Dr. Abhishek Desai,
Assistant Research Fellow
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)
Job description: HEASARC (Archive Scientist), Fermi (FSSC Scientist)
Contact: adesai.physics@gmail.com
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Brief about me:
Brief about me:
Brief Description:
Research scientist with extensive experience in reverse-engineering complex systems using advanced data science and statistical methods. Proven track record of developing interpretable models from observational data, leading collaborative research teams, and building robust experimental frameworks. Expert in Python-based analysis, statistical inference, and designing experiments that bridge theoretical models with empirical observations. Extensive experience mentoring researchers and communicating complex findings to diverse audiences.
Technical Description:
NASA GSFC: My current interests are centered on the development of scientific software and its application to advancing astrophysics research. As an CRESST assistant research scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, I work on Fermi LAT: FSSC (Fermi Science Support Center) operations and HEASARC:archive scientist. My work also includes working with detector calibration software, while continuing research projects that apply AI methods to astrophysical problems spreading across all messengers.
In parallel, following my work as a NPP postdoc at GSFC, I use multiwavelength and multimessenger observations to understand processes occurring inside AGN, extending this work to joint studies with NICER, Fermi-LAT, and IceCube. I am also interested in interpreting generative AI models and understanding how their outputs can be assessed and explained for responsible use in scientific research. Looking ahead, my goal remains the advancement of science and technology through reliable and scalable software tools that support scientific analysis, particularly those that make effective use of NASA data, while continuing to enjoy the process of doing science.
Postdoc at UW Madison: In 2019 I secured the John Bahcall fellowship at University of Wisconsin-Madison (WIPAC) to study the possibility of AGN being sources of astrophysical neutrinos seen by the IceCube detector. I worked on understanding the radio-neutrino correlation in AGN. I also worked on simulating the Galactic neutrino signal using a simulation package we developed named SNuGGY (also on Github). In addition to this scientific work, I also participated in outreach events like summer school, hosted at WIPAC
PHD Work: I received my PhD in 2019 from Clemson University, South Carolina. During my PhD years, I worked on studying the diffuse background which is composed of all the light observed in the universe in the UV to IR regime, dubbed extragalactic background light (EBL). This was done using the spectra observed using the NASA mission, Fermi-LAT, of observed active galactic nuclei (AGN) and gamma-ray bursts. During my PhD, I also worked as an instructor of astronomy for a summer school at Johns Hopkins University, Center for Talented Youth.
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