Find Academic Supervisors

Laurence Perreault-LevasseurView profile

Associate Professor

• Cosmology
• Machine Learning
• Gravitational Lensing
• +5 more

Laurence Perreault-Levasseur is an Associate Professor at Université de Montréal and an Associate Member of Mila. She specializes in applying machine learning methods to cosmology, with affiliations at the Flatiron Institute and Perimeter Institute. Her research focuses on gravitational lensing, dark matter, and precision cosmology. She holds a Canada Research Chair in Computational Cosmology and Artificial Intelligence. Education: PhD (University of Cambridge, 2015), M.Sc. and B.Sc. (McGill University). Research Interests: Machine learning for cosmological inference, strong gravitational lensing, galaxy cluster characterization, and dark matter studies. Affiliations: CRAQ (Québec Astrophysics Research Centre), Mila (Quebec AI Institute). Her work includes developing Bayesian methods for inverse problems and neural networks for astrophysical data analysis. Key projects involve precision cosmology via machine learning and reconstructing early-universe conditions using generative models.

• Astrophysics
• Supernova Studies
• Machine Learning in Astronomy
• +3 more

Ashley Villar is an Assistant Professor of Astronomy at the Center for Astrophysics at Harvard University. Her research focuses on the intersection of astrophysics and machine learning, particularly in the study of supernovae, transient phenomena, and circumstellar interactions. She is actively involved in time-domain surveys and the development of advanced algorithms for classifying and analyzing astronomical transients. Current Position: Assistant Professor of Astronomy Affiliation: Harvard University Center for Astrophysics Her work integrates observational data from facilities like the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), and the Vera C. Rubin Observatory to study supernova progenitors, explosion mechanisms, and circumstellar environments. Key research areas include pulsational pair instability models, binary progenitor systems, and the application of neural networks for rapid transient classification. Dr. Villar has pioneered methods such as the SPLASH classifier, Superphot+, and Maven framework to enhance automated analysis of transient events. Her contributions to the Young Supernova Experiment (YSE) have resulted in large-scale datasets and photometric classifications of over 1,500 supernovae. Notable Projects: YSE DR1 Data Release, Rubin Observatory Target-of-Opportunity programs, LIGO/Virgo follow-up campaigns Her research also addresses kilonova light-curve interpolation, gravitational wave follow-up strategies, and the detection of anomalies in variable star catalogs. She collaborates widely on multimessenger astronomy and next-generation survey strategies for transient detection.

• Computer Architecture
• Embedded Systems
• High-Performance Computing
• +3 more

Zhiqiang Que is a Research Associate in the Department of Computing at Imperial College London, affiliated with the Faculty of Engineering and the Centre for High-Throughput Digital Electronics and Machine Learning. His research focuses on computer architecture, embedded systems, high-performance computing, and CAD tools for hardware design optimization. His research interests include FPGA-based acceleration of machine learning models, hardware-software co-design, and real-time signal processing for scientific applications such as particle physics and gravitational wave experiments. He has contributed to projects involving low-latency graph neural networks (GNNs), Bayesian neural networks, and efficient stream processing on FPGAs. Recent work includes advancements in trustworthy design flows for deep learning acceleration, reconfigurable architectures for recurrent neural networks, and optimizing FPGA-based systems for high-energy physics experiments at the HL-LHC.

Fabian SchmidtView profile

Professor

• Cosmology
• Dark Matter
• Dark Energy
• +3 more

Fabian Schmidt is a Professor (Forschungsgruppenleiter) at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics (MPA) in Garching, Germany. He specializes in cosmology, focusing on dark matter, dark energy, and the evolution of cosmic structures. His research explores the universe's composition, history, and the mechanisms behind primordial density fluctuations. Education: Diplom (equivalent to MSc) in cosmic gamma rays from Humboldt University Berlin, PhD (2005-2009) at the University of Chicago under advisors Scott Dodelson and Wayne Hu. Held fellowships at Caltech (Moore Fellow) and Princeton (NASA CXC Einstein Fellow) before joining MPA in 2013. Research interests include cosmological observables in general relativity, baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) reconstruction, and field-level inference techniques. His group is funded by the Excellence Cluster Origins and MPA resources, with ongoing work on large-scale structure, gravitational lensing, and dark matter physics. Notable contributions span theoretical cosmology, computational methods for galaxy clustering analysis, and Bayesian forward modeling. His team advises PhD students and postdocs in areas like EFT-based BAO reconstruction, simulation-based inference, and dark matter dynamics. Outreach: Active in public talks (Lange Nacht der Wissenschaften) and collaborations with science journalists. Co-author of Modern Cosmology textbook (2nd ed. 2020, 3rd ed. 2025), addressing topics like inflation and quantum vacuum cosmology.

• Extragalactic Astronomy
• Radio Astronomy
• Optical Astronomy
• +3 more

Professor Elaine Sadler is a Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Sydney's Faculty of Science. She has served as Director of CAASTRO (2014–2018), overseeing a network of over 100 scientists and 40 research students across seven universities and international partners. Her research focuses on extragalactic astronomy, utilizing radio and optical telescopes to study cosmic phenomena. She has held leadership roles, including President of the International Astronomical Union's Division VIII (Galaxies and the Universe) and Chair of Australia's National Committee for Astronomy. Recent research highlights include studies on radio spectral energy distributions, circumgalactic medium gas dynamics, and fast radio bursts. Her work bridges observational techniques with theoretical models, contributing to our understanding of galaxy evolution and cosmology. Elaine has received prestigious recognitions such as the AO (Australian Officer) and FAA (Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science). She has secured major grants, including the ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery (OzGrav) and infrastructure funding for advanced radio astronomy receivers. Her collaborations span global institutions, reflecting her influential role in astrophysical research networks.

• High-performance computing
• Simulation software development
• Parallel algorithms
• +3 more

Michael Bader is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), part of the TUM School of CIT. He leads the research group on hardware-aware algorithms and software for high-performance computing at the Leibniz Supercomputing Center. His work focuses on developing efficient algorithms and software for supercomputing platforms, particularly in geosciences and simulation of earthquakes and tsunamis. His research interests include high-performance computing, simulation software development (e.g., SeisSol and ExaHyPE), parallel numerical algorithms, adaptive mesh refinement, and large-scale geophysical simulations such as earthquake dynamics and tsunami modeling. He emphasizes optimizing algorithms for modern supercomputing architectures to handle complex computational challenges. Professor Bader has supervised numerous PhD students, including Lukas Krenz, Ravil Dorozhinskii, and Sebastian Wolf, among others. His research has been supported by grants from the EuroHPC JU, BMBF, DFG, and other institutions. Notable projects include ChEESE-2P for exascale computing in solid earth sciences and the targetDART project for adaptive task distribution on exascale systems. He is actively involved in teaching, offering courses such as Numerical Algorithms for High Performance Computing and Scientific Computing 1 . His group collaborates extensively with institutions like the Leibniz Supercomputing Center to advance computational methods for simulating natural disasters and geophysical phenomena.

Athol J KemballView profile

Professor

• Computation and Data
• Observation
• Stars and Planets
• +4 more

Athol J Kemball is a Professor in the Department of Astronomy at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, within the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. He also holds affiliations with the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) as a Professor and is a faculty affiliate of the Computational Science and Engineering program. Kemball is a member of the Center for Extreme-Scale Computation at NCSA/IACAT and leads the Kemball Research Group, which focuses on applying advanced computing to problems in observational astronomy. Dr. Kemball earned his Ph.D. in Physics in 1993. His educational background has provided the foundation for his interdisciplinary work at the intersection of computational science and astrophysics. Kemball's research lies at the intersection of advanced computing and astrophysics, with specific focus areas including: The theory of interferometry Astrophysical masers Late-type, evolved stars Gravitational lensing His work leverages extreme-scale computer systems to transform observational astronomy, enabling new scientific inquiries that were previously impossible. The exponential growth in computing capability has profoundly influenced his approaches to data-and compute-intensive scientific questions. An analysis of Kemball's recent publications shows a strong focus on applying computational methods to astronomical observations. His work spans from exoplanet detection using Bayesian methods to studying gravitational lensing and maser polarization. The research demonstrates a consistent theme of using advanced computing to extract maximum scientific value from observational data, particularly in the areas of interferometry and polarization studies. Among his notable recognition: Blue Waters Professor Named to the "List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent" four times since 2010 Kemball has been actively involved in teaching, offering courses such as Introduction to Astrophysics, Observational Astronomy, Scientific Writing for Astronomy, and Astronomical Techniques. His research group has participated in significant projects including the Square Kilometer Array Technology Development Project, specifically in the Calibration and Processing Group, addressing petascale computing challenges for radio astronomy. The Kemball Research Group focuses on applying high-performance computing to observational astronomy problems, particularly in interferometry, maser studies, and gravitational lensing. The group collaborates with the Center for Extreme-Scale Computation at NCSA/IACAT and contributes to advancing computational methods for next-generation astronomical facilities.

• Astronomy
• Cosmology
• Line Intensity Mapping
• +2 more

Nils-Ole Stutzer is a Doctoral Research Fellow at the Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics , University of Oslo, specializing in Cosmology , Line Intensity Mapping , and Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) data analysis. He contributes to major projects like COMAP COSMOGLOBE BeyondPlanck and develops computational tools in Python/C++ for mitigating systematic errors in radio telescope data. His research interests focus on Galactic and extragalactic CMB analysis Radio interferometry for molecular gas mapping Bayesian methods in cosmological parameter estimation Instrumental signal deconvolution Open science data frameworks His work addresses fundamental questions about cosmic structure formation and early universe physics. Key publication trends include: 2024 studies on 30GHz spinning dust emission in dark clouds Advanced CO power spectrum constraints at z ∼ 3 2023-2024 Bayesian reanalysis of Planck/WMAP missions LiteBIRD mission forecasts for gravitational waves Projects emphasize reproducibility and end-to-end data modeling. He teaches AST2000 project groups and collaborates across institutions on CMB&CO initiatives. Current affiliations include the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the University of Oslo.

Jocelyn ReadView profile

Professor

• Gravitational Wave Astronomy
• Neutron Star Astrophysics
• Nuclear Physics
• +2 more

Jocelyn Read serves as Professor of Physics at California State University Fullerton, where she bridges nuclear physics and astrophysics through gravitational-wave observations. From 2016 to 2022, she co-led the Extreme Matter team within the LIGO-Virgo-Kagra Collaboration, directing efforts to extract neutron-star equation-of-state constraints from gravitational-wave data. She currently contributes to Cosmic Explorer, a next-generation gravitational-wave observatory project designed to achieve unprecedented sensitivity for probing dense matter physics. Her research program centers on connecting theoretical nuclear physics with observational gravitational-wave astronomy, specifically investigating how neutron-star mergers reveal properties of matter at supranuclear densities. By analyzing signals from events like GW170817 and GW190425, her work constrains the equation of state governing neutron-star interiors and examines tidal effects in binary systems. This research directly impacts fundamental questions about phase transitions in dense matter and the maximum mass of neutron stars. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2019-2023) reveals three dominant research thrusts: gravitational-wave data analysis of compact binary mergers (particularly using LIGO-Virgo-Kagra catalogs), equation-of-state modeling for neutron-star matter, and science-case development for future detectors like Cosmic Explorer. Her work consistently integrates multi-messenger astronomy approaches and advances waveform modeling techniques to extract maximum physical insight from gravitational-wave observations. Her scientific recognition includes: Fellow of the American Physical Society While specific student advisement details are not publicly documented, her leadership roles in major collaborations indicate significant mentoring contributions within the gravitational-wave community. Her grant activities remain unreported in available sources, though her Cosmic Explorer involvement suggests participation in large-scale instrumentation projects. She maintains active roles in the LIGO-Virgo-Kagra Collaboration's scientific working groups and is a key contributor to the Cosmic Explorer project, which aims to deploy a 40-km arm-length detector by the 2030s. Her work within the Nicholas and Lee Begovich Center for Gravitational-Wave Physics and Astronomy at CSU Fullerton positions her at the forefront of next-generation gravitational-wave science development.

Michael WilliamsView profile

Research Fellow

• Gravitational Wave Physics
• Neutron Stars
• Black Holes
• +3 more

Dr. Michael Williams is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Cosmology & Gravitation under the Faculty of Technology , University of Portsmouth. His work focuses on gravitational wave physics, neutron star dynamics, and black hole binaries through collaborations with LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA detector networks. Active in gravitational wave detection and multi-messenger astronomy Developing AI algorithms for telescope targeting and signal processing Recipient of the IOP Trusted Reviewer status (2025) His recent research includes premerger characterization of black hole binaries , continuous wave searches from pulsars , and gravitational wave-FRB counterpart detection . He contributes to open-source tools like nessai and bayesbeat , with 25 datasets released. Williams participates in conferences like the European AI for Fundamental Physics Conference and workshops on milli-hertz gravitational wave astrophysics. Key collaborations: LIGO, Virgo, KAGRA, GEO600 Technical expertise: matched filtering , Bayesian inference , normalizing flows

• Gravitational Wave Physics
• General Relativity
• Astrophysics
• +3 more

Elisa Maggio is a Research Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute) in Potsdam, Germany. She holds a PhD from Sapienza University of Rome, where her thesis, Probing new physics on the horizon of black holes with gravitational waves , earned multiple awards including the Amaldi Research Center Prize, Giulio Rampa Prize, and Fubini Prize. Her work focuses on testing general relativity in extreme environments using gravitational waves, particularly investigating the nature of black hole horizons and alternative theories of gravity. As a Marie Curie Fellow, she contributes to the ThorGW project, exploring horizon properties with future detectors like LISA and the Einstein Telescope. Her research involves modeling gravitational wave signals from compact object mergers, analyzing ringdown phases, and developing parametrized waveform models for precision tests. Notable contributions include studies on horizonless compact objects and their gravitational wave signatures. Maggio’s position is supported by grants from the Leibniz Prize (DFG) and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. Elisa has been recognized with prestigious honors such as the Laura Bassi Prize for early-career women in physics (2024) and the Sapienza University of Rome’s thesis prize (2025). Her work bridges theoretical physics with observational challenges, advancing our understanding of gravity’s limits in strong-field regimes.

• Gravitational Wave Astronomy
• Black Hole Physics
• Compact Binary Systems
• +3 more

Richard O'Shaughnessy is a Professor of Physics at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), where he serves in the School of Physics and Astronomy within the College of Science. He is a prominent member of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, Virgo Collaboration, and KAGRA Collaboration, contributing significantly to gravitational wave astronomy research. His work spans theoretical modeling, data analysis, and interpretation of gravitational wave signals from compact binary systems. Dr. O'Shaughnessy's research focuses on gravitational wave astronomy with particular emphasis on black hole physics, compact binary mergers, and numerical relativity. His work involves developing sophisticated methods for parameter estimation, waveform modeling, and interpreting gravitational wave signals to extract astrophysical information. He has made significant contributions to understanding the formation channels of binary black holes and neutron stars, as well as developing data analysis techniques for gravitational wave detection. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on advancing gravitational wave astronomy through innovative approaches to data analysis and interpretation. His work spans multiple areas including compact binary mergers in active galactic nuclei disks, parameter estimation for eccentric binaries, all-sky searches for gravitational wave transients, and studies of intermediate-mass black hole candidates. His research consistently bridges theoretical modeling with observational data analysis. As a key member of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, Dr. O'Shaughnessy contributes to one of the most significant scientific endeavors of our time - the direct detection and analysis of gravitational waves. His work helps advance our understanding of black holes, neutron stars, and the fundamental nature of gravity itself.

James M. CordesView profile

Professor

• Radio Astronomy
• Pulsars
• Neutron Stars
• +7 more

James M. Cordes holds the George Feldstein Professorship in Astronomy at Cornell University, affiliated with the Department of Astronomy within the College of Arts and Sciences. He maintains dual associations with the Carl Sagan Institute and the Center for Radiophysics and Space Research (CCAPS), conducting observations across global facilities including Arecibo Observatory, the Very Large Array, Parkes Telescope, and space-based instruments like Hubble and Chandra. His research centers on pulsar astronomy as a tool for fundamental physics, with expertise in radio signal processing , interstellar medium studies , and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence . Cordes pioneers statistical inference methods for gravitational wave detection and leads development of next-generation instrumentation like Arecibo's multiple-feed receiver system, while serving as a key contributor to the international Square Kilometer Array project. Analysis of Cordes's 2008–2012 publications reveals a cohesive research program using pulsars to probe spacetime curvature near black holes, detect gravitational waves, and investigate galactic center environments. His work consistently integrates multiwavelength observations with innovative data analysis, establishing foundational methodologies for pulsar timing arrays and demonstrating how circumpulsar phenomena can reveal hidden astrophysical structures. Cordes collaborates through the Carl Sagan Institute team and major consortia including NANOGrav. His observational campaigns coordinate radio, optical, infrared, and gamma-ray facilities worldwide—from Arecibo upgrades to Hubble Space Telescope campaigns—enabling breakthrough studies of cosmic plasma environments and gravitational phenomena, as highlighted in Cornell's coverage of the 2020 gravitational wave 'hum' detection.

Fruzsina AgocsView profile

Assistant Professor

• Scientific Computing
• Numerical Analysis
• Computational Physics
• +4 more

Fruzsina Agocs is an Assistant Professor in Computer Science at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Her research focuses on scientific computing, numerical analysis, and computational physics, particularly developing high-order numerical methods for ODEs/PDEs and early-universe physics. Previously, she was a research fellow at the Flatiron Institute's Center for Computational Mathematics and earned her PhD in cosmology from the University of Cambridge under advisors Anthony Lasenby, Mike Hobson, and Will Handley. She holds an MSci + BA in Physics. Research Highlights: Developed adaptive spectral solvers for oscillatory ODEs (e.g., riccati and oscode libraries). Advanced methods for scattering from periodic boundaries using integral equations. Investigated quantum initial conditions in curved spacetimes for inflationary cosmology. Explored computationally intensive models of closed universes and kinetic dominance in cosmology. Education: PhD in Cosmology, University of Cambridge (2021). MSci + BA in Physics, University of Cambridge. Software Contributions: Lead developer of riccati (adaptive oscillatory ODE solver). Core contributor to GAMBIT , a particle physics/cosmology collaboration tool. Outreach: Volunteer with NYC Audubon's Project Safe Flight to reduce bird-window collisions. Public science talks and articles on topics like meteor showers (in Hungarian).

V. Ashley VillarView profile

Assistant Professor

• Stellar Astrophysics
• Machine Learning in Astronomy
• Supernova Studies
• +3 more

Dr. V. Ashley Villar is an Assistant Professor of Astronomy at Harvard University, specializing in using machine learning and data-driven methods to study stellar explosions, mergers, and transient phenomena. She holds a PhD in Astronomy & Astrophysics from Harvard (2020) and a BS in Physics from MIT (2014). Her research focuses on supernova light curves, circumstellar interactions, and binary progenitor systems. She previously held positions at Columbia University as a Simons Junior Fellow and at Penn State as the inaugural Mercedes Richards Career Development Professor. Her work leverages large-scale surveys like LSST and JWST to analyze transients, develop classification tools (e.g., SPLASH, Superphot+), and model explosion mechanisms. Awards include NSF and Ford Foundation fellowships. She collaborates on projects such as the Young Supernova Experiment (YSE) and contributes to multimessenger astronomy efforts linking gravitational waves to electromagnetic counterparts. Key Projects: YSE Data Release 1 (1,975 supernova classifications), extrabol bolometric light curve estimator, SBI++ inference framework Grants: NSF, Simons Foundation, LIGO collaborations Labs/Teams: Harvard CfA Transient Research Group, LIGO HET Response Collaboration Her recent work includes analyzing GRB 221009A's supernova emission, kilonova light-curve interpolation, and binary merger signatures in double-peaked supernovae. She actively develops machine learning tools for transient classification and anomaly detection in big astronomical datasets.