Kimberly Arcand
NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory
Cambridge, MA USA
"In a perfect world, everyone would have a seat at the table."
Career Roadmap
Kimberly's work combines: Science, Technology, and Communicating / Sharing Stories
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Learn how to code. Coding is a huge skill in this industry. Learning how to network is also incredibly powerful in this field as well as so many others. Take time to learn how to make connections and cultivate your network.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
University of Rhode Island
Graduate Degree
Humanities/Humanistic Studies
Brown University
Doctorate
Social Sciences, General
University of Otago New Zealand
Certification
UNIX Systems Administration Certification
Certification
Coding Language Certifications
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
From a young age, I knew I wanted to be a scientist and make an impact on the world.
2.
As a child, I thought I wanted to be an astronaut, but quickly realized I wouldn’t be able to handle the commute to space.
3.
I started off studying zoology in college but segued into molecular biology to study parasites—toward the end of my studies, I realized that I didn’t want to continue with bugs and parasites.
4.
Fortunately, one of the computer science professors was very welcoming and found a place for me within the field even though I didn’t have any background or former training.
5.
I still graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology, but did some postgraduate work in computer science.
6.
Shortly after graduating, I got my job as the visualization and emerging tech lead for the Chandra X-ray Observatory at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and have been here for over 20 years!
7.
I’ve also co-written several nonfiction popular science books.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Peers:
You don't look like you'd work in science. You look young to be here. You stick out. For someone who doesn't have the same credentials that we do, you hold your own pretty well.
How I responded:
I've received a lot of comments calling out my appearance or how I don't seem like I'd fit in within this industry. It can be very hard to block out the noise, but I tried to just keep doing the good solid work. I found that it was easiest to work in areas that were relatively new because they didn't have as many pre-established notions about what someone who works here should look, act, or sound like. I also had a good support network around me to help lift me up when it dragged me down.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I didn't think I'd go back to work after becoming a mom. My baby was my world and I couldn't fathom going back and thinking about work. Fortunately, I had a great supervisor who encouraged and supported me through the transition as a working parent.