NASA JPL: Building a Researcher in Turbulent Times

My name is Tenzin and I am part of the inaugural cohort of the new Space Systems Master’s programme at ETH Zurich launched by Thomas Zurbuchen, former Head of Science at NASA. From the get-go, the programme has not been leaving room to breathe – and continued to challenge me throughout, even more so when I started my internship at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena!

The path has not been straightforward: the current political situation in the US has led to several stressful moments such as delayed Visa issuance, government shutdowns and layoffs at JPL due to budget cuts. Experiencing these circumstances firsthand, rather than through the news alone, provided a eye-opening insight into the realities faced by those living and working in the U.S. Throughout this period, I developed deep respect for the resilience and unwavering optimism displayed by the people at JPL, as well as for the strong sense of community and humility they upheld, particularly during challenging times.

Despite the situation, my four months at JPL have proven to be an exceptional learning experience: from numerical simulations of Venusquakes to field testing infrasound sensors to using advanced signal processing tools – each day brought new challenges and opportunities to learn! Contributing to a project involving an instrument that could potentially detect Venusquake was both exhilarating and rewarding. It taught me to tackle complicated problems without feeling (too) overwhelmed and that my insights and contributions are valued. I can confidently say that during my time at JPL I not only grew as a researcher, but as a person as well!