Bio & CV
Biography
I am an Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Utah (USA) since August 2022.
I was previously a Fellow of the Radboud Excellence Initiative at Radboud University, Nijmegen (The Netherlands), a postdoc at the University of Bath, and a Jansky Fellow of the US National Radio Astronomy Observatory at the University of California, Berkeley from 2015 - 2018. I completed my PhD in Astronomy from Harvard University, where I studied the progenitors and environments of long-duration gamma-ray bursts.
I received my undergraduate degree in Physics from St. Stephen's College at the University of Delhi, India in 2007. From 2007 to 2009, I studied Parts II and III in Physics at Trinity College, University of Cambridge. At Trinity, I held the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Trust Cambridge Scholarship, which is a fellowship given to one undergraduate from India every year. I received my Masters in Astronomy from Harvard in 2011.
I am an amateur astronomer and love looking up at the night sky. I built a 6" Newtonian reflecting telescope to explore the wonders of the celestial sphere. I also designed and built a 20 MHz radio receiver for observing radio bursts from Jupiter and the Galaxy, based on NASA's Radio-Jove concept.
Besides astronomy, I love reading, writing, poetry, ballroom dance, and music. When I'm not working, I can be found long-distance mentoring my SF Bay area-based chamber choir Tactus, or writing Renaissance polyphony.
Selected Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 |
Excellence Fellowship Multi-year postdoctoral fellowship |
Radboud University |
| 2020 |
Outstanding Contribution Award For staff who "demonstrate sustained exceptional performance" |
University of Bath |
| 2020 |
Peter Troughton Prize Awarded to a postdoctoral member of research staff for outstanding performance |
University of Bath |
| 2019 |
Staff Recognizing Excellence Award For staff who have "demonstrated outstanding achievement or excellence over the previous academic year, which has been of such a high standard that it has made a significant difference to students, colleagues, the department, or the University as a whole." |
University of Bath |
| 2019 |
Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting Delegate Representing the University of Bath and the UK Royal Society at the 69th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting |
Bath / Royal Astronomical Society |
| 2015 |
Jansky Fellowship Three-year postdoctoral fellowship, held at the University of California, Berkeley |
National Radio Astronomy Observatory |
| 2015 |
Commencement Marshall One of "eight outstanding students [across all Harvard Phd programs] selected as 2015 marshals by a committee of the Graduate Student Council. Awarded to students who have contributed meaningfully to student life." |
Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Harvard University |
| 2013 | Merit Fellowship | Harvard University |
| 2012 |
Student Observing Support Award In support of doctoral dissertations associated with high-ranking observing programs at NRAO (approximately 2-3 awarded per year) |
National Radio Astronomy Observatory |
| 2009 | Merrill Fellowship | Harvard University |
| 2007 |
Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Trust Scholarship Awarded to one student from India to study for an affiliate undergraduate degree at Trinity College, University of Cambridge |
Trinity College, University of Cambridge |