Beatriz Barbuy

Professor, Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
Country of birth: Brazil

Educational background: PhD Physics, University of Paris, France; MS and BS,
Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil

A typical work day
A typical day involves analysis work in the Astronomy Department including
computing synthetic spectra and comparing them to observed spectra in order to derive elemental abundances in stars and galaxies. This also involves intense interaction with my PhD students. During the school year, I spend time preparing courses and giving lectures. During the last few years, I have also been involved in building a spectrograph, which is being commissioned for the Southern Astrophysical
Research Telescope.

What I enjoy most
I like doing research the most; for example, reading papers and finding results from the spectra. Interacting with my PhD and undergraduate students is also very rewarding.

Words of wisdom
Go ahead steadily, and do not get discouraged. Only persistent work gives good results.