Mandy Chen

Outside of my research life, I enjoy traveling, hiking, meeting new people, exploring new cuisines and drinks, and spending time with friends and nature. In the summer of 2022, I finally learned how to swim and have been an avid swimmer ever since. In April 2023, I also took up rock climbing, thanks to the encouragement of a group of friends who are, by all accounts, climbing enthusiasts (or addicts!). During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I adopted my little cat, Jenny, who alternates between feisty and cuddly. I love her deeply.

I grew up in Guizhou province in southwest China, a region that, while economically and educationally underdeveloped, boasts gorgeous mountainous landscapes and a rich cultural heritage shaped by millennia-old traditions and histories of multiple ethnic minorities. I studied at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and graduated with a B.Sc. in physics and an M.Phil. in astronomy. Growing up with little access to quality education, I feel extremely grateful for the chains of lucky events and supportive mentors that allowed me to reach beyond my limitations. My experiences of living in mainland China, Hong Kong, and the US have deepened my appreciation for diversity and inclusion -- values that thrive on empathy and the willingness to approach the unknown with an open mind. And an open mind, as I’ve repeatedly learned through struggles with my own belongingness and identity, is one of the greatest gifts we can offer ourselves and others.

I once aspired to be a clinical psychologist and was working towards a master's degree in psychology. However, I ultimately decided to leave the program halfway to return to graduate studies in astrophysics. Although becoming a frontier mental health professional is not my career priority right now, mental health awareness remains one of the issues close and dear to my heart.