Jonathan Gair

Dr. Jonathan Gair is a Group Leader in the Astrophysical and Cosmological Relativity Division at the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute) in Potsdam, Germany. Previously, he served as Professor of Astrostatistics at the University of Edinburgh (2018-2019) and as Reader (Associate Professor) in Statistics at the same institution (2015-2018).

Dr. Gair's research focuses on gravitational wave data analysis and its applications to cosmology and fundamental physics. His work spans multiple areas of gravitational wave astronomy, with particular emphasis on:

• Developing and applying new methodologies for gravitational wave data analysis
• Using gravitational wave observations to derive cosmological parameters, particularly the Hubble constant
• Developing data analysis tools for the LISA space-based gravitational wave detector
• Exploring the scientific potential of gravitational wave observations for testing general relativity
• Creating computationally efficient techniques for parameter inference in gravitational wave astronomy

Dr. Gair plays a leading role within the LIGO/Virgo collaboration in deriving cosmological constraints from gravitational wave observations. He currently chairs the LISA Science Group, overseeing the development of data analysis tools for the planned ESA-led LISA mission. His research has significantly contributed to our understanding of how gravitational wave observations can serve as "standard sirens" for measuring cosmic distances and probing the expansion history of the universe.

Dr. Gair's work involves both theoretical development and practical application of data analysis techniques. He has developed methods for handling selection effects in rate estimation of gravitational wave events, techniques for mapping gravitational wave backgrounds using methods adapted from cosmic microwave background analysis, and approaches for incorporating model uncertainties into gravitational wave parameter estimation.