Katie Mack (she/her)

I do research in cosmology. This is the study of the fundamental physics of the universe. I also spend part of my time communicating to the public about physics and astronomy. My research work is theoretical (rather than experimental or observational). This means I don't use laboratory equipment or telescopes. Instead, my work involves doing calculations to try to understand various things in the universe. Sometimes this means writing computer code to solve equations.  Sometimes it's more pen-and-paper work. The basic process is that I read papers, go to presentations and talk to colleagues. These things help me find out what kinds of theories are being discussed and what kinds of experiments or observations are planned. Then I try to find ways to connect those theories to the data that will be collected by experiments and observations.

Dark matter is my main area of expertise. This is the mysterious invisible stuff that holds galaxies together. So at the start of a research project, I might ask: "If this new theory proposing that dark matter works this way is correct, what special features should we see when we look at the data coming down from that new telescope?" Then it's a matter of working through the theory and learning about the telescope's capabilities, and calculating the specifics of what might be seen. My calculations are really predictions about how future observations could support or point to problems with a current theory or model. Sometimes my work is actually building a case for more investigation. For example, I might make the case that a certain type of telescope should be built so it will give us more information. Sometimes the case I make is that certain observations should be made as those would help us refine a theory or model.