NASA gets another Indian Scientist from India’s ‘Land of Monasteries’, Dr. Anshu Kumari

India’s land of monasteries, Bihar, has produced another bright prodigy to outshine on the international platform and in space. A 30-year-old research scholar from Motihari, Bihar, has made her mark with her limitless efforts and courageous choices in life. Dr. Anshu Kumari, a Postdoctoral Researcher, has paved her way to NASA. She has been selected for a postdoctoral program at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The people of Bihar are proud of their daughter for the remarkable international recognition of the state.

Anshu Kumari’s Family and Roots

Born and brought up in Motihari, Bihar, this gem has built her own roads through NASA and is a shining star for the people of Motihari. Her father, Dr. Chandrama, a retired zoology professor, takes great pride to experience skyrocketing respect and honor in witnessing his daughter’s soaring ambitions. Anshu’s mother, Savita Devi, a former Block Education Officer, lost her life in 2008 due to cancer. Since then, her father has been her unwavering pillar of support ensuring her education remains uncompromised. Her journey showcases resilience which highlights the effect of good education and family support.

Anshu Kumari’s Educational Background and Her Research Interests

Anshu Kumari’s educational journey has been characterized by pure dedication. She completed her intermediate education at Piprakothi, Motihari’s Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya. Later, she pursued her B.tech in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Anshu furthered her academic pursuits at renowned institutions, including the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bengaluru and the University of Calcutta (CU), where she obtained her integrated M.tech and Ph.D. in Astronomical Instrumentation in 2020. Gauribindanur Radio Observatory of the IIA, Bengaluru, under the direction of Prof. R Ramesh and Dr. C. Kathiravan.

NASA scientist Anshu Kumari was a post-doctoral researcher at the Space Physics Research Group with Prof. Emilia Kilpua of the University of Helsinki. There, she pursued numerical simulations of solar flux ropes and observation of solar radio bursts. Anshu also gained valuable experience as a Summer Research Fellow at the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)in 2018, collaborating with Dr. Pietro Zucca on a Solar imaging pipeline with the Low-Frequency Array. Anshu Kumari’s Research interests span various domains like solar physics, radio astronomy, astrophysical plasma, and instrumentation.

Dr. Anshu Kumari’s Accomplishments and Awards

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has picked Anshu Kumari for their prestigious postdoctoral program. Grabbing this opportunity, she joined the NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre (NASA GSFC) as a NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) Fellow on February 1st, 2023. Her specialization includes creating ground-based radio equipment for tracking space weather and studying the sun. Over the next three years, she will research on the sun and its activities for primarily solar eruptions. This is by far the most significant achievement in her career, and it is evident that she continues to pursue further accomplishments to her wall of fame.

NASA Scientist Anshu Kumari has been honored with various awards, grants, and recognitions in her career, a list of which is mentioned below:

1. She is the recipient of:

• Haryana State Technical Education Society Merit Scholarship for pursuing the Bachelor of Technology from Guru Jambeshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar, Haryana, 2009.
• University Gold Medal in the UG program, 2013, from Guru Jambeshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar, Haryana.

2. “Officer Travel Grant of $2910” for attending and representing the Indian Institute of Technology Indore SPIE chapter in SPIE Photonics 2018 in San Francisco, CA, USA.
3. SPIE Photonics West 2020- SPIE student Travel Grant for presenting the paper in SPIE Photonics West 2020 in San Francisco, CA, USA.
4. “SERB ITS travel Grant-Government of India” for presenting the paper in SPIE Photonics West 2020 in San Francisco, CA, USA.
5. Prestigious INSPIRE Fellowship by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, for pursuing a Ph.D. from IIM Indore, 2015-2020.
6. IIT Roorkee Best Thesis Award for Astrophysics in 2022.
7. IIT Indore Young Scientist Award in December 2022.
8. Young Scientist Award by MSET in Ranchi in 2022.

Anshu Kumari: Joining the Line of Indian Brilliance

Indians have never stepped back in raising the bars of success and setting them even higher than before. The list of Indian achievers in various fields, such as Sunita L. Williams, Anita Sengupta, Kamlesh Lulla and Ashwin Vasabvada, has now been enriched by the addition of another Indian name, Anshu Kumari. Anshu Kumari’s remarkable Journey to NASA serves as an inspiration for all Indian daughters. She has aroused determination and a thirst for learning and exposure, making a global impact.

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