Rishi Chandra

Rishi is a PhD student in the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. Born in Chicago, he graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a bachelor's degree in in Physics and Planetary Science. Rishi's primary research interests lie in the analysis of solar system materials, including meteorites and returned samples from asteroids and the moon. He also plans to develop cheaply accessible smartphone VR field trips to exotic geologic locales, such as the Antarctic dry valleys and the lunar surface, to inspire the next generation of geoscientists and to engage the public as the scientific community explores these distant frontiers. Aside from his academic interests, Rishi enjoys virtual motorsports, flight simulation, running, and science fiction literature.