Akshata K.

Akshata K. has a diverse and impressive work experience in the field of aerospace engineering and space exploration. Akshata started their career at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as a Research Associate from July 2012 to July 2013.

Akshata then joined the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where they held multiple positions. From September 2013 to December 2019, they worked as an Instrument Systems Engineer, focusing on the development and implementation of systems for space instrumentation. In September 2015 to September 2016, they served as a Project Manager for the MIT ACCESS project, which involved the design and development of an artificial gravity centrifuge space station concept. Their work on this project was recognized with several accolades, including winning 1st place in the Best-in-Theme category at the 2016 NASA RASC-AL international competition.

In addition, Akshata K. also had a role as a Sandbox Seed Fund Fellow and Startup Advisory Board member from September 2018 to October 2019. Akshata contributed their expertise and insights in supporting and advising startup ventures.

Currently, they are employed at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) since 2018. Akshata is primarily involved in various missions and projects. As the Principal Investigator and Mission Science Phase Lead, they lead the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission's science phase. Additionally, they serve as a Robotics Systems Engineer for the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Surface Operations Sampling and Caching Team. Akshata is also a Co-investigator and the Instrument Calibration and Science Data Lead for the Arcsecond Space Telescope Enabling Research in Astrophysics (ASTERIA) mission.

Overall, Akshata K. has an extensive background in aerospace engineering, space instrumentation, project management, and mission science. Their contributions and accomplishments in various projects highlight their expertise and dedication to the field of space exploration.

Akshata K. has a Minor in Business Management specializing in Entrepreneurship, Venture Creation, and Innovation from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Akshata also holds a Doctor of Philosophy - PhD in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the same institution. In addition, they have obtained a Master of Science (MS) in Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.