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Aruna Chandrasekar

Curriculum Vitae

  • Education:

    B.M.S College of Engineering, India/TU Delft, Netherlands/ University College Dublin, Ireland

  • Qualifications:

    Bachelor of Engineering, Chemical Engineering/ Master of Science, Chemical engineering

  • Work History:

    Research Assistant, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation/ Process Engineering Trainee, Technip/ Tutor for Advanced A level, Dublin tutorial centre

  • Current Job:

    Ph.D. student at University College Dublin

  • Employer:

    • About Me: I am an optimistic, and cheerful person passionate about finding answers to simple questions in life. Even in my free time, I keep wondering, why is the leaf green, what makes humans laugh?

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      I consider myself a globe trotter. Growing up in India I moved around a lot in my childhood. I studied in 4 cities and 5 schools. Then I came to The Netherlands to pursue my Masters’ degree. Now I am in Dublin for 4.5 years to do my Ph.D. Living in different cities and traveling has taught me to be humble, kind, and grounded. I have learned incredible life experiences by being mobile, and I would encourage everyone to do so.

      My family consists of my mom and dad, an elder sister and a twin sister. Yes! I am a twin. We do look identical though we are biologically non-identical twins. The best part about having a twin is that you have a best friend for life.

      Apart from being an aspiring scientist I also hope to be an excellent communicator like Neil deGrasse Tyson.

       

    • My Work: I investigate how natural gas can be used efficiently as a part of our future energy mix.

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      Imagine walking home on a calm and cloudy day after school, then noticing that the TV doesn’t work anymore because there is no electricity. In the future, as we become more and more reliant on wind, and solar energy, we need to find ways to cope with the unreliability that comes with weather-related electricity generators.
      Natural gas that we use for heating and power generation can be still used in a green way to meet future energy demands.

      Natural gas is a low carbon-emitting and immediate source of energy which means that while we are transitioning out of fossil fuels, they could still be a primary source of energy. The use of natural gas, however, will be different from what it is today. My research investigates how different the end use of gas will look in a decarbonized future.

    • My Typical Day: Being a scientist, a big advantage is that no two days are alike. Every day could be different and challenging. I usually try to get to the university around 9 AM. I write my thesis /paper for about 2 hours in the morning. Then I attend any meetings I may have. Most of the day I am in front of the computer developing models to simulate how the future of gas use would look like. This is of course filled with many coffee breaks and lunch with my friends. In the evening set aside about 2 hours to do some physical activity. This not only helps me feel active and physically fit, but it also prevents me from feeling too lethargic.

    • What I'd do with the money: Use it as seed money for a science YouTube channel. I have already given a few talks about my thesis, you can find them here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfqD3tUp5rU&t=19s

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      It is my passion to communicate scientific concepts to people who are not well-versed with the discipline. What makes science so interesting is that it deconstructs complex theories and hence helps us understand the way the universe works. Essentially science is a boulder, and scientists use tools (scientific methods) to break the boulder into tiny little rocks.
      Often in schools or colleges, there isn’t enough time to explain the concepts in detail or with enough visualization. With my YouTube channel, I hope to reach a vast number of people that can understand their science in a deep and simple manner.

    • My Interview

      • How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

        optimistic, friendly, dreamer

        What's the best thing you've done in your career?

        Focused on self awareness and always followed my heart

        What or who inspired you to follow your career?

        So many scientists, but most importantly my mom and dad, they are my cheerleaders and never stop believing in me.

        What was your favourite subject at school?

        Mathematics and Chemistry

        What did you want to be after you left school?

        An actress

        Were you ever in trouble at school?

        Yes, I was always chatting away with my friends in the back bench

        If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?

        A life on the stage

        Who is your favourite singer or band?

        Poets of the fall

        What's your favourite food?

        Indian cuisine, I love my samosas

        What is the most fun thing you've done?

        Travel alone. It is a lot of fun, and fulfilling.

        If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!

        To be famous, to have all my loved ones with me all the time, and ... world peace

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