Yuktee Gupta

• PhD student
• EQUS
• University of Sydney
• Road-tripping Karratha to Perth (2025)

How would you describe your job to a 10-year-old?

Do you know what marble runs are? You can check them out here). We can make similar paths for light! My job is to map out the path that light takes, where the path can go wrong, and how we make the right light-“marble” win!

How did you get to where you are today?

As a kid, I’d wanted to be an astronaut; a general love for space and astronomy brought me to physics. I also discovered a love for computing and simulations through high school, and college that comes together really well in my research today!

What’s the best thing about your role?

I love the endless opportunities it brings, but in some sense, that is also the scary part. If you want to investigate something, you have the freedom to do so, but you also have the responsibility of choosing your time wisely.

What advice would you give to someone considering pursuing science or physics?

I would say practice makes perfect! A lot of people’s intuition in mathsy areas is just practice and lots of reading. And enthusiasm is always a great skill to have.

What do you enjoy outside work?

I love doing arts and crafts, I crochet and do DIYs a lot, I try to do some amateur gardening, and I love to read books and mangas/comics. Occasionally I watch some animes as well, and I like to go on runs, and play squash when I can remember to.

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