Saavidra Perera
Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of California, San Diego
Research Focus
About Saavidra
My main research interests are in astronomical instrumentation: adaptive optics, wavefront sensing, direct imaging and interferometry. Instrumentation allowed me to combine my love of astronomy and the joy of working with my hands to create and build. I was born and raised in the United Kingdom and of Sri Lankan descent. I did all my formal education in the UK, before moving to Germany (MPIA) for my first postdoc, and then to the US (UCSD) for my second. Along with my research outreach and work towards equity, diversity and inclusion have always been important to me, and something I have engaged in for 15+ years. Outside of work, I love to dance, surf (though not well), scuba dive, play basketball, and most things active, as well as bake, knit and play the guitar and piano.
Education
Postdoc
Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, 07/2018 - 10/2020
Ph.D.
Astronomy, Durham University, 06/2018
Bachelor's
Imperial College London, 08/2012
