Artist-Scientist CV
About Me
Priyanka Das Rajkakati ✉️ info@AtelierArth.space 📍 Toulouse, France
Physicist, entrepreneur & (space) artist passionate about sensible space exploration.
Organically gearing towards climate-resilience systems thinking.
Indian-origin French with rich experience in challenging cross-disciplinary projects.
Forbes India 30 under 30 | France Alumni Ambassador | L'Oréal Woman of Worth.
Education
2021
PhD in Aerospace Engineering
ISAE-Supaéro (DEOS Laboratory), EDMITT (Doctoral School) | Toulouse, France
Thesis: Synchronization Performance Limits of GNSS Receivers.
PhD co-financed by Safran Electronics & Defense (CIFRE contract).
2017
Master of Science in Data Science & Autonomous Systems | Ingénieur Polytechnicien (X2013)
[Dual Degree] Ecole Polytechnique & ISAE-Supaéro | Palaiseau and Toulouse, France
Studied on a full merit scholarship thanks to Fondation de l'Ecole Polytechnique and GIFAS sponsorships.
X-CubeSat (QB50 Project): Worked on the comms link of the microsatellite, launched from the ISS in 2017.
Caltech Space Challenge 2015: Selective space missions planning training under NASA JPL scientists.
#ActInSpace 2014 (Winning team, Paris area): Proposed an origami-inspired spacecraft solar panel design.
2013
Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Physics
St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi | Delhi, India
Ranked 88 (all-India) in Physics Joint Admission Test.
Selected for internships at TIFR Mumbai, IIT-Delhi and IUAC-Delhi.
Awarded the INSPIRE Merit Scholarship (Dept. of Science & Technology, Govt. of India).
Certificate Courses
2022 Space Studies Program (SSP22) | International Space University | Remote & Oeiras, Portugal
2022 Smart Space MBA Elective – Full Engagement Auditor | Saïd Business School | Oxford, France
2013 Summer Course in Experimental Physics | Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), TIFR | Mumbai, India
Work Experience
2023/09 - now
Head of Special Projects | Business Development + Project Management
vorteX-io | Toulouse, France
Entrusted with the Worldwide HYdrological Large-Scale Database (WHYLD) Project, which won the prestigious European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator Programme 2023; showcased concrete skills in project management.
Quick growth in the company, identified as key person and valued as part of the business development squad.
Contributing to international scale-up strategies, reporting directly to company co-founders and C-level.
2023/03 - now
Founder & Artist
Atelier Arth
An experimental interdisciplinary art-tech studio, for focussed independant research into projects bridging the gap between cutting-edge space technologies and society | See: "Creative Works" for information on current projects.
The studio has received support from several institutions, including the French Embassy in India.
2021/07 - 2023/03
Co-Founder & Advisor
The Exploration Company | Mérignac, France
As co-founder, participated in company structuring, business pitches, fundraising and scale-up.
Kickstarted the Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) team, performed space missions analysis, gained experience in AGILE project management.
After 6 months, shifted into an advisory role to focus on independent research on the Indo-French space ecosystem.
Valued as well in a creative role, charged with design inputs and artistic output.
2017/04 - 2020/12
Systems Engineer (CIFRE PhD)
Safran Electronics & Defense | Eragny-sur-Oise, France
Pursued an industrial PhD following an internship, studying systems architecture in the aerospace domain.
Key research topics: Inertial navigation, GNSS signals, delay-Doppler synchronization, Cramér-Rao Bounds, Precise Point Positioning, hybridization algorithms.
Gained practical experience in management tools in a large company like Safran.
The research led to 2 journal and 2 conference papers.
Gained 40h of teaching experience in Master-level courses.
2016/03 – 2016/07
Research intern (Robotics)
Escola Politécnica, University of São Paulo | São Paulo, Brazil
Studied localization of robots in a Real-Time Indoor Localization System (RTILS), while discovering a new culture.
Compared Particle and Kalman filter performance, awarded the BRAFITEC research grant.
2015/06 – 2015/07
Software intern (Automation)
CorWave | Paris, France
First experience in R&D in a startup environment, developing innovative implantable heart pumps.
Designed an ergonomic interface on LabVIEW to automate labtests for the breakthrough technology.
2014/06
Research project (Digital Holography)
Sup-Optique | Saclay, France
Short project on creating digital holograms in the lab of Prof. Lionel Jacubowiez.
Creative Works
2025
Artist
LunARC - Brahmaputra by Sunrise | Mare Crisium, Moon (onboard Blue Ghost I)
Concept design of a community-based flood resilience system in my homeland, Assam, intersecting the arts with technical solutions towards actionable impact, relevant to the end-user: society.
Key artwork landed on the Moon in 2025 via the LunARC mission, onboard the Firefly Blue Ghost Lander.
The concept was a finalist for prestigious grants such as the Lopez-Loreta Foundation (ISAE-Supaéro) and Bertrand Pivin High-Impact Innovation (Ecole polytechnique), as well as gaining recognition by the French Embassy in India.
2022/03 - now
Programme Design
The RiVeins Initiative | Global rivers (starting with India and France)
Concept design of a community-based flood resilience system in my homeland, Assam, intersecting the arts with technical solutions towards actionable impact, relevant to the end-user: society.
Key artwork landed on the Moon in 2025 via the LunARC mission, onboard the Firefly Blue Ghost Lander.
The concept was a finalist for prestigious grants such as the Lopez-Loreta Foundation (ISAE-Supaéro) and Bertrand Pivin High-Impact Innovation (Ecole polytechnique), as well as gaining recognition by the French Embassy in India.
2024/09
Artist & Exhibitor
Antarctic : Polar Opposites | Perth, Australia
Invited to exhibit photographs taken during my Antarctica visit in November 2023, and to also give a talk on the journey which was broadcast live.
Visit sponsored by the French Embassy to Australia on a Science grant.
All artworks sold, money donated to the gallery.
2024/08
Artist & Exhibitor
Illuminated Lies > Priya/nka | Edinburgh Festival Fringe, UK
Auditory artwork selected for the Illuminated Lies Exhibition (by Medea Creations) for the Edinburgh Fringe.
Artwork co-developped with Researcher Priya Gandhi, touching on the topics of stereotypes faced as Indian-origin women living abroad for contrasting reasons.
2023/11
Antarctic Explorer, Artist
Homeward Bound Projects #TeamHB5 | Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica
Prestigious selective initiative, aimed at increasing the influence and impact of women-in-science in global leadership, with a month-long expedition to Antarctica in Nov 2023.
Featured in the largest Assamese newspaper via an art-science informative piece on the journey.
Artwork in progress on the impact of global warming on the ice continent.
2021 - 2022
Artist and Exhibitor
Moon Gallery - Bhédadipika | International Space Station (ISS), Low Earth Orbit (421km)
Among 65 artists of a miniature art gallery that flew to space on the NASA NG-17 ISS resupply mission; the artworks orbited the Earth for a year inside the ISS at 421km altitude.
Gained valuable insight on strategic storytelling in convincing space agencies to send artworks to space.
2021/04
Artist-in-Residence
European Geosciences Union (vEGU21) | Remote / Vienna, Austria
Among 4 artists-in-residence at the vEGU21 that provided artists and scientists with opportunities to exchange ideas and collaborate on artworks inspired by technical abstracts.
Work was highly acclaimed, with collaborations with top scientists including the Early Career Scientist awardee.
2021
Digital Artist and Exhibitor
V-Art Digital #ArtSpaceship | Remote
Among 21 artists selected for a virtual art gallery and the first European Digital Art Fair (EDAF).
2020
Commander-in-training
EMMIHS-III Analog Astronaut Mission | HI-SEAS Moonbase, Hawai'i, USA
Participated in a 6-member lunar isolation simulation, conducted robotic, artistic and human factor experiments; implemented cross-cultural thinking towards survival skills.
Took initiative in leadership roles to handle crisis and to drive team dynamics in stressful situations.
Gained concrete experience in fundraising from space agencies and participating in outreach.
Volunteering
2018 - now
Member, Association promotion
French Women Pilots Association (AFFP) | France
Gained basic flight experience on ULM and glider.
Represented AFFP in various events e.g. Wings India 2022.
Organized talks with pilots and astronauts
Honoured as the "Marraine de promo 2023" at ELISA Aerospace.
2023 - now
Founding Member | International Relations
Spaceflight Institute | Toulouse, France
Initiative on building the world's first Commercial Astronaut Certificate program at ISAE-Supaéro
Involved in developing relations (e.g. with ISRO on the Gaganyaan Program).
2020 - now
Founding member, X-Inde
Polytechnique Alumni Association (AX) | Paris, France
Started the Indian chapter of the AX focusing on the assistance of students & alumni from India.
Organised the first X-India meeting,inaugurated by Gerard Mestrallet.
2019 - 2022
Member, PR&Comm team
Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) | France
Gained experienced in PR&Communication strategies and event management.
Founded and curated the SGAC Art Gallery, and curated the SGAC Category of Kinéis IoT constellation art call, "Ton Dessin dans l'Espace".
Founded the SGAC “Our Giant Leap” initiative dedicated towards diversity & inclusion in space, which has now become the successful Diversity and Inclusion group
2020 - 2023
Member, organizer
International Astronautical Federation (IAF) | France
Member of the Space Education & Outreach Committee (SEOC).
Member of the Committee for the Cultural Utilisation of Space (ITACCUS) - rapporteur for the E1.9 session on Space & Society.
Honors & Awards
2024 L'Oréal Woman of Worth | Forbes India, L'Oréal Paris
2023 France Alumni Ambassador | Embassy of France in India, Campus France & Institut Français
2022 Next 100 Innovators under 40 | India Today
2022 50 years of Women at Polytechnique - featured profile, batch of X2013 | Ecole Polytechnique
2021 Phase 2-1 Astronaut Selections | European Space Agency (among the 154 shortlisted women from France)
2021 Karman Fellow | The Karman Project
2021 Forbes India 30 under 30 | Forbes India
2019 ESA ISEB Award for IAC2019 | European Space Agency
2011 INSPIRE Scholarship | Department of Science & Technology, Govt of India
2010 Best All-Rounder Award | The Mother's International School
Conferences and Seminars
2024 Art & Science | Paris
Chamber of Commerce and Industry France India Invited as speaker to address the 2024 cohort of the under-35 French Indian Young Talents Program.
2023 Research, Action & Sustainability | Panel discussion, Kinshasa, DRC
Women’s STEM Innovation Fair Invited panelist (in French language) on a Presidential invite to DRC.
2023 Exploring the role of art in space | Podcast
NewSpace India podcast 100th episode honoured guest speaker.
2023 Indigenous knowledge taking us to the stars | Panel discussion, Nairobi, Kenya
Nexus Nairobi 2023 Invited panelist for the 100 Year Spaceship project by astronaut Mae Jemisen, the first woman of colour in space.
2022 The Artist Speals Out | Interview
ikonoTV interview (along with filmmaker Nina E. Schönefeld).
2022 Collective Musing – Arts, Humanities and Space | Panel discussion, Oxford University, UK
Oxford Space Initiative Invited on an artist-panel at Oxford University.
2021 International Collaboration for Sustainable Space Exploration | Panel discussion, St. Petersburg, Russia
GLEX-2021 (panel includedtwo astronauts)
2019 Science, and if it were for me? | Panel discussion, Paris, France
L'Oréal-UNESCO For Girls in Science (panel in French)
Publications
2023 Recherche et Innovation, Art et Propriété Intellectuelle
B. Monnier, P. D. Rajkakati, N. Puigserver
3AF Colloque P2i Propriété Intellectuelle & Innovation, Bordeaux.
2022 Remote-Sensing Technologies Towards Flood Mitigation in India's Northeast Region: A Case-Study
P. D. Rajkakati, J.S. Pathak, D. Barman
Astronautical Congress (IAC 2022), Paris.
2022 A Space for Art in Space
P. D. Rajkakati
Journal of Space Philosophy vol. 11, no. 2 (Fall 2022).
2020 Performance Limits of GNSS Code-Based Precise Positioning: GPS, Galileo & Meta-Signals
P. D. Rajkakati, L. Ortega, J. Vilà-Valls, F. Vincent, E. Chaumette, and L. Davain
Sensors 2020, 20(8), 2196 (DOI: 10.3390/s20082196).
2020 A New Compact Delay, Doppler Stretch and Phase Estimation CRB with a Band-Limited Signal for Generic Remote Sensing Applications
P. D. Rajkakati, J. Vilà-Valls, F. Vincent, L. Davain, E. Chaumette
Remote Sensing 2020, 12(18), 2913 (DOI: 10.3390/rs12182913).
2020 EMMIHS-III Mission General Overview
P. Das, M. V. Heemskerk, K. Edison, M. Musilova, L. Brasileiro, R. S. Heemskerk, B. H. Foing.
51st Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, The Woodlands, Texas.
2019 A Signal Processing Approach to GNSS Precise Positioning for Lunar Exploration
P. Das, B. Priot, J. Vilà-Valls and E. Chaumette
IAC 2019, Washington DC. Awarded the ESA ISEB grant.
2019 On the Accuracy Limit of Time-delay Estimation with a Band-limited Signal
P. Das; J. Vila-Valls; E. Chaumette; F. Vincent; L. Davain; S. Bonnabel
Remote Sensing 2020, 12(18), 2913 (DOI: 10.1109/icassp.2019.8682948).
In the Media
2025/01/19 From the mighty Brahmaputra to the moon: Assam’s Priyanka Das Rajkakati's artwork flies with NASA mission | India Today NE
2024/09/06 Breaking Norms: Manasi Joshi and Priyanka Das Rajkakati Carve Their Own Futures | Forbes India, L'Oréal Paris
2024/02/11 Meet the artist-cum-scientist who charmed Modi and Macron | The Week
2023/11/23 Assam girl Priyanka Rajkakati successfully completes voyage to Antarctica | Assam Tribune
2023/11/23 Assam's Priyanka Rajkakati successfully completes voyage to Antarctica | India Today NE
2020/11/03 Assam's Priyanka Rajkakati leaves for Antarctica for a 'trip of a lifetime' | India Today NE
2023/07/14 Assamese aerospace engineer Priyanka Rajkakati invited to Modi-Macron dinner on July 14 | India Today NE
2023/01/27 Career in Space and Art | Advancing North East
2022/04/04 Aerospace engineer-artist Priyanka Das Rajkakati’s heart beats for art and science | The Hindu
2021/02/17 Assam scientist-artist part of international lunar project | Assam Tribune
2020/02/02 European crew wraps up mock moon mission on volcano in Hawaii | Space | Space.com
2020/01/28 European scientists are taking a mock moon mission in Hawaii right now | Space.com
2019/10/19 Indian-origin woman scientist heads to Antarctica, eyes space | Technology News - The Indian Express | Indian Express