When she’s not working on her PHD, Lilly Hunt has possibly one of the coolest jobs on the planet: professional obstacle tester for the Ninja Warrior TV franchise. There isn’t an obstacle on the show that she hasn’t hung from, balanced on or gripped to within an inch of its life. Lilly’s also an elite obstacle course racer with the Mudstacle Machines team and one to watch during this year’s race season. So she’s basically a professional ninja.

Naturally, I tracked her down to see what kind things such a badass job entails.