ANIKA NATH
Master of Science (M.Sc.) Candidate in Planetary Science | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA | Expected Graduation: May 2026
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences & Physics | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA | Graduated: June 2025
Stoneham High School | Stoneham, MA | Graduated: June 2021
Welcome to My Digital Portfolio
I am a planetary science master’s student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, focusing on asteroid characterization and surface composition. My current work examines the light curves of asteroids in both visible and infrared wavelengths to classify them taxonomically and determine their surface compositions. My background also includes projects on orbital dynamics, ocean circulation in icy moons, asteroid airbursts, and vortex formation in protoplanetary disks, using computational modeling and numerical simulations to investigate these processes.
Research Highlights
- Serendipitous Spectral Characterizations of Asteroids with JWST: Characterizing asteroids by analyzing their light curves in both visible and infrared wavelengths. By comparing brightness variations across time and color, I aim to identify their surface compositions and classify them into taxonomic types that reveal clues about their origins and evolution.
- Modeling Asteroid Airbursts and Damage Patterns: Developed a web application to estimate atmospheric breakup altitudes, energy deposition, and ground-level shock patterns for asteroid airbursts, incorporating visualization of scientific data for public outreach.
- Modeling Ocean Circulation on Icy Moons: Investigating heat distribution and nutrient transport mechanisms in subsurface oceans to assess their potential habitability.
- Protoplanetary Disk Dynamics: Analyzing vortex formation to understand early planet formation and accretion processes.
- Exoplanet Confirmation Using the Transit Method: Gathered and analyzed observational data to confirm the existence of WASP-2b by detecting periodic brightness reductions, conducted as part of a class project.
- Martian Surface Compositions: Integrating spectral and acoustic data to differentiate rock coatings from bedrock, advancing surface composition studies.
- Rotational Dynamics of Ocean Currents on Icy Moons: Exploring the influence of rotation and ocean depth on particle transit times using Rossby number analysis, with implications for understanding transport dynamics in extraterrestrial oceans.
Challenges and Growth
My journey is shaped by my lived experience with Cerebral Palsy since birth. It has instilled resilience, adaptability, a never give-up attitude, and a unique perspective that I bring to every endeavor, while ensuring that curiosity and a passion for exploration remain central theme of my work.
I strongly believe that every person has limitations. I’ve never considered myself someone who “suffers” from CP and it does not define me. While it’s been a lifelong obstacle, it doesn’t limit what I can achieve in my life.
I hope to inspire other folks with limited abilities to look into the future and yearn and move towards their goals with passion, confidence and lots of resilience.
Volunteering
I enjoy participating and volunteering in my community. Volunteering helps me connect to my community and make new friends and contacts. And best of all, every small success by volunteering makes me feel that I am contributing to making the world a better place.
Explore my portfolio to learn more about my research, animations, and vision for advancing planetary science and education.