Andrea Sand, Aalto University
“I didn’t come ready made, I’m learning as I go, developing the skills I need as I go. Some things come easily, and others require great effort, and this balance will be different for each individual.”
What have you studied and what influenced this choice back in the day?
I started my studies at the (then existing) Department of Astronomy at the University of Helsinki. The reason was that I loved maths but wanted to do something practical with it, and I was fascinated by the evolution of the universe but not so crazy about physics as a subject in school. Later, I realized that they didn’t study the evolution of the universe at the Department of Astronomy, but rather at the Department of Theoretical Physics. I also realized around the same time that physics was so much more than what was taught in high school. So, I switched to major in (theoretical) physics.
How did you end up being a professor?
Through a mix of tenacity, lots of luck, and a big heaping of determination especially during the later years. I also couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
What is the best thing about your job?
The best thing for me is academic freedom, and the freedom to build my professional network following my own interests and to choose whom I collaborate with and on what. In a way, the sky is the limit, even though everything hinges on being able to convince funders to support it. Research is exciting and rewarding and stimulating. I also have always enjoyed teaching and have done this in one form or other from the time I was in junior high.
What have been the highlights and key lessons of your career?
Probably the biggest highlight was receiving an ERC grant. And getting the position I hold now. But along the way there have been wonderful people, wonderful projects, some great successes (and even the small ones count). The key lesson has been to never listen to those who say something is not possible. Also, few things are done alone, and this is no exception. Over the years there have been many people whose support has been absolutely invaluable, and still is.
What do you expect from the future?
My goals are to build my research group further, do more science, find balance (the early years of my career have been hectic), and hopefully to see many doctoral students go on from my group to build great careers of their own.
For whom this is a suitable career option?
I think many kinds of people are suitable for this profession. I didn’t come ready made, I’m learning as I go, developing the skills I need as I go. Some things come easily, and others require great effort, and this balance will be different for each individual. If I were to list some properties a person should ideally have in this profession, I probably wouldn’t have most of them myself.
What message would you like to send to a young person pondering their career?
Everyone is different and I don’t think general advice works well for anyone, but for me, what worked was to do the things I enjoyed. And to not listen to those who say it’s really difficult, or that the chances are slim, or who questioned whether I was good enough. I didn’t follow a straight path to get here, but I always chose the things that interested me, and gave many things a try even when the chances of success were low, or the future impact was not immediately obvious. I think one can hardly go wrong if one does what one enjoys and gives it one’s best effort.