Research positions
August 2018 − present Assistant Professor at the Department of Physics, University of Louisiana Lafayette
May 2021 − present Adjunct Assistant Professor at the School of Geosciences, 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
PI: Continued Search and Characterization of Urban Rooftop Micrometeorites, University of Louisiana Lafayette Undergraduate Research Council Mini Grant, Awarded September 2022, $2,000
PI: 21-PLANET21-0133, A Correlated Light and Heavy Element Isotopic Study of Presolar Graphite Grains, Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology: NNH21ZDA001N-FINESST, Future Investigator: Ishita Pal, Awarded September 2022, $148,498
PI: Faculty Travel grant, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Awarded January 2022, $700
PI: Heavy Element Characterization of Stardust; National Science Foundation 20-543 EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Track 4: EPSCoR Research Fellow, Awarded February 2021, $232,500
Co-PI: Ultra-high BRILLIANCE multi-cusp ion source for research users at the Louisiana Accelerator Center [Brilliant@LAC]; PI: Harry Whitlow; Louisiana Board of Regents Comprehensive Departmental Enhancement Program, Awarded June 2020, $191,035
PI: Search and Characterization of micrometeorites found on rooftops in Lafayette; University of Louisiana Lafayette Undergraduate Research Council Mini Grant, Awarded February 2020, $2,000
Senior Investigator: Acquisition of Focused Ion Beam-Scanning Electron Microscope for the Multidisciplinary Research and Education at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette; PI: Xiao-Dong Zhou, Thomas Pesacreta, Suzanne Fredericq, Sherry Krayesky-Self, Mehdi Mokhtari; NSF Major Research Instrumentation, Awarded October (2019), $1,425,129
Faculty Travel grant, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Awarded January 2019, $1,000 Postdoctoral associate: Chemical and isotopic investigations of presolar and early solar system materials. PI: Gary Huss, NASA Cosmochemistry 13-COS13-0013, 2013
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
Travel grant, XII International Symposium on Nuclei in the Cosmos, 2012
Student Travel Grant, Kobe International School of Planetary Sciences, 2007
Geology Alumni Research Grant of the Department of Geological Sciences, Ohio University for partial support towards thesis research, 2002
Awards
NSF EPSCoR Research Fellow (2021 – present)
Antarctic Service Medal, 2014
Highly Commended Poster presentation “Rare Presolar Graphite Grains from Evolved Low- and Intermediate-Mass Stars” at the XIIth International Symposium on Nuclei in the Cosmos, (2012)
Professional service
Steering Committee Member of Cross-AG IDEA Working Group, February 2022 – present
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility representative of NASA’s Extraterrestrial Materials Assessment Group (ExMAG), January 2022 – present
Wrote code of conduct for ExMAG members, Summer 2022
Executive at-large member of NASA’s Extraterrestrial Materials Assessment Group (ExMAG), January 2022 – present
Managed and facilitated mentorship program, ExMAG Fall Meeting, 2022
Managed early-career stipend applications and solicitation, ExMAG Fall Meeting, 2022
Scientific Organizing Committee member of the Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society, August 2021
Science panelist for NASA mission AO (dates and details confidential)
Science panelist & External reviewer for: NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (NESSF), Emerging Worlds, and Cosmochemistry programs (dates confidential)
Antarctic Search for Meteorites, field party member, austral summer 2013–2014
Reviewer, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Meteoritics and Planetary Science, The Astrophysical Journal, Geological Society of America
Dwornik Award Judge, Planetary Geology Division (GSA)
LPSC Session Chair, “Presolar Grains: Structures and Origins”, 2009
Graduate Student Peer Mentor, Washington University in St. Louis, August 2007 – August 2009
University and Department Service
Served on grant writing panel organized by UL Lafayette’s Office of University Research for 2021 applicants of National Science Foundation EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Track 4 Research Fellow grant, February 2021
Graduate Faculty (Tier 2) at theUniversity of Louisiana Lafayette, 2019-2024
Organized weekly department seminars, Department of Physics, UL Lafayette, Fall 2020 & Spring 2021 semesters
Graduate Faculty (Tier 1) at theUniversity of Louisiana Lafayette,2015-2020 Course coverage committee for 200 level Physics courses, Department of Physics, UL Lafayette,2019
Invited Talks
October 2022: Cross-AG IDEA Group Activities, Extraterrestrial Materials Analysis Group, Fall Meeting 2022
June 2022: Space Science Institute Seminar Series, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
May 2022: School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneshwar, India
April 2022: Department of Chemistry & Physics’ colloquium series, Southeastern Louisiana University
April 2022: Department of Physics & Astronomy’s colloquium series, Mississippi State University
October 2021: Physical Research Laboratory’s Platinum Jubilee Planetary Seminar Series, Ahmedabad, India
September 2020: College of Sciences, Sciences Interdisciplinary Monthly Meeting (SIMM), University of Louisiana at Lafayette
December 2018: Institute of Materials for Research and Innovation (IMRI) research retreat, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
November 2018: School of Geosciences, University of Louisiana Lafayette
October 2018: Department of Physics, University of Louisiana Lafayette
January 2018: Department of Physics, University of Louisiana Lafayette
December 2016: Department of Physics and Astronomy, Earlham College
August 2016: XII Torino workshop and IV CSFK Astromineralogy workshop, Budapest, Hungary
April 2015: Department of Physics, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
February 2015: Center for Meteorite Studies, Arizona State University
July 2014: Nuclei in the Cosmos XII, Debrecen, Hungary February 2012: Center for Meteorite Studies, Arizona State University
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 