Samaya Nissanke

Samaya Michiko Nissanke is an astrophysicist,

associate professor in gravitational wave and multi- Samaya Nissanke
messenger astrophysics and the spokesperson for the Education Westminster School
GRAPPA Centre for Excellence in Gravitation and Alma mater University of Cambridge
Astroparticle Physics at the University of Institut d'astrophysique de Paris
Amsterdam.[1][2] She works on gravitational-wave Awards Special Breakthrough Prize in
astrophysics and has played a founding role in the Fundamental Physics (2016)
emerging field of multi-messenger astronomy. She
Gruber Prize in Cosmology
played a leading role in the discovery paper of the first
(2016)
binary neutron star merger, GW170817, seen in
gravitational waves and electromagnetic radiation.[3] New Horizons in Physics Prize
(2020)
In 2020, she was awarded the New Horizons in Suffrage Science award (2021)
Physics Prize from the Breakthrough Prize Foundation
Scientific career
with Jo Dunkley and Kendrick Smith for "the
Institutions Canadian Institute for Theoretical
development of novel techniques to extract
Astrophysics
fundamental physics from astronomical data".[4][5][6].
California Institute of Technology
She was awarded the 2021 Suffrage Award Award for
Radboud University Nijmegen
Engineering and Physical Sciences for "outstanding
University of Amsterdam
science, science communication and support for
women in STEM," nominated by Prof. Amina Helmi Thesis Aspects théoriques de la forme
of the University of Groningen. des ondes gravitationnelles pour
les phases spiralante et de fusion
des systèmes binaires compacts
Early life and education (http://www.theses.fr/2006PA0770
53) (2007)
Nissanke was born in London to a Japanese mother
and a Sri Lankan father. She completed her bachelor's and master's degrees in the Natural Sciences Tripos
(Physics) at the University of Cambridge.[7] She then joined the Paris Observatory for her postgraduate
studies.[7] Nissanke earned her PhD in analytical relativity at the Institut d'astrophysique de Paris in 2007
with a thesis titled Aspects théoriques de la forme des ondes gravitationnelles pour les phases spiralante
et de fusion des systèmes binaires compacts (Theoretical aspects of the shape of gravitational waves for
the spiraling and merging phases of compact binary systems).[7][8]

Research
Nissanke completed her postdoctoral research at the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, the
Jet Propulsion Lab, California Institute of Technology and Radboud University Nijmegen[9] working on
gravitational wave and electromagnetic emission from compact object mergers since 2007.[10][11][12][13]
She is a member of the Virgo collaboration and works with the BlackGEM, VLA, MeerKAT and LOFAR
telescopes and was part of the group that discovered the radio counterpart to GW170817.[14] She
demonstrated it was possible to determine the Hubble constant using gravitational wave observations
from merging neutron star binaries and how to identify the elusive electromagnetic counterparts of
gravitational wave mergers.[10][12]

Nissanke was working at Radboud as the group leader for the gravitational wave group when the first
detection of gravitational waves was confirmed.[15][16] In 2016 she was awarded Netherlands
Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) TOP and VIDI grants to study the birth of black holes and
neutron star mergers.[17] In June 2018 she joined the faculty at the Gravitational AstroParticle Physics
Amsterdam (GRAPPA) Institute at the University of Amsterdam.[18][19] She is the Astrophysics Working
Group Chair of a European Cooperation in Science and Technology Action on Gravitational Waves.[20]

Public engagement
Nissanke is a popular science communicator and has been interviewed by Scientific American, New
Scientist, Nature, Vox Media, BBC Radio 4, BBC World Service and Die Zeit.[21][22][23] She represented
the Virgo Collaboration at the European Southern Observatory press conference in 2017, for the
announcement of a merger of neutron stars.[24] Before the detection of gravitational waves, Nissanke
joined composer Arthur Jeffes at the Marshmallow Laser Feast to create a piece of music about merging
neutron stars and black holes billions of years ago.[25][26][27][28][29]

Awards and honours

As part of the LIGO Scientific and Virgo Collaborations, Nissanke was awarded the Special
Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics (2016) and the Gruber Prize in Cosmology (2016). In 2019,
it was announced that Nissanke would receive the 2020 New Horizons in Physics Prize with Jo Dunkley
and Kendrick Smith from the Breakthrough Prize Foundation.[30] In 2021 Nissanke received a Suffrage
Science award, nominated by Amina Helmi.[31][32]

Astronomy portal

Physics portal

References
1. Universiteit van Amsterdam (2019-07-15). "Samaya Nissanke elected GRAPPA
spokesperson - IoP - University of Amsterdam" (https://iop.uva.nl/content/news/2019/07/sam
aya-nissanke-elected-grappa-spokesperson.html). IoP. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
2. "Members | GRAPPA" (http://grappa.amsterdam/members/). Grappa.amsterdam. 2019-08-
19. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
3. Levy, Adam (January 11, 2021). "How black holes morphed from theory to reality" (https://kn
owablemagazine.org/article/physical-world/2021/how-black-holes-morphed-theory-reality).
Knowable Magazine. doi:10.1146/knowable-010921-1 (https://doi.org/10.1146%2Fknowable
-010921-1). Retrieved 25 March 2022.
4. "Breakthrough Prize – Fundamental Physics Breakthrough Prize Laureates – Samaya
Nissanke" (https://breakthroughprize.org/Laureates/1/L3857). breakthroughprize.org.
Retrieved 2020-02-10.
 5. " "A true role model for women in physics": Newnham alumna wins 2020 New Horizons in
Physics Prize" (https://www.newn.cam.ac.uk/newnham-news/a-true-role-model-for-women-i
n-physics-newnham-alumna-wins-2020-new-horizons-in-physics-prize/). Newnham College.
2019-09-13. Retrieved 2019-10-01.
6. "Caltech Faculty Honored with Breakthrough and New Horizons Prizes" (https://www.caltec
h.edu/about/news/caltech-faculty-honored-breakthrough-and-new-horizons-prizes).
www.caltech.edu. 6 September 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-01.
7. "CV and Publications" (https://samayanissanke.wordpress.com/cv-and-publications/).
Samaya Nissanke. 2014-08-19. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
8. Michiko, Nissanke, Samaya (2006-01-01). Aspects théoriques de la forme des ondes
gravitationnelles pour les phases spiralante et de fusion des systèmes binaires compacts (ht
tp://www.theses.fr/2006PA077053) (Thesis).
9. "Dr Samaya Nissanke" (https://www.ru.nl/excellence/laureates-0/current-members-0/current-
members/dr-samaya-nissanke/). Radboud Excellence Initiative (in Dutch). Retrieved
2018-10-09.
10. Nissanke, Samaya; Holz, Daniel; Hughes, Scott; Dalal, Neal; Sievers, Jonathan (2010).
"Exploring Short Gamma-ray Bursts as Gravitational-wave Standard Sirens". The
Astrophysical Journal. 725 (1): 496–514. arXiv:0904.1017 (https://arxiv.org/abs/0904.1017).
Bibcode:2010ApJ...725..496N (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2010ApJ...725..496N).
doi:10.1088/0004-637X/725/1/496 (https://doi.org/10.1088%2F0004-637X%2F725%2F1%2
F496). S2CID 14028891 (https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:14028891).
11. Nissanke, Samaya; Sievers, Jonathan; Dalal, Neal (2011). "Localizing compact binary
inspirals on the sky using ground-based gravitational wave interferometers". The
Astrophysical Journal. 739 (2): 99. arXiv:1105.3184 (https://arxiv.org/abs/1105.3184).
Bibcode:2011ApJ...739...99N (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2011ApJ...739...99N).
doi:10.1088/0004-637X/739/2/99 (https://doi.org/10.1088%2F0004-637X%2F739%2F2%2F
99). S2CID 34839630 (https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:34839630).
12. Nissanke, Samaya; Kasliwal, Mansi; Georgieva, Alessandra (2013). "Identifying Elusive
Electromagnetic Counterparts to Gravitational Wave Mergers: an end-to-end simulation".
The Astrophysical Journal. 767 (2): 124. arXiv:1210.6362 (https://arxiv.org/abs/1210.6362).
Bibcode:2013ApJ...767..124N (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2013ApJ...767..124N).
doi:10.1088/0004-637X/767/2/124 (https://doi.org/10.1088%2F0004-637X%2F767%2F2%2
F124). S2CID 40475384 (https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:40475384).
13. Nissanke, Samaya; Holz, Daniel E.; Dalal, Neal; Hughes, Scott A.; Sievers, Jonathan L.;
Hirata, Christopher M. (2013-07-09). "Determining the Hubble constant from gravitational
wave observations of merging compact binaries". arXiv:1307.2638 (https://arxiv.org/abs/130
7.2638) [astro-ph.CO (https://arxiv.org/archive/astro-ph.CO)].
14. "The LIGO Team Members | The Gruber Foundation" (https://gruber.yale.edu/ligo-team-me
mbers). gruber.yale.edu. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
15. "Samaya Nissanke, gravitational wave specialist about the detection of GW150914" (https://
www.ru.nl/english/research/radboud/top-research-areas/astrophysics/more-info/samaya-nis
sanke-gravitational-wave-specialist/). Radboud University (in Dutch). Retrieved 2018-10-09.
16. "Gravitational waves exist and can be measured" (https://www.ru.nl/english/news-agenda/ne
ws/vm/imapp/astrophysics/2016/gravitational-waves-exist-can-measured/). Radboud
University (in Dutch). Retrieved 2018-10-09.
17. Ursula. "5,8 miljoen TOP-subsidie voor 16 exacte topwetenschappers" (https://www.nwo.nl/a
ctueel/nieuws/2016/ew/58-miljoen-top-subsidie-voor-16-exacte-topwetenschappers.html).
www.nwo.nl. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
18. "Welcome, Samaya Nissanke! | GRAPPA" (http://grappa.amsterdam/news/welcome-samaya
-nissanke/). grappa.amsterdam. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
19. Amsterdam, Universiteit van (2018-10-02). "dr. S.M. (Samaya) Nissanke - University of
Amsterdam" (http://www.uva.nl/en/profile/n/i/s.m.nissanke/s.m.nissanke.html). www.uva.nl.
Retrieved 2018-10-09.
20. "COST | Who's Who" (http://www.cost.eu/about_cost/who/(type)/5/(wid)/58735).
www.cost.eu. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
21. "Zwaartekrachtsgolf verlicht voor het eerst fatale dans extreem zware zwarte gaten - New
Scientist" (https://newscientist.nl/nieuws/zwaartekrachtsgolf-verlicht-voor-het-eerst-fatale-da
ns-extreem-zware-zwarte-gaten/). New Scientist (in Dutch). Retrieved 2018-10-09.
22. "Gravitationswellen: Frau Nissanke, bekommen Sie nun den Nobelpreis?" (http://www.zeit.d
e/wissen/2016-02/gravitationswellen-albert-einstein-relativitaetstheorie-nobelpreis). ZEIT
ONLINE (in German). Retrieved 2018-10-09.
23. "Stars Colliding, The Science Hour - BBC World Service" (https://www.bbc.co.uk/programme
s/w3csv1ff). BBC. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
24. "Samaya Nissanke at ESO neutron star merger press conference" (https://www.eso.org/publ
ic/images/pc-img-0212-1-cc/). www.eso.org. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
25. "SPACE MUSIC" (http://www.epcmusic.com/spacemusic). EPC MUSIC. Retrieved
2018-10-09.
26. "Welcome" (http://www.arthurjeffes.com/). Arthur Jeffes. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
27. "This Composer Made Music Out of Gravitational Waves" (https://motherboard.vice.com/en_
us/article/mg7v9a/this-composer-made-music-out-of-gravitational-waves). Motherboard.
2016-02-17. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
28. "Einstein's Gravitational Waves Have Been Turned Into Gorgeous Music" (https://www.popul
armechanics.com/space/a19480/einsteins-gravitational-waves-have-been-turned-into-gorge
ous-music/). Popular Mechanics. 2016-02-17. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
29. Navarro, Alyssa (2016-02-18). "Gravitational Waves Turned to Music: This Is How Awesome
It Sounds" (https://www.techtimes.com/articles/134774/20160218/gravitational-waves-turned
-to-music-this-is-how-awesome-it-sounds.htm). Tech Times. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
30. "Breakthrough Prize – Winners Of The 2020 Breakthrough Prize In Life Sciences,
Fundamental Physics And Mathematics Announced" (https://breakthroughprize.org/News/5
4). Break Through Prize. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
31. "Dr Samaya Nissanke receives an 'Engineering and Physical Sciences' Suffrage Science
award on the scheme's tenth anniversary" (https://api.uva.nl/content/news/2021/03/dr-sama
ya-nissanke-receives-an-engineering-and-physical-sciences-suffrage-science-award-on-the-
schemes-tenth-anniversary.html?origin=l9Rh9j5yRgWJT1FU99M%2F1g&cb). University of
Amsterdam. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
32. "Leading women in 'Engineering and Physical Sciences' receive awards on scheme's tenth
anniversary" (https://www.suffragescience.org/post/leading-women-in-engineering-and-physi
cal-sciences-receive-awards-on-scheme-s-tenth-anniversary). Suffrage Science. 8 March
2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.

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