Dr. Dhruv studies relativistic plasma flows around supermassive black holes, combining large-scale fluid and first-principles kinetic simulations to build predictive, high-fidelity models of black hole accretion.
Fluid simulations capture the global dynamics of accretion disks and the relativistic jets they launch, while kinetic simulations resolve the underlying plasma microphysics, including instabilities, particle heating, and nonthermal acceleration, that shape what these systems actually radiate. By linking these approaches, Dr. Dhruv works to reduce the astrophysical uncertainties in modeling sources such as M87* and Sagittarius A*. His modeling is developed to be observationally testable, informed by his involvement in the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) Collaboration. Dr. Dhruv is also interested in high-performance computing and the development of software that runs efficiently on modern supercomputers.
Academic History:
2026--present: McDonnell Center Postdoctoral Fellow; Washington University in St. Louis, MO, USA
2019--2026: PhD, Physics; University of Illinois at Urbana--Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
2014--2018: B.Tech, Mechanical Engineering; National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, India