Austin was always enthusiastically supportive of any science-related thing I did. He was one of the people who tuned in to the NASA meeting and internet conference call where Jim Green read the letter I had written to NASA after the Curiosity Rover's successful landing on Mars. We both stayed on the line to listen to the more administrative parts of the meeting, and joked to each other on chat about the National Reconnaisance Office's early Christmas gift to NASA: used spy satellites.
In a lot of ways he was a role model for me during my first and second years. I knew I wanted to study biology, but my decision to major in biochemistry was influenced in part by his enthusiasm for it. Talking to him about his research internship during the summer after first year encouraged me to find a lab to work in, and his confidence in his decision to pursue research helped me make the decision to apply to grad school and pursue a PhD. In many ways, I would not be where I am if not for him.
In a lot of ways he was a role model for me during my first and second years. I knew I wanted to study biology, but my decision to major in biochemistry was influenced in part by his enthusiasm for it. Talking to him about his research internship during the summer after first year encouraged me to find a lab to work in, and his confidence in his decision to pursue research helped me make the decision to apply to grad school and pursue a PhD. In many ways, I would not be where I am if not for him.