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What is your job, could you describe a normal day for you?

As a full professor and chair at the University of Lincoln, I manage several research projects and offer strategic leadership support. I mainly work on robotic space missions, including research on orbital, lunar and planetary robotics. Also, I work on other research projects where we develop robots for agricultural, medical and nuclear applications. The opportunity to work on spin-out and spin-in technologies makes my research very diverse and challenging. Engaging with industries to develop cutting-edge technologies is another exciting part of my job. I supervise PhD students and Research Fellows working on various projects. Previously, I have also taught UG and PG students at the University of Surrey.

How did you get to where you are today?

I have had a rewarding and meaningful journey. I completed my Ph.D in 2002 and then worked as a Research Fellow for nearly five years before taking up a full-time lectureship in 2007, followed by a Chair/Professorship in 2019. Over the last 25 years, I have done extensive research, teaching, STEM outreach and a range of leadership activities. Once I established my track record in Space Engineering, I also started working on technology transfer research. Over the years, I have successfully worked on flexible medical robots, robotic sorting and segregation of nuclear waste and the design of electric agri-robots. Although I had a successful journey, it was challenging at times, but overall, I’m glad to have a rewarding career in addition to raising two daughters.

What made you want to work in the space sector?

My dad, who used to build rockets for the Indian Space Research Organization, is my true inspiration. I have inherited the “space genes” from my dad. In fact, I was very keen to work for the Indian Space Research Organisation, where my dad worked for over 35 years. However, when I graduated, there were no openings at ISRO, but fortunately, I got another appealing offer abroad to do research in Germany. I’m one of the few British Indians working in the UK academia specialising in Space Robotics.

What do you consider to be the biggest highlight of your career?

There are multiple highlights in my career. The biggest and latest highlight is the development of the dexterous End-Over-End Walking manipulator (E-Walker) for assembling large aperture modular space telescopes in orbit. I have also worked on various bio-inspired robot designs for planetary and lunar exploration missions. My research is heavily industry-driven, which makes it more impactful.

What advice would you give to young people who may want to pursue a similar career to yours?

Aspiring space engineers have multiple career pathways. They can work for the space industry or become an entrepreneur driving their own company. Yet another route is to work in academia if they would enjoy teaching and research. My advice to young people is that they should go for a career in space if they have a passion for it and are willing to be creative, adventurous and hardworking.

What are you most excited for in the future of your career, and in space?

I’m working with several space industries, nationally and internationally, and creating new opportunities for UK-based businesses and academia. As a professor, I’m also training the next generation of space engineers and steering research to develop disruptive and innovative technologies. There are a lot of fantastic opportunities in the UK space sector, and I look forward to contributing to UK-led robotic missions.

What would you be doing if you did not have a career in the space sector and engineering?

Well, had I not opted to work as an engineer, I would have been an actress in the South Indian film industry. Though I had the opportunity to act in movies when I was a university student, I declined those offers. It was very tempting to become a celebrity at that young age, but today, I’m pleased to be known as a Space Engineer and a Roboticist.

Except for your father, what else influenced your decision to enter the engineering/space industry, especially since it is a male-dominated industry?

Space Engineering is a male-dominated sector, but there are many opportunities for women. As a student, I wasn’t afraid of pursuing my dream of becoming a space engineer. It doesn’t matter whether I work with a male or a female colleague because I treat them equally and mainly focus on the output. So far, I haven’t faced any gender discrimination. My male colleagues always appreciated my contributions, treated me with respect and continued to be supportive. Independent of our gender, we can take up a lot of exciting roles in the space sector.

Anything else you would like to add?

I want to stress that you need not be an engineer to work in the space sector, as space is a multidisciplinary field. Space engineers need to work with programmers, physicists, material scientists, mathematicians, chemists, legal and many other professionals. Hence, I encourage people of all genders to consider a career in space; there is a bright future for all.