Sushmita Agarwal  

Hi there!

I’m Sushmita Agarwal, and I’m currently a post doctoral fellow at Tata Institute of Fundamnetal research, Mumbai. I completed by doctoral research @ Indian Institute of Technology, Indore (IIT Indore) in June 2025 under supervision of Dr. Amit Shukla. 

I am presently exploring some of the most mysterious and fascinating objects in the universe—black holes. Specifically, I study their jets - narrow, relativistic outflows that can extend well beyond their host galaxies. My research aims to understand how these jets are powered, how they accelerate particles to extreme energies, and how they stay energetically efficient across vast distances.

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 investigate these extreme environments, I use observations from NASA’s space-based telescopes, especially in the X-ray and gamma-ray bands. Some of the key questions driving my work include:

1. How do jets launch and sustain their energy?

2. What physical mechanisms accelerate particles to high energies?

3. How do jet properties relate to the central engine across different black hole systems?

If you’re curious about the high-energy universe, I recommend this incredible 14-year time-lapse from NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope -- a dynamic view of some of the most powerful accelerators 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