Research positions
August 2018 − present Assistant Professor at the Department of Physics, University of Louisiana Lafayette
August 2015 − June 2016 Visiting Assistant Professor at the Department of Physics, University of Louisiana Lafayette
March 2014 − August 2015 Postdoctoral Scholar at the Department of the Geophysical Sciences, The University of Chicago
March 2014 − August 2015 Scientific Affiliate at the Robert A. Pritzker Center for Meteoritics and Polar Studies, The Field Museum of Natural History
September 2010 − February 2014 Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the W. M. Keck Cosmochemistry Laboratory, Hawai‘i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
August 2009 − August 2010 Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Laboratory for Space Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis
August 2003 – August 2009 Graduate Research Assistant at the Laboratory for Space Sciences and Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis
Education
| Ph.D. | December 2009 | Earth and Planetary Sciences | Washington University in St. Louis |
| Dissertation title: Multi-element isotopic analyses of presolar graphite grains from the Orgueil meteorite | |||
| A.M. | May 2006 | Earth and Planetary Sciences | Washington University in St. Louis |
| M.S. | August 2003 | Geophysics | Ohio University |
| Thesis title: Seismic characteristics of interior models of Mars | |||
| M.S. | August 2002 | Physics and Astronomy | Ohio University |
| Research Project: Observational Characteristics of Brown Dwarfs | |||
| M.Sc. | May 1999 | Physics (Specialization: Astrophysics) | University of Pune |
| Research Project: Artificial neural network classification of stellar spectra | |||
| B.Sc. | May 1996 | Physics | Fergusson College, University of Pune |
| Research Project: Photometric study of the RS Canum Venaticorum variable star HR1099 |
Grants & Awards
Antarctic Service Medal, 2014
Co-I: XRF nano-analysis of stellar condensates trapped in presolar carbon micro spheres at Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY) beamline P06 (European Commision I-20110771), 2011-2014.
XII International Symposium on Nuclei in the Cosmos, Highly Commended Poster Presentation, Rare Presolar Graphite Grains from Evolved Low- and Intermediate-Mass Stars (2012)
XII International Symposium on Nuclei in the Cosmos, Travel grant (2012)
Kobe International School of Planetary Sciences, Travel Grant (2007)
Geology Alumni Research Grant of the Department of Geological Sciences, Ohio University for partial support towards thesis research (2002)
Professional service
Antarctic Search for Meteorites (ANSMET) 2013-2014 Field Party Member
Reviewer for Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Astrophysical Journal, and Meteoritics and Planetary Science
Planetary Geology Division (GSA) Dwornik Award Judge
LPSC Session Chair, “Presolar Grains: Structures and Origins”, 2009
Graduate Student Peer Mentor, Washington University in St. Louis, August 2007 – August 2009
Invited Talks
November 2018: “Stardust from Primitive Meteorites “- School of Geosciences, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
October 2018: “Deciphering Isotopic and Elemental Clues in Stardust from Meteorites “- Department of Physics, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
December 2016: “Decoding Isotopic and Elemental Signatures in Stardust from Meteorites “- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Earlham College
August 2016: “Combined nano-computed tomography and x-ray fluorescence experiments: A powerful, non-destructive technique for in-situ chemical analyses of presolar grains”- XII Torino workshop and IV CSFK Astromineralogy workshop, Budapest, Hungary
April 2015: “Stardust from Primitive Meteorites “- Department of Physics, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
February 2015: “Decoding Isotopic and Elemental Signatures in Stardust from Meteorites “- Center for Meteorite Studies, Arizona State University
July 2014: “Presolar Graphite Grains and their Stellar Origins”- Nuclei in the Cosmos XIII, Debrecen, Hungary
February 2012: “Stellar Sources of Presolar Graphite Grains” – Center for Meteorite Studies, Arizona State University
December 2009: “Multi-element Isotopic Analyses of Presolar Graphite Grains from Orgueil” – Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, India
News Release
“Antarctic Search for Meteorites (ANSMET) – The hunt begins” in Kaunānā: The Research Publication of the University of Hawai‘i at Manoā
Professional Affiliations
Member of:
The Geological Society of America (GSA)
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Laboratory astrophysics and planetary science 