Sahana
Kumar
Astrophysicist
Hello, and welcome to my website! My name is Dr. Sahana Kumar (she/her) and I am currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Astronomy Department at the University of Virginia. I have been studying supernovae, the explosive deaths of stars, for 10+ years and work with a variety of Optical and Near Infrared (NIR) telescopes to study the origins of these cosmic explosions.
Conference Talks & Publications
education
PhD Physics, 2023
Florida State University
MS Physics, 2019
Florida State University
BA Astrophysics, 2015
University of California, Berkeley
Supernova explosions mark the endpoint of a star’s lifetime. There are multiple types of supernovae that are often sorted into three main categories: thermonuclear, core collapse, and stripped envelope. Studying these stellar explosions is important because they produce many vital elements in the universe and can be used to determine cosmological distances.
Hubble Space Telescope image of SN 1987A
Links
Supernovae are a type of astrophysical transient, meaning they evolve over short timescales that humans can perceive. Supernovae can change over the course of a few hours to a few years, so observing them can be an exhilarating challenge. See my Research page for more info!
Magellan Telescopes at Las Campanas Observatory, Chile. Image Credit: Yuri Beletsky
News
August 2023 - Started Postdoc position at the University of Virginia, working with Dr. Maryam Modjaz on observational studies of supernovae and other exotic transients
May 2023 - Graduated with PhD from Florida State University, under the guidance of my adviser Dr. Eric Hsiao. Dissertation Title: Investigating the Origins of Type Ia Supernovae Using Late Time Spectroscopy
Hello, and welcome to my website! My name is Dr. Sahana Kumar (she/her) and I am currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Astronomy Department at the University of Virginia. I have been studying supernovae, the explosive deaths of stars, for 10+ years and work with a variety of Optical and Near Infrared (NIR) telescopes to study the origins of these cosmic explosions.
Conference Talks & Publications
Research
education
PhD Physics, 2023
Florida State University
MS Physics, 2019
Florida State University
BA Astrophysics, 2015
University of California, Berkeley
Research
Type Ia Supernovae
Type Ia Supernovae (SNe Ia) are the thermonuclear explosions of at least one Carbon-Oxygen White Dwarf star. SNe Ia produce many important elements in the universe and are used as distance indicators for cosmology.
My work investigates the origins of these stellar explosions by searching for signatures of certain explosion mechanisms and using the explosion’s physical attributes to examine the progenitor star moments before its cataclysmic end.
Links
Observations
As an observer, I spend many nights awake using ground-based telescopes to obtain imaging and spectroscopic data of supernovae and other astronomical transients.
Over the past few years, I have been a core member of the Precise Observations of Infant Supernova Explosions (POISE) program - an international effort for rapid detection and follow up of new supernovae within hours of explosion. I am also an active member of collaborations such as The Carnegie Supernova Project and the Global Supernova Project.
Hello, and welcome to my website! My name is Dr. Sahana Kumar (she/her) and I am currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Astronomy Department at the University of Virginia. I have been studying supernovae, the explosive deaths of stars, for 10+ years and work with a variety of Optical and Near Infrared (NIR) telescopes to study the origins of these cosmic explosions.
Conference Talks & Publications
education
PhD Physics, 2023
Florida State University
MS Physics, 2019
Florida State University
BA Astrophysics, 2015
University of California, Berkeley
Selected Conference Talks
(click the links for recordings & more info)
- SuperVirtual, Nov 2023
- Carnegie Observatories Fall Seminar, Nov 2022
- POISE Collaboration Meeting - Pasadena 2022
- 88th Annual Meeting Southeastern Section of the American Physical Society (SESAPS), 2021
- Carnegie Supernova Project-II, 2019 Meeting
- Massive Stars and Supernovae 2018 (Nidiafest)
- 229th American Astronomical Society (AAS) Meeting, Jan 2017
Links
Selected Publications
- Near-infrared and Optical Nebular-phase Spectra of Type Ia Supernovae SN2013aa and SN2017cbv in NGC5643 - Kumar et al. 2023
- Carnegie Supernova Project-II: The Near-infrared Spectroscopy Program - Hsiao et al. 2019
- Nebular-phase spectra of nearby Type Ia Supernovae - Graham and Kumar et al. 2017
See my Google Scholar page for more!
My Poster at AAS, 2017
Hello, and welcome to my website! My name is Dr. Sahana Kumar (she/her) and I am currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Astronomy Department at the University of Virginia. I have been studying supernovae, the explosive deaths of stars, for 10+ years and work with a variety of Optical and Near Infrared (NIR) telescopes to study the origins of these cosmic explosions.
Conference Talks & Publications
education
Outreach
PhD Physics, 2023
Florida State University
MS Physics, 2019
Florida State University
BA Astrophysics, 2015
University of California, Berkeley
Outreach
Public outreach is an important aspect of supporting education in our local communities.
I am honored to have had opportunities to engage in astronomy outreach programs since I was an undergraduate at UC Berkeley. Some of my favorite outreach experiences include hosting observatory field trips for local K-12 students and serving as an event coordinator for community events such as the FSU Circus of Physics.
Links
Outreach event in Jefferson County, FL for the “We Are All Star Stuff Astronomy Program”
FSU Observatory
As a graduate student at Florida State University, I was part of the team that built the FSU Observatory and was a founding member of the FSU Astronomy Club. The observatory is fully equipped with a research-grade 17 inch reflecting telescope and was built to give students hands on experience with optical imaging and telescope operations.
Check out the FSU Observatory website for more info!
Behind the scenes view of my interview for a local news station for the FSU Observatory and Astronomy Club
Hello, and welcome to my website! My name is Dr. Sahana Kumar (she/her) and I am currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Astronomy Department at the University of Virginia. I have been studying supernovae, the explosive deaths of stars, for 10+ years and work with a variety of Optical and Near Infrared (NIR) telescopes to study the origins of these cosmic explosions.
Awards
Conference Talks & Publications
education
PhD Physics, 2023
Florida State University
MS Physics, 2019
Florida State University
BA Astrophysics, 2015
University of California, Berkeley
Awards
- Florida Space Research Grant - NASA Florida Space Grant Consortium, 2020-2021
- Evelyn and John Baugh Research Presentation Scholarship, 2021
Florida State University
- Lynn Shannon Proctor Award, 2018-2019
FSU Physics Department
- Evelyn and John Baugh Research Presentation Scholarship, 2018
Florida State University
- Grace Moulton Graduate Fellowship, 2017
Florida State University
- Google Lick Predoctoral Fellow, 2016-2017
UC Berkeley
Links
Hello, and welcome to my website! My name is Dr. Sahana Kumar (she/her) and I am currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Astronomy Department at the University of Virginia. I have been studying supernovae, the explosive deaths of stars, for 10+ years and work with a variety of Optical and Near Infrared (NIR) telescopes to study the origins of these cosmic explosions.
Conference Talks & Publications
education
About Me
PhD Physics, 2023
Florida State University
MS Physics, 2019
Florida State University
BA Astrophysics, 2015
University of California, Berkeley
About Me
In addition to astronomy, I love to travel, make art, and spend time with my friends and family.
Links
I have also visited every surviving space shuttle!
Contact: bsw2dc [at] virginia.edu
or visit my webpage at UVA Astronomy