Nikola Bukowiecka
Computational Physicist, Theoretical Physicist
Computational Physicist, Theoretical Physicist
I have a particular style of approaching problems (by no means original). I recently found out that it's best described by the applied mathematics approach. I like to take a problem and when possible, abstract it away and see what the minimal set of assumptions are to be made about it, and then construct a mathematical model of this problem. Later simulate it and put it in the context of the real, physical problem I was thinking about from the very beginning. I'm very much at the intersection of theory, computation and observation/application/experiments (everything empirical).
My PhD is about computational astrophysics, so I have extensive experience with systems of PDEs, large scale computing and simulating complex systems. I do it in the context of astrophysical phenomena, namely neutron stars in collapsars. I also make predictions and perform tests of gravity with non-Kerr black holes, in context of Event Horizon Telescope observations.
One other field that I'm deeply interested in is mathematical/computational biology or, in particular, neuroscience. I have bachelor’s and master’s degrees in medical physics, which gave me a good biological, physiological and chemical knowledge foundation and I have always loved medicine. My friends know that I have considered medical school. I have a few personal research ideas, that might show up on this website as projects, as I start developing them. Little private dream would be to create the perfect digital twin model of an organ, possibly the brain, to eliminate the need to use the animal models entirely and be able to personalize medicine.
Fortunately, both my reasoning tools and my skills are completely transferable between fields, whether that's astrophysics, neuroscience, medical research in general, plasma physics or other.
Full Resume
I have a great affinity for animals, dogs in particular, but this little miniature dachshund stole my heart completely. Her name is Channi, inspired by my favourite book Dune. I have heard theories that she is my external organ. That hasn't been disproven so far.
Currently, I'm using the resources and enjoying the hospitality of the Centre of Computational Astrophysics at the Flatiron Institute (New York City), where I carry out research in close collaboration with my thesis' co-advisor Ore Gottlieb.
I also collaborate with Angelo Ricarte (Black Hole Initiative at Harvard University), Prashant Kocherlakota (Black Hole Initiative at Harvard University) and Ben Prather (Los Alamos National Laboratory).
I'm also a board member of Polish Astrobiology Society and a member of Climate Council at UN Global Compact Network Poland.
November 2022 to October 2023
I've produced Mathematica/C functions that calculate orbital elements from state vectors (and reverse) for Solar System planets from VSOP87 files and SPICE library, comparing the two approaches. I've also produced algorithms that calculated Hohmann manoeuvre and inclination change parameters, and compared that against simulations conducted in the GMAT software.
July 2021 to July 2023
I participated in the project GLOWS, part of NASA's IMAP mission. I've developed an algorithm that creates density probability distributions of event fluxes, using HEALPix disretization schemes. It allows for flexibility in data binning and integration over arbitrary fields, which is crucial for the most optimal analysis of experimental data. I've developed various Python algorithms to visualize the maps using various reference frames. I've conducted a statistical analysis on accessible data. The code avaliable at: https://github.com/nikolabukowiecka/Capra .
March 2021 to November 2022
In project SAMPLE, I've developed a front-end architecture using html, JavaScript and AngularJS and back-end architecture using Python. My involvement in the project focused on creating algorithms for satellite data processing and employing object detection schemes to create a training set for the neural network. In projects POLON, EagleEye and PIAST (all Polish satellite missions), I was responsible for participating in AOCS design using Matlab and conducting mission analysis using GMAT software.
June 2019 to Oct 2019
I was my conducting bachelor's thesis research considering thermographic measurements from fusion reactor Wendelstein 7-X. I've created a Python algorithm to obtain calibration data (and convert them into physical quantities) measured by the IR cameras during the experimental campaign to investigate how plasma-induced impurities influence thermographic measurements of divertors surface temperature, e.g. if the transmission of the first window changed due to the deposition of impurities coming from plasma. The findings pointed out that t§e has been a changed during the experimental campaign, which could have influenced the obtained results.
May 2019 to September 2019
I was responsible for radiation therapy dose planning using specialized software and calibration of radiotherapy ionized chambers.
I'm finishing the second year of my PhD. I have completed all the required coursework and passed all my qualifying examinations.
October 2023 to present
2020 to 2022
Specialization: Medical physics Master's thesis title: Probability distributions of event fluxes observed within sky surveys by sampling experiments in space. Research for the thesis conducted at the Space Research Centre, PAS - Laboratory for Solar Physics and Astrophysics.
2018 to 2022
Specialization: Control theory. Engineering thesis title: Attitude robust control system for an Earth observation satellite. Research for the thesis conducted at the Space Research Centre, PAS - Laboratory of Space Mechatronics and Robotics. Thesis
2017 to 2020
Specialization: Medical physics Bachelor's thesis title: Divertor heat flux measurement using thermographic systems in stellarator Wendelstein 7-X Research for the thesis conducted at the Max-Planck Institute for Plasma Physics.
I conducted GRMHD simulations with the Kerr-Hayward metric and compared it against Event Horizon Telescope data to provide the first predictions for tests of gravity, including polarization. Polarization was provided by performing GRRT calculations. The paper is fully reproducible and provides extensive documentation of the code that I wrote to reproduce the post-processing to obtain the results. Manuscript in preparation.
Paper published in Advanced, Contemporary Control - Proceedings of the XXI Polish Control Conference. I've studied the problem of controlling of the orientation of an Earth observation satellite with a single solar panel and numerically tested the theoretical results using Matlab. doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-35170-9_37
Project on designing a telerobotic mission to Mars. My involvement in the project focused on choosing and examining the landing site, base site and establishing missions science objectives. This entailed analyzing satellite imaging and literature review. The project won II place in the global competition by The Mars Society and was published in the book titled 'Telerobotic Mars Expedition Design' by Frank Crossman.
Some of my areas of expertise.
Developing large scale simulators for (exascale) supercomputers.
Ex: Developing and running general relativistic magneto hydrodynamics (GRMHD) code/simulations for various astrophysical scenarios.
General relativistic radiativite transport (GRRT)
Predictions for tests of GR in the strong gravity regime. Tests of the Kerr metric: analytical deviations from Kerr metric and their observational consequences.
Analyzing GRMHD simulations of neutron stars and black holes in context of jet properties and dynamics, and accretion
Ex: attitude and orbit control systems (AOCS) design
Ex: proposing propulsion’s requirements from the AOCS perspective
Developing novel algorithms for map creation and visualization, ex: counting sky surveying missions sky maps
Satellite mission design, maneouvre calculations
I'm open to collaborations and/or email exchanges, Zoom calls, etc. Sharing ideas, brainstorming sessions or simple networking are all welcome!
