John Conklin and Amy Williams both faced pivotal career moments as young doctoral students.
Conklin knew exactly what he wanted: A chance to work on gravitational waves that began rippling across the universe when black holes collided billions of years ago. More than two decades later, Conklin still speaks avidly about precisely measuring the ancient, unseeable forces that shaped the universe.
Williams had a burgeoning passion for astrobiology and geobiology research, pivoting from earth science as her academic career progressed. In early 2009, her research options were starkly different: Live in Antarctica for three months and dive in frigid lakes to study microbial growth. Or she could work on Mars research.
Those choices ultimately led Conklin and Williams to the University of Florida. Their research work — vastly divergent but crucial to understanding the origins of the universe and its biology — is now being further harnessed by UF’s Astraeus Space Institute. The institute was created earlier this year by former UF President Ben Sasse to spark intensive scientific collaboration and innovative space research.