Ani Patel began his doctoral studies at Columbia University in 2022, where he is currently a member of the Theoretical High Energy Astrophysics group. His research has contributed to understanding the astrophysical origins and radiative signatures of elements produced through the rapid neutron capture process (r-process). More broadly, he is interested in the microphysics underlying extreme phenomena and how they manifest in observable properties, including transient and multi-messenger signatures. Prior to joining Columbia, Ani completed his undergraduate studies in physics and philosophy at Rutgers University.