What is your position or role in the DESI project?
I am a 4th year PhD student working in the Milky Way Survey (MWS) group. I am also the co-chair of Early Career Scientists (ECS) committee and one of the organizers of DESI research forum talks.
Where were you born and Where do you live now?
I was born in Kerala, a South Indian state renowned for its swaying coconut palms, pristine backwaters, and vibrant festivals. After my masters in Bangalore, India, I moved to Taiwan where I am currently doing my PhD at the National Tsing Hua University.
What do you do as part of DESI?
I work on generating mock catalogues that match the selection criteria of MWS from high resolution AURIGA cosmological zoom simulations. These mocks are realizations of a DESI-like survey conducted in a simulated Milky Way – like galaxy, and can be used to test methods for studying the properties of our stellar halo, the substructures in it and finally, the assembly history of our Galaxy. Besides working on my project, I also organize research forum talks, help with ECS activities and take Support Observer shifts for DESI.
What is the most interesting or exciting thing about your job?
Astronomy allows us to explore the unknown. Every observation is a small step towards understanding something new, something unique about our Universe. Within this infinite Universe, my love lies closer to home. I am excited to study how our Galaxy formed, its structure and its evolutionary history. Being part of a large collaboration, using a very sophisticated instrument, working with people I admire, someone I have known from the classes I took, or papers I have read is more than exciting.
Any advice for an aspiring scientist?
Never give up on anything you love because of anyone. There will be a lot of ups and downs on the way, but it is all part of a learning process. Talk to people in all career stages, it builds up communication skills, helps in making new collaborations or guide you when you are in need. Always stay updated with what is happening in your field. Enjoy every small thing you learn. Most importantly, prioritize your physical and mental health above everything else.
What do you do for fun?
There are five things I enjoy spending time for: hanging out with people I am close to, having food (and watching others cook), a good movie, travel (anywhere other than crowded cities filled with concrete buildings) and music. I love to read books, blogging and photography, all of which are unfortunately taking a back seat lately.
If you weren’t a scientist, what would be your dream job?
Being an astronomer has always been my love. But if not that, social work has been something that has captured my interest (I have had an eye on the social work program of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in India since a long time).
What excites/interests you most about DESI?
I am someone who was born in a small village, studied in a modest school, enjoyed colorful pictures of stars and galaxies, dream about being an astronomer, and today, as a member of DESI, I interact and collaborate with people who have made enormous contributions to this field. There is nothing more exciting than a dream come true.
