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Stefanie Milam — Studying the Volatile Universe

Stefanie Milam
Stefanie Milam
Credits: NASA/W. Hrybyk

Name: Stefanie Milam
Title:  JWST Deputy Project Scientist for Planetary Science
Formal Job Classification: Research Physical Scientist
Organization: Code 691.0, Astrochemistry Laboratory

Research scientist Stefanie Milam seeks to understand the origin of our solar system through laboratory and observational studies.

How do you support Goddard’s mission, and what is most interesting to you about your role here?

I came to Goddard in February 2010 from NASA Ames, where I worked for two years. I was brought here to do work on radio and submillimeter astronomy of comets and observations of the whole star-formation process, from when the star forms and makes its own solar system through the death of stars. I have a laboratory where I actually study molecular processes that occur in interstellar and planetary environments. Finally, I work on the James Webb Space Telescope as the deputy project specialist for planetary science. It’s quite a bit of work to balance it all and a lot of fun.

What’s a typical day on the job like?

Being on a project, especially one that’s as big as JWST, I have days that are notoriously consumed with meetings. I’m very schedule-driven and deadline-driven. A lot of my actual science is done in between meetings. I tend to work later in the day when everybody else goes home. I find that’s the best time to do actual research and catch up on reading and writing.

How did you get into your line of research?

When I was six years old, I told my mom I was going to be a ballerina or an astronaut. Even though I danced most of my life, I knew I was not going to make a career out of it. That is when I began my journey to work for NASA. Unfortunately, I never got another growth spurt, and I found out I was too short to be a pilot for the space shuttle. So I decided to pursue becoming a mission specialist for the astronaut program. If you’re working on the space station or the shuttle, or if you go to the moon or Mars, you need to know how to do sample analysis and run experiments — thus, I pursued an education in chemistry. However, by the time I was graduating with my bachelor’s degree, I couldn’t stand the sight of a beaker. My advisor recommended I look into a field called astrochemistry.  After some research on it I thought it was the best thing for me. My “chemical” laboratory grew from a beaker or the size of a room to an entire universe.

What do you like most about your job?

I love that it’s so dynamic. I love how research evolves and grows. I get to work on these projects and develop new missions, and the whole NASA environment is really open to advancing technology and knowledge.

The people here are fantastic. You’re working with some of the best minds in the world. I get to sit down in meetings every week with an astronaut and a Nobel laureate. Not many people get to say that.

What are some of your hobbies and interests outside of work?

I have a niece that’s close in age to me. We travel together a lot, and that’s really cool because we grew up practically like sisters. She’s my sidekick. We take little adventures here and there as much as we can. I also have a dog that I spend a lot of time with. He’s a chocolate Labrador named Sirius. He takes a lot of energy and time, but he’s my world.

Fill in the blank: What makes me happiest is _________________.

“Scientific achievement.” When you get that paper published and it gets a lot of recognition in the field. Winning an award for a big science accomplishment or giving a keynote talk at a big meeting. That makes me very happy. It means that all these hours you work and the frustration you have pays off in the end. Other than that, what makes me happy is my dog. As much travel as I do, I always say, “Home is where my dog is.”

By Jennifer Hottle
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

A graphic with a collection of people's portraits grouped together in front of a soft blue galaxy background. The people come from various races, ethnicities, and genders. A soft yellow star shines in the upper left corner, and the stylized text "Conversations with Goddard" is in white on the far right.
Conversations With Goddard is a collection of question and answer profiles highlighting the breadth and depth of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center’s talented and diverse workforce. The Conversations have been published twice a month on average since May 2011. Read past editions on Goddard’s “Our People” webpage.

Conversations With Goddard is a collection of Q&A profiles highlighting the breadth and depth of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center’s talented and diverse workforce. The Conversations have been published twice a month on average since May 2011. Read past editions on Goddard’s “Our People” webpage.

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Last Updated
Jul 25, 2023