Biography:
Dr. Najeeb Punnakayathil is a NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) fellow, managed by ORAU (for more details about NPP, please visit npp.orau.org).
Najeeb grew up in a small village in Kerala (India), he obtained Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Physics before joining the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology for his PhD. His area of research is experimental atomic and molecular physics and his PhD studies were on statistical and non-statistical processes in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their derivatives under charged particle interaction.
After PhD he joined as a postdoc at Stockholm University, Sweden to work with the DESIREE (Double ElectroStatic Ion storage Ring ExpEriment) group, where he studied the merge beam experiment (mutual neutralization) on positive and negatively charged atoms of astrophysical interest. He was also PI of the carbon cluster di-anion experimental project at DESIREE. His second Postdoc was at MAX IV Laboratory (synchrotron facility), Lund University, Sweden, where he mainly works on the commissioning of the COLTRIMS (COLd Target Recoil-Ion Momentum Spectroscopy) experimental set-up.
Najeeb currently works as NPP in the ICEE Facility, led by Dr. Andrew Mattioda. His studies are on the existence and evolution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their derivatives in the ISM. He uses mass spectrometry, Raman and Infrared spectroscopy as tools by irradiating PAHs under harsh radiation like UV, X-rays, electrons and other charged particles.
Najeeb likes to explore new places and cultures. During his free time, he spent time with his two kids and wife, his favorite sports are badminton and volleyball.
Punnakayathil's major publications can be found on the Astrochemistry Laboratory's Publications Pages.
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