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Indian-origin astrophysicist bags prestigious NASA Hubble fellowship
Viraj Karambelkar earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering physics and mathematics from IIT Bombay and his academic trajectory has been defined by a deep interest in cosmic mergers.
Viraj Karambelkar. / Space Telescope Science Institute.
Viraj Karambelkar, an astrophysics researcher originally from Pune, India, has been awarded a coveted spot in the 2025 NASA Hubble Fellowship Program (NHFP), one of the most competitive fellowships in the field. Karambelkar, currently a graduate student at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), is among 24 early-career astrophysicists selected from over 650 applicants for this year’s class.
The NHFP, which fosters excellence and leadership in astrophysics, provides each fellow with up to three years of support at a U.S. institution. Fellows are assigned to one of three sub-categories aligned with fundamental questions that drive NASA’s astrophysics research: Einstein Fellows study how the universe works, Hubble Fellows explore the origins of cosmic structures, and Sagan Fellows investigate the potential for extraterrestrial life. Karambelkar will join the program as a Hubble Fellow, focusing on the evolution of merging stars and their role in shaping the universe.
"The 2025 class of the NASA Hubble Fellowship Program is comprised of outstanding NASA Astrophysics researchers," said Shawn Domagal-Goldman, acting director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "This class of competitively-selected fellows will inspire future generations through the products of their research, and by sharing the results of that work with the public. Their efforts will help NASA continue its worldwide leadership in space-based astrophysics research."
Karambelkar’s academic trajectory has been defined by a deep interest in cosmic mergers. He earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering physics and mathematics from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay in 2019 before pursuing his PhD at Caltech under the mentorship of astrophysicist Mansi Kasliwal. His research has focused on the study of merging stars, white dwarfs, and neutron stars, using optical and infrared time-domain surveys to track their explosive and variable phenomena. He has also played a key role in the development of transient-detection systems, including the infrared Wide-Field Infrared Transient Explorer (WINTER) surveyor at Palomar Observatory.
His work has led to observing programs with two of the world’s most powerful space telescopes—the James Webb Space Telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope. As a Hubble Fellow, Karambelkar plans to expand the catalog of known stellar mergers using upcoming observational missions, including the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, NASA’s SPHEREx mission, and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. His research aims to deepen the understanding of binary star evolution, gravitational wave sources, and the role of these mergers in the cosmic dust budget.
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