What is your field of interest?

I determine the chemical composition of stars using optical spectrographs on large telescopes. The elemental abundances are ”stellar DNA”, through which we can unravel the history of the cosmos and the physics of planets, stars and galaxies.

Could you please describe your current project in simple terms?

I am the Galactic Project Scientist for the 4MOST instrument that will collect spectra for many millions of stars in the Milky Way and its satellite galaxies. 4MOST will see first light at the Vista telescope at Paranal Observatory in Chile in 2024/2025.    

Karin Lind, Associate Professor at the Department of Astronomy. Credit: private.

What are the expectations and/or challenges for the future?

Ground-based spectroscopy is undergoing a revolution, with never-ending streams of high-quality observational data. The main challenge is to ensure that our models of stellar atmospheres and stellar spectra are up to the task, and I strive to improve the physical ingredients and assumptions that enter these models.   

What part of your research do you find the most exciting? (for you, what makes you tick and so on)

The most exciting part of the work is the unexpected needles that are found in large haystacks; for example stars with peculiar composition that can reveal new physics or hold the answers to fundamental questions.

Do you have any advice for prospect astronomers that are interested in your field of expertise?

Machine learning is becoming increasingly important for the field, so knowing the basics is extremely useful. At the same time, careful and manual labour for a single star can help you develop the necessary understanding of the complex matter-radiation interactions that give rise to spectral absorption lines. 

A globular cluster (NGC 6397), which contains roughly 400 thousand stars. Dr. Lind’s research focuses on determining the properties such as age and elemental composition of stars in structures such as this. Credit: ESO