About

Hi! I'm Kartik Tiwari

I am pursuing a Masters in astrophysics (supported fully by Bonn-Cologne Graduate Scholarship). During my Bachelors degree at Ashoka University, I completed an advanced physics major and a philosophy minor.

I enjoy employing massive computers to solve problems of physics, drawing on huge whiteboards to ideate philosophical arguments, testing the plasticity of my qualia and improvising music on classical guitars.

Here is my Academic CV

Contact Me!

My Instagram stories contain some of my music and art. Twitter is for miscellaneous musings and bad jokes. GitHub hosts my physics-adjacent coding projects.

Quickest way to reach me is through mail.

Email: krtk.twri [at] gmail.com

Brief Profile

Computational Astrophysics, Analytic Philosophy, Consciousness, Art

Astrophysics | Primarily, interested in Computational Astrophysics (NR, GRMHD, Structure Formation, etc.) involving high-performance computing. I enjoy studying integrated space mission design as a side hobby.

Philosophy | At Ashoka, I worked on several analytic philosophy projects (in formal logic and philosophy of science). I also have academic and practice-based interests in rational-Buddhism.

I was a part of the early leadership at Muniversiti, an education startup working with 100+ schools in India. I have also been associated with a few academic organizations like Wolfram Physics Project (Research Affiliate), International Society for Studies of Time (Member), Institute of Physics (Elected Committee Member - Computational Physics Group), Space Generation Advisory Council (Student Member), and Naxxatra (Mentor/Instructor).

Supervised Formal Research Experience

Capstone Thesis Research - Ashoka University

As a part of my capstone thesis, I worked with Prof. Dipankar Bhattacharya to predict what kind of polarimetery data we should be expecting from Neutron stars observations by computationally modelling polarization transport near compact objects.

Astrophysics

Independent Research Project - Hydrodynamics Lab, Ashoka University

I worked on a project to investigate white-hole analogs in circular hydraulic jumps in Prof. Pramoda Kumar's hydrodynamics Lab. I did an extensive literature review on analog gravity, assembled an experimental set-up to see signatures of Schwarzschild geometry in systems of ripplons and proposed possible extensions to analog geodesic calculations.

Analog Gravity

Student / Researcher - Wolfram Physics Project

Developed a novel framwork for investigating formal systems using sub-graph isomorphisms of Multiway systems. Worked with Dr. Stephen Wolfram, Nikolay Murzin and James Boyd on metamathematics. Also explored foliations of Causal graphs and gauge choices in numerical relativity with Dr. Jonathan Gorard.

Metalogic

Independent Research Project - Department of Philosophy, Ashoka University

As a part of my independent study module, I engaged with problems in advanced symbolic logic for a span of two semesters (including meta logic and modal logic) and worked on motivating a formalism for a phenomenologically distinct present by borrowing ideas from physics, philosophy and logic of time. Presented the project in ISST's 18th Triennial Conference.

Formal Logic

Project Research Assistant - ISRO Space Applications Center and IIT-Indore

Worked on a project to study effects of multipath error on psuedorange calculations and improve the accuracy of Indian navigation system. Mentored by Dr. Hari Hablani (Adjunct Faculty IIT-I, Former Boeing Techincal Fellow and NASA-JPL Researcher). Presented my research at International Astronautical Congress and published in a Springer Volume

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Satellite Navigation

Summer Research Student - Department of Astronomy, Astrophysics and Space Engineering, IIT-Indore

I modelled atmospheric re-entry corridors of space vehicles as governed by heat rates and structural integrity, simulated unguided ballistic re-entries, optimized landing footprints and studied feedback guidance in different phases of Re-Entry.

Astrodynamics

Supervised Informal Research Experience

Research Collaborator - Dr. Barbour's Working Group

Developing Shape Dynamics and relational mechanics with a focus on philosophical and computational aspects with Dr. Julian Barbour (former Emeritus Visiting Professor at University of Oxford) as a part of a small working group of individuals from around the world.

Shape Dynamics

Summer Project - National Autonomous University of Mexico

Studying numerical methods to efficiently solve the Field Equations in General Relativity under Prof. Miguel Alcubierre, one of the few pioneers of the field. More details about the project would be added in the coming months.

Numerical Relativity

Positions of Responsibility

Student Research Coordinator - Research and Development Office (Ashoka)

Responsible for effective collection and organization of all data on student research from Physics, Philosophy and CS departments. Contributed towards the launch of Ashoka's first Research Magazine which showcased university's annual research output.

Science Publication

President - Ashoka Physics Society

Designed 3-Day long introductory workshop on Astrodynamics and Space Mission Design. Set-up collaborative summer research groups for undergraduates. We conduct regular outreach events and student talks to cultivate interest in Physics.

Science Outreach

Director Training - Muniversiti

Muniversiti is a company focused on creating holistic development and critical thinking modules for high school students by working on a parallel education model. We are currently associated with 140+ schools in central India by being the advisory body to the Sahodaya Cluster of Schools.

Social Entrepreneurship

Outreach Intern - AshokaX

AshokaX is a the series of online courses offered by professors associated with Ashoka. I worked mainly with the STEM courses offered in AshokaX Horizons, which is a program tailored for high-school students. We ran the pilot program succesfully with over 2000 leads for 6 highly selective courses.

Science Outreach

Recent Honors

Bonn-Cologne Graduate Scholarship - University of Bonn and University of Cologne

A merit-based scholarship to fully cover my academic and living expenses in Germany during the course of my Masters degree.

2023

First Prize - Meera Memorial Competition, St. Stephen's College (Delhi University)

My UG thesis project and presentation were evaluated to be the best amongst those participating

2023

Academic Excellence Award - Physics Department, Ashoka

For outstanding performance as an undergraduate Physics Major at Ashoka University

2022

All-Round Philosophical Excellence - Philosophy Department, Ashoka

For outstanding performance as an undergraduate Philosophy Minor at Ashoka University

2022

Best Paper Award - SpacSec Conference

For a paper I co-authored on NavIC Satellite Signals

2021

Staff Pick - Wolfram Community Staff

For a project on using multiway graphs for modelling formal systems

2021

Dean's List (All semesters) - Ashoka University

"Signalling a superior level of academic performance"

2019-2023

Gold Medallist - Aryabhat Astronomy Quiz

Astronomy and Astrophysics

2015-2017

1974 Batch General Proficiency - St. Paul School

"for outstanding Academic Performance and expcetional leadership abilities"

2017

Formal Education

Masters of Science (Astrophysics) - Bonn-Cologne Graduate School (first enrollment, University of Bonn)

Currently pursuing a Masters degree in Astrophysics (with thesis), supported by a joint-scholarship from University of Bonn and University of Cologne (Germany).

2025

Diploma in Advanced Studies and Research - Ashoka University

Completed an advanced physics major (as a fourth year student) by defending a year-long thesis on computational astrophysics thesis (more specifically, understanding polarization aspects of radiation transport from neutron stars) and taking graduate-level (astro)physics courses.

GPA - 3.86/4.00 (Magna Cum Laude)

2023

Physics Major and Philosophy Minor - Ashoka University

Physics Society: Executive Team, Astronomy Club: Core Team, The Comic Relief (Improv Club)

GPA - 3.85/4.00 (Magna Cum Laude and Merit Awards from Physics and Philosophy departments)

2022

High School Diploma - St. Paul School

Chief Captain (Student Council), Founding Director of the Literary Club, Advisor to the Quizzing Club

2019

Summer and Winter Schools

ZTF Summer School

Zwicky Transient Facility, Caltech (hosted by University of Minnesota)

2023

Magneto-hydrodynamics and High-Performance Computing

Indian Institute of Science (supported by National Supercomputing Mission)

2023

Numerical Relativity Community Summer School

Institute for Computational and Experimental Research in Mathematics, Brown University (organized by EinsteinToolkit Community)

2022

Wolfram Winter School

Wolfram Physics Project (then, a part of Wolfram Research Inc.)

2021

Summer School 2021

Indian Institute of Astrophysics

2021

Machine Learning for Computational Astrophysics

BM Birla Science Centre (supported by International Astronomy Union)

2020

Additional Coursework

Introduction to Rocket and Satellite Engineering

Lomosov Moscow State University (MSU)

2020

International Criminal Law

Case Western Reserve University - Coursera

2020

MATLAB and Simulink Certification

MathWorks

2020

Aerospace Engineering: Astronautics and Human Spaceflight

MITx - EdX

2020

Introduction to Negotiation: Strategic Playbook to Becoming a Principled Negotiator

Yale University - Coursera

2020

Introduction to Tensorflow for Artificial Intelligence

deeplearning.ai - Coursera

2020

Dinosaur Paleobiology

University of Alberta - Coursera

2020

Philosophy and the Sciences

The University of Edinburgh - Coursera

2020