Dr. Nitesh Kumar

Dr. Nitesh Kumar is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at UPES. He holds a Ph.D. in Astronomy and Astrophysics from the University of Delhi, completed under the joint supervision of Prof. H. P. Singh and Prof. Philippe Prugniel (University of Lyon). His research expertise lies at the intersection of astronomy and data science, with a specific focus on the application of Machine Learning and Artificial Neural Networks to analyze stellar photometric and spectroscopic data. 

Dr. Kumar is also an IUCAA Associate Faculty and has published his work in reputed journals such as Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS), New Astronomy, and Universe. His research significantly contributes to the understanding of RR Lyrae variables and the structural properties of globular clusters. 

Dr. Kumar currently serves as an Assistant Professor at the School of Advanced Engineering, UPES. He is actively involved in the academic community as an Associate at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune. 

Prior to his current role, he devoted several years to doctoral research focused on the automated analysis of astronomical data. He also has extensive experience mentoring postgraduate and undergraduate students in dissertation projects related to exoplanets using JWST/TESS data and globular clusters. 

Machine Learning Applications in Astronomy | Stellar Spectroscopy (Red Giants in Globular Clusters) | Photometric and Spectroscopic Analysis of RR Lyrae Stars | Big Data and Computational Challenges in Astronomy | Stellar Variability and Evolution. 

Dr. Kumar’s teaching philosophy bridges the gap between theoretical physics and modern computational techniques. With a strong background in big data and coding, he emphasizes the importance of computational literacy in physics education. 

He strives to create an interactive learning environment where students gain hands-on experience with tools such as Python, C++, and telescopes. His approach integrates observational astronomy with data analysis, encouraging students to apply theoretical concepts to real-world astronomical datasets and technological applications. 

At the postgraduate level: Classical Mechanics and Introduction to Computational Physics. 

At the undergraduate level: Computational Techniques, Physics for Computer Engineers, Fundamentals of Astronomy, Planetary Sciences, and various Physics and Observational Astronomy Laboratories. 

He also integrates programming languages such as Python, C++, and Fortran into his curriculum. 

Dr. Kumar received the prestigious ERASMUS+ Grant (€2800) to attend the International Staff Week in Poland in 2022. 

He qualified CSIR JRF/NET in Physical Sciences and GATE Physics in 2018. 

He has also been recognized as an Associate of IUCAA, Pune. 

Dr. Kumar is a prolific researcher with publications in high-impact journals including MNRAS, New Astronomy, and Universe. His recent work includes the use of Artificial Neural Networks for spectral interpolation and predicting light curves of variable stars. 

He actively contributes to the scientific community as a reviewer for The Astronomical Journal (AAS). He frequently serves as a resource person for workshops on Astronomy and Data Science. 

In addition, he has presented his research at major academic platforms such as the Young Astronomers' Meet and meetings of the Astronomical Society of India. 

nitesh.kumar@ddn.upes.ac.in