About
Laura Fissel is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy at Queen's University, within the Faculty of Arts and Science. Her research focuses on understanding star and planet formation, particularly the role of magnetic fields in regulating gravitational collapse in interstellar gas. She leads international collaborations to design and deploy balloon-borne telescopes such as BLAST-TNG and the upcoming BVEX, which study magnetic fields in star-forming regions from near-space altitudes. She also uses ground-based telescopes like ALMA and the Large Millimeter Telescope.
Education:
PhD in Physics (2013) from the University of Toronto under Barth Netterfield, developing the BLASTPol polarimeter. Postdoctoral roles included CIERA/NSERC fellowships at Northwestern University and a Jansky fellowship at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory.
Research Themes:
Magnetic field dynamics in star-forming clouds, sub-millimeter polarimetry, balloon-borne instrumentation, and Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) applications. Her work addresses why star formation from interstellar gas remains inefficient, integrating observational and experimental astrophysics approaches.
Advising:
Currently supervising Master's student Akanksha Bij. Her lab focuses on advancing balloon-based observational technologies through collaborative international teams.
Labs/Initiatives:
Leading BLAST-TNG operations and the BVEX project (launching 2025) to demonstrate balloon VLBI. Active in global telescope networks like the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA).
