KP INDEX: 2.3 — QUIET SOLAR WIND: 420 km/s TEC ANOMALY: NOMINAL X-RAY FLUX: C1.2 — MINOR FLARE IONOSPHERE: STABLE PROTON FLUX: 0.4 pfu GNSS SCINTILLATION: S4 = 0.18 MAGNETIC Bz: -2.1 nT KP INDEX: 2.3 — QUIET SOLAR WIND: 420 km/s TEC ANOMALY: NOMINAL X-RAY FLUX: C1.2 — MINOR FLARE IONOSPHERE: STABLE PROTON FLUX: 0.4 pfu GNSS SCINTILLATION: S4 = 0.18 MAGNETIC Bz: -2.1 nT
Space Scientist · GNSS · Ionosphere

Naga Vijaya
Deepthi Ayyagari

Research Scientist · GEOLOC, Université Gustave Eiffel · Nantes, France

Decoding the ionosphere from orbit — bridging satellite data, machine learning, and space weather science to navigate the unexplored frontiers between Earth and space.

Ph.D. IIT Indore NavIC · GPS · GNSS ESA — NAVISP IEEE GRSS Member URSI Young Scientist 2022
🌍

About Me

I am a space scientist and researcher specializing in ionospheric dynamics, GNSS signal analysis, and machine learning for space weather applications. Currently based in Nantes, France, I work at GEOLOC, Université Gustave Eiffel on an ESA-funded project developing advanced positioning solutions.

My doctoral research at IIT Indore focused on studying the low-latitude ionosphere using India's NavIC constellation — one of the first comprehensive investigations combining NavIC and GPS data across Indian geographic locations. My work spans magnetic reconnection, plasma energization, geomagnetic storms, and satellite navigation.

I am deeply committed to open science, international collaboration, and mentoring the next generation of space scientists. I have led IEEE Student Branch activities and volunteered at CEDAR workshops in Boulder, Colorado.

6+ Journal Papers
4+ Conf. Proceedings
9+ Students Mentored
8+ Years Research

Skills & Tools

📡

Ionospheric Data Analysis

GNSS & NavIC TEC, scintillation indices (S4, ROTI), solar & magnetic indices, model-data comparisons, low-latitude plasma irregularities.

🔢

Numerical Modeling

Ionospheric (TEC) modeling, Kalman filtering, GNSS/INS data fusion, Numerical Weather Prediction models in Fortran.

🐍

Programming & Tools

Python (NumPy, SciPy, Matplotlib), MATLAB, Git, Docker. Data formats: NetCDF, RINEX, HDF5, NMEA, ISMR, ASCII.

🤖

Machine Learning

Supervised learning for GNSS error correction, data modeling, ML-based event detection from multi-decade satellite datasets (95.6% precision).

🛰️

Satellite Navigation

NavIC, GPS, RTK & PPP evaluations, multi-GNSS comparative analysis, near real-time signal processing, GNSS/INS fusion algorithms.

📊

Scientific Visualization

Expert in ionospheric trend visualization, GNSS signal quality interpretation, space weather event mapping, and data storytelling.

Research Experience

2023 — Present 📍 Nantes, France
Research Scientist
GEOLOC, Université Gustave Eiffel

Project: NAVISP – CHARLI (ESA-funded) — Positioning solutions for firefighters using GNSS

  • Evaluated GNSS receivers and reckoning systems for Nav4you device compatibility.
  • Developed ML algorithms for GNSS/INS data fusion, improving localization accuracy in space and terrestrial applications.
  • Conducted advanced near real-time satellite signal processing.
  • Built Python/MATLAB computational tools for multi-sensor data analysis.
2017 — 2023 📍 Indore, India
Doctoral Researcher · DST Inspire Fellow
Indian Institute of Technology Indore

Project: Study of Low Latitude Ionosphere using NavIC — funded by DST & ISRO (NGP-27)

  • Pioneered NavIC+GPS combined analysis across Indian geographic locations for ionospheric dynamics under geomagnetic storms.
  • Identified gravity waves as key drivers of ionospheric variations through troposphere-ionosphere coupling research.
  • Conducted comprehensive RTK & PPP performance evaluations of NavIC and GPS.
  • Mentored 9+ students on ML-based space weather event detection (95.6% precision).
Sep 2016 — Jun 2017 📍 Telangana, India
Research Engineer
NRN Aerospace Systems Pvt Ltd

Designed sensor prototypes, authored design proposals and pitch decks, explored inertial navigation and avionics systems, and executed simulation iterations.

Aug 2014 — Nov 2015 📍 Telangana, India
Research Intern — CEAWMT
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad

Worked with INCOIS scientists on Sea Surface Temperature analysis linked to ENSO and Indian Monsoon. Hands-on with Fortran NWP models and Automatic Weather Station data.

Education

Ph.D. Scholar
Indian Institute of Technology Indore
2017 – 2023 · Indore, India

Astronomy, Astrophysics & Space Engineering

Grade: A+
M.Sc. Satellite Meteorology
JNTUH · Jawaharlal Nehru Tech. University
2013 – 2016 · Hyderabad, India

Satellite Meteorology & Weather Informatics

Distinction · Gold Medal
B.Tech Aeronautical Engineering
JNTUH · Jawaharlal Nehru Tech. University
2009 – 2013 · Hyderabad, India

Aeronautical Engineering

Distinction

Key Projects

🛡️

NAVISP – CHARLI: Localization for Firefighters

⚡ European Space Agency (ESA-funded)

Development of a commercial GNSS-based positioning and tracking solution for firefighters in challenging indoor/outdoor environments. Involves GNSS/INS data fusion and ML-enhanced localization accuracy.

GNSS/INSMachine LearningESAReal-time
🌐

Low Latitude Ionosphere via NavIC

⚡ DST Inspire Fellowship + ISRO (NGP-27)

First systematic study combining NavIC and GPS across Indian stations to analyze ionospheric disturbances, geomagnetic storms, plasma irregularities, and troposphere-ionosphere coupling.

NavICGPSSpace WeatherScintillation
🌀

Ionospheric Response to Tropical Cyclones

⚡ Peer-reviewed study · ASR 2022

Investigated ionospheric signatures during Tropical Cyclones Amphan and Nisarga using GNSS data, revealing upper-atmospheric coupling mechanisms triggered by extreme weather events.

CycloneTECAtmospheric Coupling
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TEC Variations During Solar Eclipse 2020

⚡ IEEE InCAP 2021

Analyzed Total Electron Content variations over central India during the Annular Solar Eclipse of June 21, 2020, capturing ionospheric depletion and recovery dynamics.

Solar EclipseTECNavIC
🧲

Geomagnetic Storm Impact on NavIC

⚡ Springer CODEC 2019

First study examining intense geomagnetic storm effects on NavIC signals at Indore, demonstrating NavIC's superior spatial and temporal coverage for ionospheric monitoring.

Geomagnetic StormNavICSignal Quality
📈

ML for Space Weather Event Detection

⚡ IIT Indore — Mentorship Project

Led mentorship of 9+ students developing linear regression ML models to detect space weather events from 2–5 decade satellite datasets, achieving 95.6% detection precision.

MLLinear RegressionSatellite Data

Publications

Journal Articles

Performance of NavIC for studying the ionosphere at an EIA region in India
Deepthi Ayyagari, Sumanjit Chakraborty, Saurabh Das, Ashish Shukla, Ashik Paul, Abhirup Datta
Advances in Space Research · Vol. 65, Issue 6, 2020 · DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2019.12.019
Systematic Study of Ionospheric Scintillation over Indian Low-Latitudes during Low Solar Activity
Deepthi Ayyagari, Abhirup Datta, Sumanjit Chakraborty
Advances in Space Research · Vol. 70, 2022 · DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2022.07.026
Ionospheric Response during Tropical Cyclones: a brief review on Amphan and Nisarga
Deepthi Ayyagari, Soumen Datta, Saurabh Das, Abhirup Datta
Advances in Space Research · 2022 · DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2022.11.026

Conference Proceedings

Characteristic Analysis of Low-Latitude NavIC Signal Intensity Fading 🏆 Young Scientist Award
D. Ayyagari, A. Datta
URSI AT-AP-RASC 2022 · DOI: 10.23919/AT-AP-RASC54737.2022.9814316
TEC Variations over Central India during Annular Eclipse of June 21, 2020
D. Ayyagari, A. Datta
IEEE InCAP 2021 · DOI: 10.1109/InCAP52216.2021.9726408
Impact of Intense Geomagnetic Storm on NavIC Signals Over Indore
Ayyagari D., Chakraborty S., Datta A., Das S.
Springer CODEC 2019 · Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems Vol. 147
Ionospheric Observations over Central India: Comparative Study of NavIC and GNSS
D. Ayyagari, S. Chakraborty, A. Datta
URSI AP-RASC 2019 · DOI: 10.23919/URSIAP-RASC.2019.8738244

Co-authored Publications

Comparative Studies of Ionospheric Models with GNSS and NavIC over Indian Sector during Geomagnetic Activities
Sumanjit Chakraborty, Abhirup Datta, Sarbani Ray, Deepthi Ayyagari, Ashik Paul
Advances in Space Research · Vol. 66, Issue 4, 2020 · DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2020.04.047
First Results of Low-latitude Ionospheric Irregularities Measured by NavIC and GPS near the Anomaly Crest and the Magnetic Equator
Sumanjit Chakraborty, Abhirup Datta, Deepthi Ayyagari
arXiv:2203.02218 · DOI: 10.48550/arXiv.2203.02218

Honours & Awards

🏆
URSI Young Scientist Award 2022For characteristic analysis of low-latitude NavIC signal intensity fading at AT-AP-RASC 2022.
🥇
Academic Achiever Award — University Gold MedalOverall best performance at JNTUH for M.Sc. Class of 2016.
🎓
DST Inspire FellowshipReceived March 2017 for doctoral research at IIT Indore — Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India.
📖
Peer ReviewerAdvances in Space Research (Elsevier) — contributing to the rigour of the field.
📡
IEEE MemberMember of IEEE GRSS (Geoscience & Remote Sensing), IEEE NTC (Nanotechnology Council), and IEEE WIE (Women in Engineering).
🌐
IEEE Student Branch Chair, IIT IndoreFounded and led the IEEE Student Branch (2019–2021), organizing two international IEEE workshops and launching multiple IEEE chapters.
🚀
CEDAR Student Volunteer, Boulder COActive volunteer at CEDAR 2020 & 2021 — scheduled talks, wrote workshop newsletters, led quiz sessions.

Get in Touch

I am always open to research collaborations, academic discussions, and opportunities in space science, GNSS, and machine learning. Whether you are a fellow researcher, institution, or industry partner — feel free to reach out.