Vicky Kalogera

Dr. Vicky Kalogera is the Daniel I. Linzer Distinguished University Professor of Physics & Astronomy and Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA) at Northwestern University. She leads the NSF-Simons AI Institute for the Sky (SkAI) and is a core member of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration. Her research focuses on gravitational-wave astronomy, binary star evolution, and multi-messenger astrophysics, with a strong emphasis on computational methods and machine learning.

She earned her PhD from the University of Illinois in 1997 and has held leadership roles in numerous institutions, including the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) Corporation. Her work on the first LIGO gravitational wave detection (GW150914) earned her the 2016 Gruber Prize and Special Breakthrough Prize in Physics.

Key research areas include stellar binary evolution, compact object formation, and the application of AI to astronomical data analysis. She has advised numerous students and postdocs, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations across astrophysics and data science.

Dr. Kalogera has received prestigious awards such as the Guggenheim Fellowship (2021), American Academy of Arts and Sciences Fellowship (2021), and National Academy of Sciences membership (2018). Her team’s work on gravitational wave source studies, stellar remnants, and multi-messenger astronomy continues to shape modern astrophysics.