About Me

My name is Liton Majumdar, and I am a faculty member in India's first interdisciplinary School of Earth and Planetary Sciences (which brings together Astrophysics, Planetary Science, and Earth Science under one roof) at the National Institute of Science Education and Research in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, where I lead the Exoplanets and Planetary Formation Group. My research interests are at the interfaces of Observational Astrophysics, Molecular Astrophysics/Astrochemistry, and Exoplanetary Science - primarily focused on understanding how exoplanets form and evolve by studying protoplanetary disks, planet formation, and planetary atmospheres. I am also interested in the application of machine learning, especially in developing and deploying deep learning techniques for the detection and characterization of exoplanets using large observational datasets or grids of theoretical models.

I develop state-of-the-art numerical models and utilize machine learning techniques, along with interferometric observations at (sub-)millimeter wavelengths (e.g., ALMA), space telescope observations at near, mid-infrared wavelengths (e.g., JWST NIRSpec, JWST MIRI) and ground-based optical observations (e.g., 3.6 m DOT , 1.3 m DFOT for my research. I am also the co-investigator of a Guaranteed Time Observation (GTO) program of NASA's flagship astrophysics mission, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), to study protostellar binaries in Perseus.

I frequently use interferometric data from ALMA to understand planet formation and study the evolution of volatile molecules in protoplanetary disks. This helps me determine the amounts of volatile carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen available to form planets. I compare this data with exoplanetary atmospheric compositions derived either from ground-based high-resolution spectroscopy or low-resolution space-based observations to constrain theories of planet formation using planetary atmospheric compositions. Additionally, I develop in-house forward and retrieval models of exoplanetary atmospheres to explore the atmospheric diversity of small rocky planets to large gas giants. I also have a deep interest in contributing to the future development of space missions such as the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO), alongside ground-based facilities like the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), and Square Kilometre Array (SKA). Additionally, I am in the process of establishing an Indian consortium and working on a proof-of-concept to propose a CubeSat mission dedicated to exoplanet atmospheric characterization. This interest is driven by the desire to revolutionize our understanding of the formation and evolution of exoplanetary systems through multi-wavelength observations.

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Join Us

If you are interested in joining my group at NISER, you may consider doing your fifth-year integrated M.Sc. Thesis or Ph.D. second-semester projects with me. Currently, I am mostly working on some of the unique fundamental questions (as listed below) about planet formation, exoplanet atmospheric characterization, and exoplanet interior evolution through numerical modeling, machine learning techniques, and astronomical observations.


(a) How do planets and planetary systems form? Are metallicity, C/O ratio, and other refractory elements viable observables for understanding planet formation?
(b) What is the chemical evolution of interstellar material on its voyage from clouds to forming stars and ultimately to newborn planets? How common are the ingredients for life such as water, and do they naturally evolve as part of new planets? What is the inventory of organics and water in regions of planet formation, particularly in the habitable zone?
(c) How do planets and their atmospheres evolve over time? What are exoplanets made of?
(d) What are the atmospheric compositions of Earth-like exoplanets, and how do they compare to Earth's atmosphere? What are the key observational challenges in detecting and characterizing the atmospheres of Earth-sized exoplanets, and how can we overcome them?

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(e) What are the surface and subsurface conditions of potentially habitable exoplanets? What are the potential biosignatures that could be present in exoplanet atmospheres, and how can we distinguish them from non-biological sources?

(f) How common are clouds and hazes in exoplanet atmospheres, and how do they impact our ability to detect and characterize these atmospheres?

(g) Can we detect signs of volcanic activity or geological processes in the atmospheres of rocky exoplanets?

(h) How can machine learning techniques help in the analysis and interpretation of exoplanet atmospheric data obtained from space and ground-based observations? Can machine learning algorithms assist in identifying key atmospheric features and determining atmospheric compositions more accurately?

(i) How can machine learning techniques be utilized to extract valuable insights from large-scale exoplanet databases? Can machine learning algorithms uncover hidden patterns, correlations, and trends in exoplanet data that may lead to new discoveries or enhance our understanding of exoplanetary systems?

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The interdisciplinary projects outlined above in my group aim to achieve both fundamental theoretical understanding and practical observational applications. Students from backgrounds in Physics/Space Sciences (Astronomy, Astrophysics, Planetary Science), B.Tech. (any branch), B.E. (any branch), or related disciplines are welcome to join my group at NISER.

I am also open to scientific collaborations with any research group focused on modeling, observations, or instruments in the areas of protoplanetary disks, planet formation, and exoplanet atmospheres. If you are interested, please feel free to reach out to me.

As a scientist, I have consistently prioritized research, teaching, mentoring, and outreach. I firmly believe that teaching, mentoring, and outreach are immensely rewarding and integral components of my scientific career, alongside my research endeavors. Teaching offers a valuable opportunity to guide and motivate students, fostering their curiosity and enhancing their critical thinking abilities. Meanwhile, outreach enables me to promote awareness of space science, ignite interest in scientific pursuits, and inspire the next generation of scientists.



Publications

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Research Group

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