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ORGANIC CHEMISTRY Of ASTROMATERIALS
I am interested in understanding the structure and composition of materials originating in circumstellar and interstellar space. These astromaterials are crucial for building emerging technologies.
I am particularly curious about the structure and composition of ultracomplex and exotic organic/carbonaceous astromaterials, present on comets, asteroids and small Solar System bodies.
I have a nearly decade-long hands-on experience optimizing, calibrating and analyzing data from the COSAC payload on European Space Agency's Rosetta mission. I have also collaborated with the science investigation teams of the JAXA-Hayabusa-2 and the NASA-OSIRIS rEX missions.
ANALYTICAL ASTROBIOLOGy TECHNOLOGIES
As a Co-Investigator of the COSAC payload team, I identified several molecules on comet 67P with implications for biochemical processes occurring on Earth.
I have also been part of international teams physically simulating the formation of prebiotic molecules, particularly chiral amino acids, in interstellar medium.
I am presently interested in comprehending the requirements of analytical astrobiology devices that can yield unambiguous confirmation of life, and deconvolute complex organic compositions if present, on potentially habitable extra-terrestrial objects.
I had the privilege of presenting my concepts on Life Detection Technologies at the NASA Headquarters, Washington DC and submitting the same as a white paper to the National Academy of Sciences of United States of America.
SPACE EXPLORATION STRATEGY STUDIES
I undertake analyses of space exploration strategies of various countries and assess their economic and technological impacts on the global common goals for space and deep oceans exploration.
My particular focus is on missions to planets and exoplanets that are potentially habitable, organic-rich small Solar System bodies, and those that can host human outposts.
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