Manish Khanal is a man of many talents. From data science to instrumentation, astroparticle physics to renewable energy—his work runs the gamut. That multifaceted expertise began to blossom when Manish was an undergraduate as he worked on projects spanning fields from solar science to condensed matter physics. Manish believes this breadth of experience is essential as “you never truly know what you are good at or passionate about until you try.”
After dipping his toe in many fields, Manish dove headfirst into neutrino astronomy with IceCube upon entering graduate school. His first project involved developing a plan for the use of solar panels at the South Pole to alleviate IceCube’s reliance on fossil fuels.
“Learning to be patient and consistent is important.”
Manish Khanal
In recent years, Manish has added a project looking for neutrinos from galaxies that contain a supermassive black hole that’s actively chewing up matter in its surroundings. Drawing from his experience working on these and earlier projects, Manish’s recommendation for any aspiring physicist is to “always start from the basics and take small steps forward. Learning to be patient and consistent is important.”
In spite of his multiple projects, Manish still finds time to stay active. He enjoys hiking, swimming, and playing cricket. He often combines his time outside with his hobby of night sky photography. If you’re interested in seeing some of Manish’s photos, you can find him on Instagram. You can also find out more about Manish’s research and background by visiting his website.