{"id":17444,"date":"2021-12-22T20:32:30","date_gmt":"2021-12-22T12:32:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/first-mode-chief-scientist-elizabeth-frank-spans-the-spectrum-from-earths-depths-to-deep-space\/"},"modified":"2021-12-22T20:32:30","modified_gmt":"2021-12-22T12:32:30","slug":"first-mode-chief-scientist-elizabeth-frank-spans-the-spectrum-from-earths-depths-to-deep-space","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/first-mode-chief-scientist-elizabeth-frank-spans-the-spectrum-from-earths-depths-to-deep-space\/","title":{"rendered":"First Mode chief scientist Elizabeth Frank spans the spectrum from Earth\u2019s depths to deep space"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full-width\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"630\" height=\"428\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Elizabeth-Frank-First-Mode-color-630x428.jpg\" alt=\"First Mode chief scientist Elizabeth Frank\" class=\"wp-image-662327\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Elizabeth-Frank-First-Mode-color-630x428.jpg 630w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Elizabeth-Frank-First-Mode-color-1260x857.jpg 1260w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Elizabeth-Frank-First-Mode-color-768x522.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Elizabeth-Frank-First-Mode-color-1536x1044.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Elizabeth-Frank-First-Mode-color-2048x1393.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\"><figcaption>First Mode\u2019s chief scientist, Elizabeth&nbsp;Frank,&nbsp;holds her favorite type of meteorite, a pallasite. (First Mode Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Lots of tech startups have a chief executive officer and a chief technology officer, and some have a chief operating officer and a chief financial officer as well. But how many have a chief scientist?<\/p>\n<p>First Mode, for one. The Seattle-based creative engineering company recently named its first chief scientist (and its first COO). Both were internal promotions, with co-founder Rhae Adams becoming chief operating officer and planetary scientist Elizabeth Frank becoming chief scientist.<\/p>\n<p>Many of the projects First Mode has worked on over the three years of its existence have to do with planetary exploration. For example, the company\u2019s engineers have provided support for NASA\u2019s Perseverance rover, which landed on Mars in February; and for the Psyche probe that\u2019s due for launch to a metal-rich asteroid next year.<\/p>\n<p>But other projects are much closer to home: First Mode is building a hydrogen-fueled power system for the massive trucks that Anglo American uses to haul ore out of its mines, and it\u2019s designing a power module for the world\u2019s first zero-emission race truck in Mexico\u2019s Baja 1000 endurance race. <\/p>\n<p>Those Earth-based engineering challenges represent a brave new world for Frank, who was part of the science team for NASA\u2019s Messenger mission to Mercury and came to the Seattle area in 2016 to work at Planetary Resources, the asteroid mining company that fizzled out just as First Mode was forming.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"First Mode: A Creative Engineering Company\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qsWsy88JXt8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<p>First Mode has grown rapidly, despite the COVID pandemic. Two years ago, just before the virus took hold in the U.S., the company had 28 full-time employees. Today it has more than 150 employees, including more than two dozen at its Australian facility in Perth. First Mode is planning to add 170 more jobs in 2022.<\/p>\n<p>Some of those jobs will be on the chief scientist\u2019s team in Seattle. But Frank\u2019s duties extend far beyond the Emerald City. She\u2019s also the chair of the Commercial Advisory Board for NASA\u2019s Lunar Exploration Analysis Group, and the co-author of a white paper for the National Academy of Science\u2019s decadal survey that delved into the role of commercial space ventures in planetary exploration.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI would like to see NASA have smaller missions, so that it\u2019s OK for some number of those missions to fail in a way that allows technology to move forward,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>The way Frank sees it, failure should be more of an option.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is not just something that NASA experiences,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re observing this directly with the mining industry as well. \u2026 When you get very comfortable with your technology, you\u2019re afraid to change it \u2014 because you know how it works, and once you know how it works, you\u2019re afraid to incorporate new technology because that could change your operation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In a wide-ranging interview with GeekWire, Frank shared her perspective on the intersection between science and technology, her role as First Mode\u2019s \u201cchief problem advocate,\u201d and her plans for future projects. Here\u2019s a transcript of the Q&amp;A, edited for length and clarity:<\/p>\n<p><strong>GeekWire: I wanted to start out by asking what a chief scientist does, and what you plan to do as chief scientist at First Mode.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Elizabeth Frank:<\/strong> Let me start by explaining where we\u2019ve been and where we\u2019re going. We started with this hypothesis of trying to figure out if we could take the principles and practices of space systems engineering that we use to deliver spacecraft and launch them, and apply those principles to solve complex problems here on Earth. We\u2019ve been testing that hypothesis over the past three years or so with projects like the haul truck power plant that we\u2019ve been developing with Anglo American, as well as work in space, such as our work supporting the Psyche mission.<\/p>\n<p>So, we\u2019ve had this sustainability angle and this space angle that have been working in parallel. Across those examples of work, as well as other projects, we\u2019ve been converging on several core capabilities for the company \u2014 and those are mobility, power systems, designing for extreme environments, and systems integration.<\/p>\n<p>Now we\u2019re at the point where we\u2019re growing rapidly, and we want to be really strategic about where we\u2019re directing resources. We started by taking principles from space engineering and applying them to terrestrial work. Now we want to learn from Earth-based problems and apply those lessons back in space \u2014 and at the same time, figure out how those things intersect. How do projects relating to space and exploration intersect with sustainability solutions?<\/p>\n<p>As a scientist, I\u2019m very intrigued by the opportunities. I\u2019m interested in finding out how First Mode can take its core capabilities and apply them to problems across Earth science, climate science, oceanography \u2014 areas that require a deeper understanding to provide actionable solutions, but really require a scientist to define the problem. And so that\u2019s where I\u2019m coming in as chief scientist to create a roadmap of what those opportunities are, and where unique problems exist that First Mode can address.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q: Some people make a big distinction between science and engineering, and First Mode is primarily an engineering firm. Does that require a transition as well, to think in terms of not so much pure science, but applied engineering?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>A:<\/strong> I started in academia, and I\u2019ve always had this kind of restlessness about the topics that I work on. I\u2019ve always been very interdisciplinary in my work. My bachelor\u2019s degree is literally in interdisciplinary science. <\/p>\n<p>I became particularly passionate about planetary science while I was an undergraduate and pursued a Ph.D. in planetary science, specifically planetary geochemistry. During that experience, I realized I didn\u2019t really want to be a professor. Teaching wasn\u2019t for me. But I had a hard time picking one particular direction for my entire academic career, if I were to be an academic. <\/p>\n<p>That was validated for me when I was working on Messenger, which was literally the pinnacle of planetary science. That\u2019s objectively cool, but there were elements of the realities of being an academic, particularly on soft money, that made me feel like it wasn\u2019t the right environment for me.  It made me realize you can be passionate about a topic, but not about a particular job.<\/p>\n<p>I was really fortunate to go from this academic environment and take a year during my postdoc to figure out how to translate my skills into something that would be marketable for industry. I pivoted my career into Planetary Resources, the asteroid mining company, and there I was the first Ph.D. scientist in a team of engineers. It was there that I learned how to work the interface between science and engineering. <\/p>\n<p><strong>This 2017 video from Planetary Resources features Elizabeth Frank:<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Elizabeth Frank, Senior Planetary Scientist\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7kFM2zhCWpk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<p>What it comes down to is, scientists tend to be very focused on the data that they need to answer a particular science question. Engineers are very focused on the system that\u2019s required to actually execute a solution, but maybe they don\u2019t always necessarily have an interest in the science itself. So you need folks who can work across that interface. That\u2019s where systems engineering comes in, and I realized at Planetary Resources that my brain is wired like a systems engineer. I really like that big-picture perspective and seeing what the intersections are.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve carried that experience into First Mode, and not just on projects specific to aerospace. I\u2019ve worked with mining clients to help them define their requirements for projects. So really, I think a different title for my job would be \u201cchief problem advocate.\u201d I\u2019m really good at defining what success looks like, writing that down and generating a list of requirements that engineers can design a solution for.<\/p>\n<p>With this new job as chief scientist, I\u2019m looking for good problems. That\u2019s really what it boils down to: Where can First Mode address unique problems in oceanography or Earth science? The foundations of geology are the same across the solar system, so it\u2019s actually a pretty holistic perspective. We\u2019re just at the point now where we\u2019re trying to see what the opportunities might be, so check back in six months.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q: Does the fact that First Mode is an employee-owned company affect how you do your job, or does it really matter whether you\u2019re an owner or whether you\u2019re, say, working at a venture where you have investors who hold stakes in the company?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>A:<\/strong> I very much care about what the employee who\u2019s at First Mode wants to work on. Just as an example, when I first started doing my research into what kind of problems are good First Mode problems, I sent a message out to the entire company. I said, \u201cHey, what are your passion projects? What have you always wanted to work on? Set up a meeting with me, let\u2019s chat.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I want to learn more and see what the opportunities might be, because I really want to bring in work that the folks in the team are excited to work on and provide solutions for. I think that\u2019s important for retention, for morale, and for feeling good at the end of the day about the work you\u2019re doing. Research and development is not easy work. There are a lot of opportunities for things to go wrong, because you\u2019re doing something for the first time. So, if you can abstract out a level after a bad day, and remember the impact that you\u2019re having, I think that helps people get through those tough times and then feel good at the end about the work they\u2019ve done.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full-width\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"630\" height=\"383\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/210216-firstmode2-630x383.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-604444\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/210216-firstmode2-630x383.jpg 630w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/210216-firstmode2-1260x766.jpg 1260w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/210216-firstmode2-768x467.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/210216-firstmode2.jpg 1272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\"><figcaption>First Mode\u2019s Clara Sekowski and Rhae Adams work on spaceflight hardware. (First Mode Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Q: And if I can turn that question around, what is your passion project?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A: Oceans, I guess. I took an oceanography class when I was an undergrad, and I remember having my mind blown so many times during the class. What\u2019s fun about being in Seattle is that there\u2019s a thriving marine sector and ocean sciences community out here. I think leveraging the local resources and local knowledge that people have from experience in those fields is going to be really exciting for us, if we in fact end up going in that direction. I don\u2019t know yet. So again, check back in six months and we\u2019ll see if I\u2019ve changed my tune on oceanography.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q: Have you gotten advice from your friends in the planetary science community about how a chief scientist is supposed to act? For example, Blue Origin has a chief scientist, Steve Squyres, who was the principal investigator for NASA\u2019s Mars Exploration Rover before he came to Jeff Bezos\u2019 space company. Were there any words of advice from your colleagues?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>A:<\/strong> From my colleagues, or for my colleagues?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q: Well, both, I guess. Why not?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>A: <\/strong>For any planetary scientist \u2014 or really, for anybody in a career looking for a change \u2014 it\u2019s important to be open to new opportunities. Sometimes you think your career is going to go in one direction, but opportunities might present themselves to you that you didn\u2019t actually expect. I hate the standard interview question, \u201cWhere do you see yourself in five years?\u201d Because every time I think back five years ago, I couldn\u2019t have predicted where I am now. So I think it\u2019s important to accept the fact that careers can go in unexpected directions. Don\u2019t limit yourself based on what you think you should be doing or what other people should think you should be doing.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q: I\u2019ve finished up my list of questions, but is there anything else you wanted to get across?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>A:<\/strong> I guess there are two things. The first one is, I\u2019m still really interested in any problems people have that require a crack team of engineers. So if any of your readers are looking for a multidisciplinary team of systems, electrical, software, mechanical, etc., engineers to solve their problems, whether it\u2019s a field of science or whether it\u2019s to move their company forward, they should reach out to me.<\/p>\n<p>The other thing is that we\u2019re still hiring like crazy here in Seattle and in Perth. So people should check out the job postings on our website and apply. We need to grow this team to help do all the things that we want to do, and I look forward to growing my team out next year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>First Mode\u2019s chief scientist, Elizabeth&nbsp;Frank,&nbsp;holds her favorite type of meteorite, a pallasite. (First Mode Photo) Lots of tech startups have a chief executive officer and a chief technology officer, and some have a chief operating officer and a chief financial officer as well. But how many have a chief scientist? First Mode, for one. The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[4687,4688,4689,4329],"class_list":["post-17444","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-elizabeth-frank","tag-engineering","tag-first-mode","tag-startups"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17444"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17444"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17444\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17444"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17444"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17444"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}