Sushmita Agarwal  

Hi there!

I’m Sushmita Agarwal, and I’m currently in my final year as a doctoral candidate at the Indian Institute of Technology, Indore (IIT Indore), where I’ve been working on my research since January 2020. Originally from Northern India, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to live in different parts of the country over the past decade, each place shaping who I am today. This year, I’m excited to be completing my Ph.D. under the guidance of Dr. Amit Shukla.

As a high-energy astrophysicist, my work is all about exploring some of the most mysterious and fascinating objects in the universe—black holes. Specifically, I study their jets, those incredibly powerful, relativistic beams of energy that come from the very heart of these cosmic giants. My research focuses on understanding how these jets are powered and accelerated, and what triggers their activity. 

What particularly tickles my brain is interpreting data and uncovering hidden patterns to infer insights that might otherwise be unnoticed. I love the thrill of connecting the dots and finding meaningful answers, especially when it comes to understanding the complexities of the universe.

To do this, I use NASA’s space-based telescopes, focusing on observations in the X-ray and gamma-ray bands. My goal is to answer big questions, like: How do jets get/sustain their energy? How do they launch? How are they connected to the central engine (over range of black hole masses)?

I invite you to check out this amazing video by NASA’s Fermi telescope. It’s a 14-year time-lapse of the high-energy gamma-ray sky, showing some of the most energetic particle accelerating centers in the universe! Check it out here: Fermi's 14-Year Time-Lapse of the Gamma-Ray Sky.

When I’m not pondering at the lightcurves and spectrums, you can find me drawing/doodling on my iPad, photographing nature, cooking, swimming or enjoying the sunshine :D. I also enjoy reading and learning new things from scratch.

Phonetic transcription: soosh-MEE-tah   uh-GUHR-wahl