And so it begins ...

Well, I started a blog.

I never really thought of myself as someone who gives great career advice. I just answered students’ questions the best I could—about grad school, research opportunities, and how to build a meaningful career in science. But over the years, something surprising happened. Student after student encouraged me to share my advice more broadly. Some told me a single conversation helped them rethink their path. Others came back years later to say my guidance had shaped their careers. Eventually, I started hearing the same thing over and over: You should be writing this down.

So, here we are.

But this blog isn’t just about career advice, and it isn't really about scientific discoveries. It’s about the culture and practice of science. Scientists have done a poor job explaining how our profession actually works, leading to misunderstanding—and, at times, distrust—about the realities of scientific research. I hope to change that here in whatever small way I can.

I’ve spent my career doing physics, teaching physics, and working within institutions that shape modern science. I love science. I think it’s the most powerful tool we have for understanding the world. But I also see flawed incentives that cause inefficiency, sow discontent, and ultimately stymie scientific progress. I'm here to write about the beauty and the beast.

Some content creators portray science as a flawless engine of human enlightenment. Others are deeply cynical, fixating on the dysfunction, gatekeeping, and institutional-level mistakes. I try to occupy the space in between. Science is neither perfect nor broken beyond repair. It’s a human endeavor, full of tradeoffs, competing incentives, and systems that can be improved. I want to take an honest, unflinching look at both its strengths and its shortcomings.

This blog is where I bring all of that together: perspectives on science, academia, and careers. Some posts will focus on advice for students and early-career scientists trying to navigate the system. Others will take a step back to examine how science actually works in practice. And sometimes, I’ll just write about the sheer joy of discovering something new.

Here’s to doing good science, celebrating its strengths, improving its weaknesses, and having honest conversations along the way.