Precision gravitational-wave astronomy
Exploring the gravitational-wave universe with LIGO
About Me
I am a senior postdoctoral scholar at the California Institute of Technology working with the LIGO Laboratory.
I currently reseach how to improve our understanding of the universe with data from gravitational-wave detectors. I am a member of the LIGO Scientific Collaboraton and the Cosmic Explorer Consortium, but also conduct research across the spectrum of gravitational waves.
Research Experience
I am currently working as a researcher at the LIGO Laboratory in Pasadena, CA.
- LIGO Scientific Collaboration Management Team member and Co-chair of the LIGO Detector Characterization group
- Lead coordinator of the GWTC-4 catalog of gravitational-wave signals detected by the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA collaboration
- Primary developer and organizer for the Data Quality Report software suite used to investigate the potential impact of instrumental artifacts on the detection and analysis of all gravitational-wave events
- Leader in efforts to increase the cross-compatibility of detector characterization software across the global network of ground-based gravitational-wave detectors
- Principal investigator at Caltech for the Gravity Spy project that combines machine learning and citizen science to analyze LIGO data
I was a doctoral researcher in the Physics Department at Syracuse University.
- Developed the GWsubtract Python package that was used to increase the sensitivity of the LIGO gravitational-wave detector network by 25%
- Lead analyst for the PyCBC search for gravitational-wave signals in LIGO’s second observing run
- Research focuses in data science, signal processing, high-throughput computing, and gravitational-wave astrophysics
Education
2015 - 2019
Doctorate in Physics
Syracuse University
- Dissertation title: Improving the Sensitivity of Advanced LIGO through Detector Characterization
- Advisor: Peter Saulson
Research Topics
Gravitational-Wave Detector Science
Astrophysical Analysis Methods
Gravitational-Wave Event Catalogs
Recent Papers
GW Detectors
GW Astrophysics
Guiding interferometer improvements with the frequency-dependent inspiral range
Davis and Capote (2025)
Cosmic Explorer
GW Detectors
GW Astrophysics
Technical Noise, Data Quality, and Calibration Requirements for Next-Generation Gravitational-Wave Science
Capote, Dartez, and Davis. Class. Quantum Grav. 41, 185001 (2024)
GW Detectors
Bayesian modelling of scattered light in the LIGO interferometers
Udall and Davis. Appl. Phys. Lett. 122, 094103 (2023)
GW Astrophysics
GW Detectors
The anti-aligned spin of GW191109: glitch mitigation and its implications
Udall, ..., Davis, et al. Phys. Rev. D 111, 024046 (2025)
GW Astrophysics
Phase consistency test to identify type II strongly lensed gravitational wave signals using a single event
Taylor, Davis, and Lo (2024)
GW Astrophysics
GW Detectors
Identifying glitches near gravitational-wave events using the Q-transform
Vazsonyi and Davis. Class. Quantum Grav. 40, 035008 (2023)
GW Astrophysics
GW Detectors
Subtracting glitches from gravitational-wave detector data during the third observing run
Davis, et al. Class. Quantum Grav. 39, 245013 (2022)
GW Astrophysics
GW Catalogs
GWTC-3: Compact Binary Coalescences Observed by LIGO and Virgo During the Second Part of the Third Observing Run
LVK Collaboration. Phys. Rev. X 13, 041039 (2023)
Citizen Science
Machine Learning
GW Detectors
Gravity Spy: Lessons learned and a path forward
Zevin, ..., Davis, et al. European Phys. J. Plus 139, 100 (2024)
Get in Touch
My inbox is always open. Whether you have a question or just want to say hi, I’ll try my best to get back to you!