advice for aspiring scientists?

Keep a positive mindset and do what you love. Learn how to code properly and learn statistics.