Ashi Poorey is a junior majoring in astrophysics with minors in data science and computational science and engineering. In addition to being an LAS Brand Ambassador, Ashi was also an intern for LAS 100, where she gained experience in organization, mentoring, and community building while supporting new students. Her leadership has developed through both academic and extracurricular roles. Ashi has also been involved in NASA’s L’SPACE Mission Concept Academy, the Illinois Space Society, and the Undergraduate Pre-PhD Society.
Choosing a major wasn’t just about a future career for me. It was about discovering a lens through which I would explore the world. To me, that lens was astrophysics. I was always drawn to the mysterious nature of the universe. My major lets me witness these mysteries in real, practical ways, through data, experiments, or simulations.
One of the best parts of my major is the mix of curiosity and creativity. Research in astrophysics is like solving a puzzle. I work on a research project that studies the variability of massive stars, building light curves from raw data to understand how these stars pulse and lose mass over time. Turning numbers into a story about a star’s life feels incredibly riveting.
I also appreciate the interdisciplinary nature of my major. I have developed a pipeline using Gaia data to search for hidden star companions, which taught me how programming, statistics, and astrophysics theory can come together to uncover something completely new.
Additionally, collaborating with other students and researchers has been very inspiring. Conferences, workshops, and internships give me a firsthand experience of real scientific discovery and the chance to learn directly from experts in the field.
Another reason I love my major is how it trains you to think critically and embrace uncertainty. In research, answers are never final. No moment of vagueness and uncertainty goes to waste; these moments bring us closer to the answers and new questions. That mindset spills over into other areas of life, too: curiosity, persistence, and a love of learning become habits.
Beyond the research and technical skills, what makes astrophysics special for me is the sense of perspective it brings. Studying the stars and galaxies reminds me how vast the universe is and how small our daily problems can feel in comparison. It brings humility and a constant desire to explore, not just in science, but in life too.
At the end of the day, astrophysics isn’t just about equations or experiments; it is about understanding the universe and our place in it. It is about taking a small part in the human quest for knowledge. That’s why I love my major: it takes wonder and turns it into understanding.