EPSCoR Research Fellows: NSF: Experimental Gravitational-Wave Research in Rhode Island

This Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII) EPSCoR Research Fellows project provides a fellowship to an Assistant Professor and training for a graduate student at the University of Rhode Island. The work will be conducted in collaboration with Dr. Jenne Driggers at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) at Hanford, Washington. Through the fellowship, the Principal Investigator (PI) will investigate new techniques to identify and mitigate limiting noise sources in gravitational-wave detectors and to optimize these detectors for different astrophysical goals. This project will combine concepts from experimental physics and statistics to better model and monitor environmental and instrumental noise sources. The award will facilitate the growth of experimental gravity research in Rhode Island by promoting collaboration between Rhode Island and LIGO researchers, training students in cutting-edge technical skills, and supporting public outreach in physics and astronomy. This project will enable improvements to the performance of the LIGO gravitational-wave detectors and investigate methods to optimize their operation. The project will research Bayesian approaches for modeling environmental noise and develop new metrics for detector performance that track common transient and persistent data quality issues. The results of these analyses can guide future upgrades to the LIGO detectors. The fellowship will enhance research infrastructure by supporting faculty development in experimental gravity, training graduate students in laboratory techniques, and providing Rhode Island researchers with access to premier astronomical facilities. This project will cultivate a long-term research program in experimental gravity and detector characterization, expanding the scope of gravitational-wave research in Rhode Island, providing new educational opportunities for students, and supporting local public outreach. This project is supported by the EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program: EPSCoR Research Fellows (ERF), which supports early- and mid-career investigators in eligible jurisdictions to develop collaborations at the nation’s private, government, or academic research institutions. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.