==== Focusing Optics X-ray Solar Imager (FOXSI) - Sounding rocket mission ==== FOXSI-3

Sounding rocket experiment to perform imaging and spectroscopy of the Sun in hard X-rays (HXR) using direct focusing X-ray optics.

• Lead role in planning and executing tests and calibration of focal plane X-ray detectors for the third flight, FOXSI-3.
• SPIE article on improved calibration for FOXSI detectors spanchap
• Combined differential emission measure (DEM) analysis of solar microflares observed during FOXSI-2 flight using data SDO/AIA and Hinode/XRT.
• Preliminary results presented at AGU 2017 spanchap
• Development of charge transport model to understand spectral response and support calibration data for FOXSI detectors.

==== Chandrayaan-1 X-ray Spectrometer (C1XS) - X-ray fluorescence experiment onboard Chandrayaan-1 ==== ESA/RAL, UK, Indian Space Research Organization. (ISRO), India X-ray fluorescence experiment on India's first Moon mission, Chandrayaan-1, to study the surface chemistry of the Moon.

• Development of X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) inversion algorithm x2abundance
• Validation of x2abundance using laboratory XRF experiments
• X-ray spectral analysis of C1XS data & determination of lunar abundances

National Merit Scholarship, University Grants Commission, India : 2003-2005

Department of Science and Technology (DST) Research Fellowship : 2008-2009

ISRO - IIA Research Fellowship : 2009-2015

LPI Career Development Award : Lunar & Planetary Institute, NASA, USRA : 2014

K. D. Abhyankar Best Thesis Presentation Award : Astronomical Society of India. : 2016

Email: spanchap@.umn.edu, athray@gmail.com

Phones: (612) 814-5739

Office : Tate Building, Room 264 (office), 255 (lab)