“I hope I’m contributing, even in a small way, to answering the big question of how the Sun works and how it influences Earth.”
Mhairi Finlayson is a Data Scientist working on the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP), a spacecraft launched in September 2025. IMAP is a NASA mission and Imperial is leading on the probe’s magnetometer, one of ten scientific instruments on the probe.
Understanding the Sun
IMAP is designed to investigate the heliosphere, the vast region of space surrounding the Sun, and to deepen our understanding of space weather. Its magnetometer detects solar magnetic fields, which create spectacular auroras but can also affect astronauts and interfere with electricity grids on Earth. The aim of the project is to build a clearer picture of solar behaviour and to provide advance warnings when large magnetic pulses are heading our way.
Mhairi explains: “The Sun is our closest star and by studying it we’re trying to understand the bigger picture of how stars function. I hope I’m contributing, even in a small way, to answering the big question of how the Sun works and how it influences Earth.”
As the data scientist supporting the magnetometer, Mhairi plays a central role in preparing the instrument to measure magnetic fields once IMAP reaches its orbit. A big challenge is the influence of the magnetic field from the probe impacting the readings. “My job is to take magnetic field data measured in space and attempt to remove the influence of the spacecraft from that data.” To achieve this Mhairi writes data processing software to enable this to happen at scale.
A sunrise launch to remember
In September she travelled to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to witness the spacecraft’s launch – a moment she describes as surreal and unforgettable. “Watching the IMAP spacecraft launch at sunrise from the same pad Apollo used, it was magnificent,” she says. Her parents joined her for the trip, making the milestone even more special.
Soon after the launch, she flew to Colorado to support the first activation of the magnetometer in space. Seeing the data come in for the first time brought the mission to life. “It’s easy to forget when you’re debugging code in an office in London, that what you’re working on has a real-world impact – far beyond just lines on a screen.”
Watching the magnetometer boom unfold in space was another highlight for her. “Seeing it fold out in real time and watching the spacecraft’s magnetic field drop away – those are the moments you realise it’s really measuring space.”
A path through science and technology
Mhairi says she has always been drawn to the space industry, so when the opportunity arose to join the IMAP team, she knew it was the right fit. “I’ve always been interested in the space industry. Applying my data and software skills to an industry I was really passionate about just felt like the right opportunity.”
What stands out most about working at Imperial for Mhairi is the people. “My colleagues are smart, competent, and such a joy to work with,” she says. “Even when the deadlines are intense, they take it in their stride.” The camaraderie, she adds, helps make challenging periods feel more manageable.
As a woman working in computer science and space technology, Mhairi recognises both the progress being made and the challenges that remain, but she hopes to inspire more women girls into science. “There aren’t always many women in computer science and tech fields,” she says. “But there are more of us than you might think doing this work – and you can be one of them too, if you stick with it.”
For her, building a network has been essential. “Having a network of friends in scientific fields has helped me hugely,” she explains. “Sometimes it’s just knowing other people like you are there.”
Relaxing with whodunits
When she’s not working on spacecraft data, Mhairi enjoys travelling back to Scotland to see friends and family. She’s also a dedicated reader, particularly of crime fiction. “I’m a massive Agatha Christie fan,” she admits. “I spend a significant amount of time either reading murder mysteries or just buying them and admiring them on my shelf.”