Deborah Lynn Ferguson

Dr. Deborah Lynn Ferguson is a computational gravitational-wave astrophysicist who will join the University of Rhode Island (URI) Department of Physics as Assistant Professor of Astrophysics in Fall 2025. Currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, she is an active member of the UMass-URI Gravity Research Consortium, the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, the LISA Consortium, the Cosmic Explorer Consortium, and the Einstein Toolkit Community.

Education

• Ph.D. Physics (2020) – Georgia Institute of Technology, Advisor: Deirdre Shoemaker
• M.S. Physics (2017) – Georgia Institute of Technology
• B.S. Physics (2016), Minors in Mathematics & Computer Science – University of Kentucky

Research Focus

Dr. Ferguson develops and analyzes large-scale numerical relativity simulations to model the inspiral and merger of compact-object binaries in full General Relativity. Her work targets accurate gravitational-wave predictions required by current and future detectors such as LIGO, Virgo, KAGRA, LISA, and Cosmic Explorer. Recently, she has expanded into testing extensions of General Relativity using merger waveforms and optimizing simulation placement with machine-learning techniques.

Scientific Awards & Honors

• Visualizing Science Competition Winner (2022, UT Austin)
• Visualizing Science Competition 3rd Place (2021, UT Austin)
• Larry S. O'Hara Graduate Student Fellowship (2020, Georgia Tech)
• Amelio Award for Research Excellence (2020, Georgia Tech)
• Participant, Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting (2019)
• Georgia Tech Institute Fellowship (2016)
• Outstanding Senior in Physics (2016, University of Kentucky)
• Summer Research Grant (2015, University of Kentucky)
• Outstanding Junior in Physics (2015, University of Kentucky)
• Singletary Scholarship (2013, University of Kentucky)
• National Merit Finalist (2013)

Leadership & Service

• Co-Chair, LISA Early Career Scientists (2024–present)
• Member at Large, APS Division of Gravity Executive Committee (2023–present); Chair of Seminar Committee

Software & Open Science

Dr. Ferguson leads the development of Mayawaves, an open-source Python library facilitating interaction with the Einstein Toolkit and the MAYA catalog of numerical relativity waveforms, promoting reproducibility and community access to state-of-the-art waveforms.