Tavisha Rajput

Tavisha Rajput

Astrophysics

Tavisha Rajput
She is a 12th grade student from Dubai College. She is interested to specialized in Astrophysics.


Tavisha is at the top of her class, earning nearly all A* grades in her A-level curriculum. She has completed a Columbia Summer Immersion course in astrophysics and conducted her own self-prepared research paper on an astrophysics topic over the past year.


University admission result

★ Cornell University


Learning objectives

  • Combining Quasar Data: Integrate data from various sky surveys to create a unified dataset.
  • Utilizing Heterogeneous Datasets: Learn to work with diverse types of data effectively.
  • Complex Data Processing: Apply advanced data processing techniques to analyze the datasets.
  • Model Fitting: Fit multi-epoch data to a scientific model for deeper insights.
  • Use Jupyter Notebooks for technical analysis and processing.
  • Write the report in LaTeX via the Overleaf online editor (free version).


What challenges did she face?

  • Learning to use the Python programming language was particularly challenging, as Tavisha had little to no prior experience. However, she eventually improved her programming skills in Python and LaTeX.


How did our program help her?

  • Writing the report enabled Tavisha to enhance her analytical skills and her ability to summarize and interpret results with a publication-level style.
  • Tavisha learnt how to utilize heterogenous datasets, and applying complex processing to the data.
  • Tavisha completed a stellar research paper with a focus on the “Extension of Quasar Baseline with the SDSS, PS1, and ZTF data.”


Matched Professor

The mentor is a Research Scientist at the University of Washington. He is a Member of the Active Optics System Commissioning Team (Vera C. Rubin Observatory). He specializes in the analysis of time series data, using variability information to classify and characterize quasars and variable stars. He has received several awards, including UW Data Science Postdoctoral Fellow.

“Tavisha is capable of pursuing a goal once she decides to do so, including learning a potentially complex document preparation system. She showed perseverance and determination.“

Mentor from University of Washington

Excerpts from student’s work

Excerpts from Tavisha’s final research paper exploring “Extension of Quasar Baseline with the SDSS, PS1, and ZTF data”