Research Description
My research is in the fields of gravitational wave (GW) detection and astrophysics. I am a member of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) Scientific Collaboration (LSC). The focus of my research within LIGO is twofold. First, I work to improve our ability to distinguish actual detections of GWs from noise in the LIGO interferometers as part of the Detector Characterization (DetChar) group within the LSC. My second focus is looking for GW counterparts to Fast Radio Burst (FRB) and Gamma Ray Burst (GRB). These are sudden, very bright explosions of energy from deep in space that last for only milliseconds to seconds. We have recently discovered that some GRBs are caused by the collisions of neutron stars, and seek to learn more about these collisions. In contrast, the origins of FRBs are still a complete mystery.