Akash Gupta

Akash Gupta serves as a Research Fellow at Princeton University through dual appointments in the Department of Astrophysical Sciences and Department of Geosciences, holding the prestigious 51 Pegasi b Fellowship, Harry H. Hess Postdoctoral Fellowship, and Future Faculty in the Physical Sciences Fellowship.

His academic background includes:

• PhD in Planetary Sciences from the University of California, Los Angeles (2023) under Prof. Hilke Schlichting
• Bachelor's and Master's Dual Degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur (2016)

Dr. Gupta's research explores planetary formation and evolution using computational mineral physics, with primary focus on exoplanet dynamics, atmospheric escape mechanisms, and ring system behavior around non-spherical bodies. His methodology combines astrophysical theory, planetary geoscience, and quantum chemistry to investigate how Earth-like exoplanets develop habitable conditions through processes like core-powered mass loss and atmosphere-interior interactions.

Analysis of his publication record reveals consistent focus on explaining the exoplanet radius valley through core-powered mass loss mechanisms, alongside significant contributions to understanding planetary ring dynamics. His work bridges theoretical modeling with computational experiments, particularly using ab initio molecular dynamics to simulate extreme planetary conditions.

Key recognitions include:

• 51 Pegasi b Fellowship
• Harry H. Hess Postdoctoral Fellowship
• Future Faculty in the Physical Sciences Fellowship
• NASA FINESST grant (2020)

Dr. Gupta has secured competitive research funding including the NASA FINESST grant but has no listed advisees. His current work is conducted through Princeton's Computational Mineral Physics Laboratory where he leads projects on planetary formation simulations and exoplanet atmospheric modeling.