Anna Chrysostomou

Anna Chrysostomou always knew that her life was going to be dedicated to research. With a love for knowledge and the written word instilled in her by her family from a very early age, Anna became enamoured with reading and learning. As a teen she stumbled across 'dark matter’ and ‘dark energy’ and was stunned that over 95% of the universe comprises these completely unknown constituents. Thus began her obsession with evidence-based models that can be quantified and explain “celestial magic” through their theories.

Inspired by her aunt, an incredible geophysicist, as well as the other trailblazing women scientists of her generation, Anna has overcome many obstacles. Apart from the ‘standard’ list of obstacles such as social economic barriers, cultural barriers, prejudice, discrimination and harassment - all exacerbated by entrenched historical inequalities in the field - Anna has had to overcome her own personal challenges as a disabled woman in science. Some are practical, like lack of consideration of wheelchair accessibility, and others - like chronic pain, internalised ableism and imposter syndrome - are personal. Anna feels that tackling these is made easier by an innate sense of camaraderie between generations of women in physics.

Anna holds a BSc in Astronomy and Astrophysics, a BSc Hons in Physics (both from the University of the Witwatersrand) and an MSc in Physics, specialising in theoretical gravitational physics from the University of Johannesburg. She is currently conducting research towards a PhD at the University of Johannesburg and the Claude Bernard University of Lyon-1, working with the Institute of Physics of the 2 Infinities of Lyon

Among some of her proudest achievements, Anna counts completing the first draft of her Master’s dissertation that would go on to win the Chancellor’s medal for best dissertation, being invited to deliver a seminar on her MSc research at the Tokyo Institute of Technology cosmology seminars in 2021, working at the IP2I and learning from such a thriving academic community and, of course, being selected for the L’Oréal Unesco for Women in Science Award.

Her PhD research weaves together some of her favourite components of university training so far: cosmology, black hole physics, particle physics and gravitational waves that allow us to see beyond the limited range of the electromagnetic spectrum and into the furthest corners of the universe.

Anna’s PhD research explores the applications of gravitational waves and black hole physics in the search for evidence of phenomena whose description is not contained within the Standard Model of particle physics.

Her work may be considered a study of the feasibility of detecting evidence of new physics through the burgeoning field of gravitational-wave astronomy. Her overarching aim is to assess the feasibility of the detection of a gravitational-wave signature corresponding to symmetry-breaking in the early universe. Through this research Anna and her team are trying to import highly technical and abstract ideas into the more tangible realm of particle physics.

She has her sights set on a career in academia: to become a professional researcher in theoretical physics and to continue her exploration of high-energy physics at the interface of particle physics and cosmology.

Her advice to young girls embarking on a career in science is to learn what factors we have authority over and to decide how we engage with those influences and experiences. She emphasises the importance of mentorship and friendship between women in science and advises any young woman pursuing a career in science to cultivate a belief in themselves and their unique perspective.

Anna says, “Each woman in science must practise diligence and resilience while nurturing her passion, and must be prepared to take initiative for her own training. There are far more opportunities out there than we realise, but we have to be proactive and tenacious in seeking them out.”