Akhilesh Kumar (Akhi) is a PhD researcher from Bihar, India. His PhD supervisors are Andy Baker, Adrian Fisher, Martin Andersen, and Wendy Timms (Deakins). Akhi’s research focuses on understanding groundwater processes and cave environments.
What is your research about?
I monitor water dripping in underground spaces (like caves, mines and tunnels) to study groundwater recharge.
What inspired you to pursue this research topic?
I have been fascinated with hydrology (surface before, groundwater now) for years but the possibility to visit beautiful caves across Australia is what brought me here finally.
What has been the most interesting or surprising part of your HDR journey so far?
Groundwater recharge is harder to monitor and understand than what it appears from outside.
What is one challenge in your research that people outside academia or your field may not realise?
Being able to make sense of my weird timeseries data! They appear too extreme and random at times.
What do you enjoy doing outside of research or study?
I like reading and wasting time watching random stuff on internet.
Is there a food, tradition, place, or activity from your culture/home country that you would recommend everyone experience? *
Food. All kinds. We really have some of the richest flavours.
Do you have a favourite book, movie, podcast, song, or hobby you would recommend to others?
Hard to pick one. My genre is too random. But if I have to stick my neck out, try ‘A Song of Ice & Fire’. The whole damn book series. I am obsessed about every detail in them.
What advice would you give to new HDR students joining your research group?
Your research may appear harder at first but believe me, you will get it done ultimately and you will be surprised at how easy it was.
What is something people in the research group might be surprised to learn about you?
I worry about things more than I show. And yes, that includes my PhD too!
If you could collaborate with anyone in the world - past or present - who would it be and why?
I already am – Andy.
Coffee, tea or something else? TEA. And not the one where you dip teabags in tepid water.
Favourite work spot: Office.
Best conference city visited? Jury is out still.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akhilesh-kumar-a324a1131/
Akhi features in this UNSW Newsroom media article: What lies beneath: tapping into Australia’s hidden waters