Dr. Laura Nuttall

Position: Senior Lecturer in Gravitational Waves
E-mail: laura.nuttall(at port.ac.uk)
Telephone: +44 (0)2392 843138
Office: DS3.05
Personal Website

Research interests:

• Characterisation of the LIGO gravitational-wave detectors
• Extracting gravitational-wave signals from LIGO/Virgo data, particularly those from compact object mergers
• Observations of electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational-wave events

Biography:

I received an MPhys in Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology from Lancaster University in 2009, as well as the chancellor’s medal. I then moved to Cardiff University to study gravitational waves and work in the LIGO Scientific Collaboration. My graduate research focussed on electromagnetic follow-up of gravitational-wave events; I received my PhD in 2013. I then moved to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where my research diversified to characterising the Advanced LIGO detectors. In 2015 I continued my doctoral research at Syracuse University, researching the application of data quality to the search for gravitational waves from the merger of compact objects. In 2017 I returned to Cardiff University as a Sêr Cymru MSCA COFUND Fellow. I then moved to the ICG in August 2018 to start a gravitational-wave research group with Andy Lundgren and Ian Harry.

Qualifications:

• PhD Physics (Cardiff University)
• MPhys Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology (Lancaster University)

Achievements and recognition:

• Sêr Cymru MSCA COFUND Fellowship (2017-2020, ended in 2018)
• Kavli Fellow
• Princess of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research (2016) - LIGO Scientific Collaboration
• Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics (2016) - LIGO Scientific Collaboration
• Gruber Cosmology Prize (2016) - LIGO Scientific Collaboration

Roles and Collaborations:

• Dignity & Respect Champion for the ICG
• Outreach and Engagement Champion for the ICG
• Member of the LSC Program Committee (2018 - present)
• Member of LVC Allies (2016 - present)
• Member of the GWOSC Review Committee (2015 - present)
• Co-chair of Data Quality for the LIGO Detector Characterisation Group (2015 - present)
• Member of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration (2009 - present)

Postgraduate students supervised: Currently: Simone Mozzon

Teaching responsibilities: Universe: Planetary Systems, Stars And Galaxies (M271)

Publications from UKADS
Publications from INSPIRE
Publications from arXiv
Publications from the UoP Research Portal
External talks (academic)
External talks (outreach)