Infinite Careers is a collaboration between Career Services (CAPD) and the MIT Alumni Association to explore career paths and the non-linearity of career decision-making. Read profiles of alumni with unique career paths, hear their stories, and network at a series of talks.
Education
- MIT – Bachelor Of Science, 8B – Physics
- MIT – Bachelor Of Science, 12 – Earth Atmos Planetary
- MIT – Master Of Science, 12 – Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
- Observatoire de Paris. France – Doctor Of Philosophy, Astronomy and Astrophysics.
- MIT – Post Doctoral, 12 – Earth Atmos Planetary
Bio
I’ve lived two professional lives: one as an academic scientist, and one as an entrepreneur. I’ve made most of my big career decisions by resisting default paths, and by paying attention to when the expected choice didn’t feel like the right one. I’m a research scientist at MIT, where my work focuses on asteroid surface compositions and what they reveal about the formation and evolution of the solar system. My research helped establish the asteroid classification system used widely in the field, and my work has been central to linking asteroid observations to planetary origins. In parallel with my academic career, I co-founded Cambridge Select, an e-commerce footwear company where I served as CIO from 2011 to 2021. The company scaled to over $30M in annual revenue and became one of the largest footwear sellers on Amazon. I led the team that built the software and data systems used to manage product discovery, pricing, purchasing, and logistics at scale. Today, I continue my research at MIT while building early-stage, data-driven products in local food discovery, finance, and space science.
What influenced your choice of undergraduate major? How has it shaped your career choices and professional ability?
I loved space as a kid, almost every science project I did growing up was about space or astronomy. I came to MIT knowing I wanted to study astronomy and was highly focused on that path as an undergraduate. As I learned more about different career trajectories and thought about the long term, I realized I didn’t want my professional life to be confined to one narrow role. That realization pushed me to seek opportunities beyond traditional research and ultimately shaped the way I’ve built my career.
What influenced your choice of graduate program/programs? How has it/have they shaped your career choices and professional ability?
I knew I wanted to live abroad and decided early on that I would pursue my PhD outside the U.S., even though that was an unconventional choice in my field. Through my advisor at MIT, I connected with a strong research group at the Paris Observatory, which allowed me to do cutting-edge research while training in a different academic and cultural environment. That experience shaped how I collaborate and gave me lasting ties to both the American and European scientific communities.
Making decisions, especially important-feeling career decisions, is really challenging for people at all stages of their career. What strategies have you used to make career decisions?
I’ve relied on two strategies throughout my career. First, I ask how I will feel about a decision when I look back decades later, which has helped me avoid paths that looked successful on paper but didn’t align with what I wanted long-term. Second, I try to make decisions for myself rather than for external expectations, whether those come from family, peers, or prevailing career norms. Those principles have guided choices ranging from doing my PhD abroad to stepping outside traditional academic trajectories.
What professional development experiences or opportunities shaped your early career?
A UROP during my junior and senior years at MIT was career-defining. I began working with my undergraduate advisor in asteroid spectroscopy and quickly became immersed in hands-on research, from telescope observations and data reduction to conference presentations and international travel. That experience focused me on planetary science and asteroids. Without it, I likely would have taken a very different path within astronomy.
What do you like to do outside of work for fun/relaxation/inspiration?
I train gymnastics on the MIT gymnastics team, returning to the sport I competed in as an undergraduate. I love traveling. I also enjoy hiking, especially in the summer.
Last edited: February 2025
