Prashant Pathak

Dr. Prashant Pathak serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Space, Planetary & Astronomical Sciences & Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. He earned his PhD from SOKENDAI University in 2017 and completed his BS-MS from IISER Thiruvananthapuram in 2013. Prior to joining IIT Kanpur, he held research positions as a PostDoc Fellow at the University of Liege, Belgium (2021-2023) and as an Engineering and Technology Research Fellow at the European Southern Observatory (ESO), Germany (2018-2021).

• PhD (SOKENDAI University, 2017)
• BS-MS (IISER Thiruvananthapuram, 2013)

Dr. Pathak's research focuses on the direct imaging and characterization of exoplanets, with specialized expertise in adaptive optics and wavefront control techniques for both ground and space-based astronomical instrumentation. His work bridges theoretical astrophysics with practical instrument development, addressing fundamental challenges in high-contrast imaging systems. His research encompasses atmospheric dispersion correction, coronagraphic techniques, and precision astrometry methods essential for detecting and characterizing exoplanets.

His publication record demonstrates a clear progression from foundational work on wavefront control systems to sophisticated applications in major observatories. Recent publications (2020-2024) show increasing involvement with next-generation instrumentation including JWST and ELT-METIS, reflecting his position at the forefront of exoplanet imaging technology. The research spans multiple disciplines including optical engineering, atmospheric science, and planetary astrophysics, with a consistent focus on overcoming technical barriers to exoplanet detection.

Dr. Pathak has made significant technical contributions to astronomical instrumentation, particularly in atmospheric dispersion correction and high-contrast imaging systems. His work on SCExAO, METIS, and JWST observations demonstrates his involvement in major international collaborations pushing the boundaries of what's possible in direct exoplanet imaging.

His laboratory work likely involves optical testing, wavefront control systems, and data analysis techniques for high-contrast imaging. While specific details about current students are not provided, his publication record suggests an active research program focused on advancing astronomical instrumentation capabilities for exoplanet discovery and characterization.