About Me

Hello! I'm Abhay Kumar Prusty, a third-year undergraduate student at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, pursuing a BS-MS dual degree in Physics with a minor in Computer Science. My academic journey is shaped by a deep fascination with the cosmos and a strong inclination toward hands-on, data-driven research in astrophysics and cosmology.

This summer, I'm working as a research intern at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), where I am investigating magnetic activity and emission characteristics in active stars (besically m-dwarfs). This project has given me valuable exposure to stellar astrophysics and observational techniques to study more about exoplanet.

Previously, I interned at IIT Bhilai, where I studied the Milky Way's formation history using Gaia DR3 data. By analyzing the kinematics, orbits, and metallicities of over 5.5 million stars, I explored the galaxy’s chemical and dynamical evolution — an experience that deepened my understanding of galactic archaeology.

Outside research, I actively engage in citizen science projects via Zooniverse, contributing to classifications in variable star behavior and supernova identification. I also write space blogs for Infinity Cosmos, covering missions like Aditya-L1, northern auroras, and Falcon 9 updates — combining science communication with technical curiosity.

As the Chief Coordinator of Astronomy at ScienceOverse and a contributor to the Astroflux student community, I organize webinars, discussions, and student-led initiatives to promote collaborative learning in space science. I also enjoy exploring asteroid detection using Astrometrica and observational tools.

Technically, I’m intermediate in Python, C, Astropy, ADQL, and basic HTML/CSS, and I’m always looking to learn new tools that help uncover cosmic phenomena. While I haven’t yet worked directly in space sustainability, the field strongly motivates me, and I hope to explore it further in the coming years.

Abhay Kumar Prusty

Research

My research spans across galactic structure, stellar populations, and cosmology. I've worked on:

  • Spiral Arm Mapping: Developing SpiralMap, a Python package to model the Milky Way's spiral arms using masers, H II regions, and Gaia OB stars.
  • 21-cm Cosmology: Studying the Epoch of Reionization and forecasting signals using semi-numeric simulations and Lyman-alpha emitters.
  • Astrometric Surveys: Using Gaia DR3 and chemical abundances to reconstruct the Milky Way’s merger history.

I also explore radio astronomy, citizen science classifications, exoplanet interiors using Love numbers, and gravitational wave cosmology.

Curriculum Vitae

You can download my most updated CV here: