Indian-origin astrophysicist Anirudh Karambelkar has been awarded the prestigious Hubble Fellowship, a highly competitive program designed to support outstanding early-career researchers in astrophysics. The fellowship, which had over 650 applicants this year, provides up to three years of research funding at a US institution and aims to nurture future leaders in the field.
The NASA Hubble Fellowship Program (NHFP) is divided into three categories based on key cosmic questions: Einstein Fellows focus on fundamental physics, Hubble Fellows explore cosmic origins, and Sagan Fellows investigate the potential for extraterrestrial life. Karambelkar was selected as a Hubble Fellow for his work on understanding the formation and evolution of the universe.
Originally from Pune, India, Karambelkar completed his undergraduate studies in engineering physics and mathematics at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay in 2019. He is currently pursuing a PhD at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) under the mentorship of astrophysicist Mansi Kasliwal, with plans to graduate in 2025.
His research centers on stellar mergers—the collisions and fusions of white dwarfs, neutron stars, and other celestial bodies. By analyzing these events, he aims to uncover insights into stellar evolution, gravitational waves, and cosmic dust. Using optical and infrared surveys, he studies the explosive outcomes of these mergers to better understand their impact on the universe.
Karambelkar has made notable contributions to astrophysics, including developing a detection pipeline for the Wide-Field Infrared Transient Explorer (WINTER) project at Palomar Observatory. He has also led observational programs using two of the most advanced space telescopes—the James Webb Space Telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope.
As a Hubble Fellow, he will further his research using upcoming missions such as the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, NASA’s SPHEREx mission, and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. His work aims to refine the understanding of binary star evolution, how stellar mergers generate gravitational waves, and their role in cosmic dust formation.
