I am currently the John D. & Catherine T. McArthur Professor of
Astronomy & Planetary Science at the California Institute of
Technology. My research interests are two fold: compact objects
(neutron stars, millisecond pulsars, gamma-ray bursts)
and the search for extra-solar planets. 

I obtained my first degree, MS (Physics), at the Indian Institute
of Technology in 1978 and my PhD in radio astronomy at U. C. Berekeley
(1983). After a brief post-doctoral stint at U. C. Berkeley I 
joined Caltech as Millikan Fellow (1985) and joined the faculty
in 1987. Between 1997 and 200
I served as the Executive Officer for Astronomy.

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Awards
<li> Fellow, National Academy of Sciences (2003)

<li> Jansky Lecturer, Associated Universities (2002)
<br>
The Jansky Lectureship is awarded each year by the Trustees of
Associated Universities, Inc., to recognize outstanding contributions
to the advancement of astronomy.  First awarded in 1966, it is named in
honor of the man who, in 1932, first detected radio waves from a cosmic
source. Karl Jansky's discovery of radio waves from the central region
of our Milky Way Galaxy started the science of radio astronomy.

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<li> Fellow, Royal Society (2001)
<br>
I was inducted into the Royal Society of London in
recognition of my discovery of the first 
millisecond pulsar, the first brown dwarf and contributions to the
field of high energy transients -- soft gamma ray repeaters and
gamma ray bursts.

<p>
<li> Fellow, American Academy of Arts & Sciences (1994)
<br>
Founded in 1780, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an
international learned society composed of the world's leading
scientists, scholars, artists, business people, and public leaders. 

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<li> Alan T. Waterman Award (1992)
<br>
This is awarded by the National Science Foundation and is given
once a year to the most accomplished scientist/doctor/engineer
(all fields) working in the US and under the age of 35 years.
Clearly, a lot of luck in winning this jackpot.

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<li>Helen B. Warner Prize (1991)
<br>
This is annually awarded by the American Astronomical Society 
who has made outstanding contributions to astronomy and astrophysics.
I received this award in recognition of my work on globular clusters.

<p>
<li> David and Lucille Packard Fellowship in Science and Engineering
(1990)
<br>

Every year, the Packard Foundation awards 20 Fellowships across
all sciences and engineering to those considered outstanding
(and within three years of their appointment to a faculty
position). 


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<li> Vaina Bappu Award (1990)
<br>
Awarded by the Astronomical Society of India to
an astronomer under the age of 35 years
and who has made outstanding contributions to astronomy and
astrophysics. 

<p>
Other awards include a Distinguished Alumni Award (IIT Delhi, 1996) and
the NSF Presidential Award (1988).

<p>
I am member of the International Astronomcial Union and the American
Astronomical Society. 

<p>
I currently serve on the Keck Interferometer Science Steering Group
(KISSG) and the Space Interferometry Mission Science team 
(in the capacity of Interdisciplinary Scientist). 
Over the past years, 
I have served on committee to select Director for the National
Astronomy and Ionospheric Center and chaired the Visiting Committee
of the Arecibo Observatory and chaired the Chandra X-ray Observatory's
Users Committee.