Joanna is working on quantifying galaxy environments in DES with the goal of identifying and studying low mass isolated galaxies. Such galaxies will reveal to us how galaxies evolve in pristine conditions, i.e., in the absence of galaxy interactions.
We asked Joanna a few more questions — here’s what she had to say:
Do you have any hobbies or play any sports?
I really like learning languages, especially obscure, special dialects that not a lot of people speak. Besides English, I speak Hebrew, the Zurich dialect of Swiss German, Palestinian colloquial Arabic, and bits of several other languages.
Any advice for aspiring scientists?
It really helps to find a mentor who is willing to invest time into helping you succeed. Science is really fun, but it’s also hard work, and most people encounter bumps and difficulties along the way. A good mentor will help you to keep your perspective focussed on the joy of science in order to help you navigate through the bumps.