Profile
Postdoctoral Associate and Planetary Scientist at the University of Maryland, College Park, working with Prof. Christine Hartzell. Specializing in microgravity granular mechanics, asteroid surface evolution, Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulations (LIGGGHTS), and orbital debris detection architectures in LEO. Completed PhD at UMD (2026) supporting NASA's Psyche mission science goals. Dual experience spanning complex computational modeling and physical satellite flight hardware qualification at IIT Bombay.
Research Experience
Postdoctoral Associate
2026 – Present
University of Maryland · Advisor: Prof. Christine Hartzell
- Conducting DEM modeling of magnetic granular avalanches on asteroid (16) Psyche to investigate density-driven segregation and magnetic accumulation in crater basins.
- Quantifying plasma wave detection rates for single-spacecraft multi-sensor architectures to detect orbital debris in LEO, while authoring journal articles and technical reports.
- Mentoring incoming graduate researchers on orbital debris detection workflows.
Graduate Research Assistant (NASA NIAC Phase II)
2025 – 2026
University of Maryland · Advisor: Prof. Christine Hartzell
- Modeled CubeSat trajectories to optimize sensor placement using Monte Carlo simulations of the LEO debris environment to maximize detection probability for NASA's NIAC Phase II Project.
Doctoral Dissertation Research
2021 – 2026
University of Maryland · Advisor: Prof. Christine Hartzell
- Developed and published the open-source LIGGGHTS-Public-Mag v1.0.0 framework on GitHub for paramagnetic granular material, establishing critical time-step rules for numerical stability.
- Conducted multi-scenario avalanching simulations to map surface morphology conditions on metallic asteroid 16-Psyche under remnant magnetic fields.
- Formulated analytical empirical force models for inter-particle magnetic interactions among paramagnetic grains.
Master's Thesis Research (ISRO RLV-TD Project)
2019 – 2020
IIT Bombay · Advisor: Prof. Ravi Banavar
- Formulated launch-vehicle re-entry glide trajectories as optimal control problems to minimize aerodynamic thermal flux, benchmarking direct numerical optimization (CasADi in Python) against indirect discrete-time maximum principle methods.
Bachelor's Thesis Research
2018
IIT Bombay · Advisor: Prof. Ashok Joshi
- Implemented Differential Evolution genetic algorithms to solve perturbed Lambert orbital transfer problems with < 10 cm element accuracy.
Selected Publications
- Sikka, A. & Hartzell, C. M. (2026). "Investigating the Role of Magnetic Cohesion in Avalanching on 16-Psyche: A Discrete Element Modeling Approach." The Planetary Science Journal, Vol. 7, No. 9, pp. 224.
- Sikka, A. & Hartzell, C. (2026). "An Experimentally Validated Magnetic Force Model for Discrete Element Modeling of Paramagnetic Granular Media." Granular Matter, Vol. 28, No. 3, pp. 53.
- Sikka, A., DesJardin, I., Leps, T., & Hartzell, C. (2023). "Development of an Empirical Model of the Force between Paramagnetic Particles in Uniform Magnetic Field on M-type Asteroids." The Planetary Science Journal, Vol. 4, No. 7, pp. 129.
Engineering & Mission Experience
Cost Lead — CORA Mission (JPL PSSS)
Summer 2024
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
- Cost lead for 17-person team designing a New Frontiers class lander/hopper mission to Ceres' Occator crater, maintaining NASA WBS budgets alongside JPL Team X.
Observational Observer — Lucy Occultations Campaign
Feb 2023
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI)
- Operated CPC1100 mobile telescopes at field sites in Kansas; confirmed detection of Trojan asteroid Polymele (NASA Lucy mission target) via light-curve analysis in Python.
Systems Engineer — SIZLE Mission Concept
Summer 2022
Cornell SmallSat Summer Design School
- Led systems engineering for a 20-person team designing a solar-sail SMEX mission to image zodiacal light above the ecliptic.
Project Manager & Systems Engineer
2018 – 2020
IIT Bombay Student Satellite Team
- Led a 40+ student team post-launch of Pratham satellite (LEO via PSLV C-35); secured 1.5M INR annual competitive funding and instituted ISRO-verified QA protocols.
- Engineered shaker table interfaces at ISRO URSC for flight vibration testing and executed thermal-vacuum (TVAC) test plans (-60°C to +100°C).
Awards & Fellowships
- Dean's Fellowship — Department of Aerospace Engineering, UMD (2024–2025)
- Future Faculty Fellow — A. James Clark School of Engineering, UMD (2024)
- Institute Technical Citation & Color — Technical Council, IIT Bombay (2019, 2020)
- 2nd Place, CubeSat Design Challenge — International Conference on Small Satellites (2019)
- KVPY National Fellowship — Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India (2015)
- NTSE National Scholar — NCERT, India (2013)
- 2nd Place, Space Design Contest — University of Toronto (UTSDC), Canada (2011)
Teaching & Service
- Graduate Teaching Assistant (UMD): Space Flight Dynamics (ENAE 404, Spring 2025) & Spacecraft Navigation (ENAE 441, Fall 2024).
- Graduate Teaching Assistant (IITB): Spaceflight Dynamics (AE 240/713) & Aerodynamics (AE 707).
- Executive Secretary: NASA ROSES Grant Review Panels (2024 – 2026).
- Payload Challenge Judge: NASA TechLeap 2025 Space Technology Challenge.
- Session Co-Chair: AAS Division for Planetary Sciences (DPS) 56th Annual Meeting (2024).
- Research Mentor: Mentored undergraduate & high-school researchers in paramagnetic granular dynamics at UMD.