People – Virgo GW

We are a consortium of professors, postdoctoral scholars, PhD and master’s students at universities all across Belgium that meet frequently to work on projects and exchange ideas regarding the detection of gravitational waves in the Virgo Scientific Collaboration.

**Vincent Boudart**
PhD student, *Université de Liège*

Research topics: Data Analysis – Burst

My main research consists in using machine learning techniques to detect long duration bursts. I have also worked on methods to produce realistic noise transients (a.k.a glitches) from the LIGO-Virgo data.
Email me: vboudart@uliege.be

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**Giacomo Bruno**
Professor, *Université catholique de Louvain*

Research topics:

Email me: Giacomo.Bruno@uclouvain.be

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Research topics: Primordial black holes

My main research in Gravitational-Wave astronomy concerns primordial black holes as a dark matter candidate: their theoretical formation models, merging rates, and the search of their signatures in GW observations. My publication list can be found here. My personal webpage.

Email me: sebastien.clesse@uclouvain.be

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**Jean-René Cudell**
Professor, *Université de Liège*

Research topics: Applications of machine learning to GW analysis, Gravitational lensing of gravitational waves

homepage
Email me: jr.cudell@uliege.be

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**Federico De Lillo**
*PhD student, Université catholique de Louvain*

Research topics: Stochastic gravitational-wave background

Involved in the search for a stochastic gravitational wave background (SGWB), with particular interest in anisotropies and astrophysical components, within the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA (LVK) collaboration as a Virgo member.
Email me: federico.delillo@uclouvain.be

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**Antoine Depasse**
*PhD student, Université catholique de Louvain*

Research topics: Continuous waves, boson clouds, primordial black holes, dark matter

As a PhD student at UCLouvain, I work in gravitational wave data analysis where I focus on continuous waves evidence of dark matter. In particular, I focus on continuous waves emitted by depleting vector boson clouds around rotating black holes.
Email me: antoine.depasse@uclouvain.be

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**Maxime Fays**
Professor, *Université de Liège*

Research topics: gravitational wave bursts, machine learning

Email me: maxime.fays@uliege.be

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**Archisman Ghosh**
*Professor,* *Universiteit Gent*

Research topics: Tests of strong-field gravity, gravitational-wave cosmology

Email me: archisman.ghosh@ugent.be

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Research topics:

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**Alberto Mariotti**
*Professor, Vrije Universiteit Brussel*

Research topics: Stochastic background

I obtained my PhD in Physics at the University of Milano Bicocca, followed by postdoc positions in Paris, Brussels (VUB) and Durham University (UK).
I am Professor at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel since 2016. I joined the LIGO-Virgo collaboration in 2020 where I contribute to the stochastic group activities.
My past research has been mainly focused on high energy physics, from theory to phenomenology and particle physics. Recently, I broaden my research activity towards modelling for the stochastic gravitational wave background of cosmological origin, exploring in particular possible gravitational wave signatures of Beyond the Standard Model physics.

Email me: Alberto.Mariotti@vub.be

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**Alexander Sevrin**
*Professor, Vrije Universiteit Brussel*

Research topics: Stochastic background, Einstein Telescope

Sevrin obtained his MSc in physics in 1985 at the University of Ghent followed by a PhD in 1988 from the University of Leuven. He did postdoctoral work at Stony Brook, Berkeley and CERN. In 1994 he joined the faculty of the physics department of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Most of his research was focused on theoretical high energy physics, in particular string theory and related topics. Since 2018 he is actively involved in the planning of the Einstein Telescope, the first 3rd generation gravitational wave observatory, and its R&D facility ET pathfinder. Recently he joined the Virgo collaboration where the modeling of and the experimental search for the stochastic background of gravitational waves captivates his interest.

Email me: Alexandre.Sevrin@vub.be

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**Andres Tanasijczuk**
*Research assistant, Université catholique de Louvain*

Research topics: Computing

I started my career as an experimental particle physicist, working at the D0 experiment (Fermilab) as a PhD student and then at the ATLAS experiment (CERN) as a postdoc. I then switched to grid computing, working 2 years at the CMS experiment (CERN) before joining UCLouvain in 2016. Since 2019, I work on aspects of offline (grid) computing for Virgo, and in 2022, I joined the ET e-Infrastructre Board as chair of the Software Frameworks division.
Email me: andres.tanasijczuk@uclouvain.be

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**Kevin Turbang**
PhD student, *Vrije Universiteit Brussel – Universiteit Antwerpen*

Research topics: Stochastic background

I graduated from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), where I obtained my master’s degree in physics. Recently, I started a joint PhD (UAntwerpen and VUB) and joined the LIGO-Virgo collaboration. My research focuses on the stochastic background, a gravitational wave signal from unresolved sources that permeates the Universe. Both data-analysis and model-building are part of my research. For the former, we investigate new methods to detect such a background, whereas for the latter, we develop models that could have generated such a background during the early stages of the Universe.

Email me: kevin.turbang@vub.be

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**Hans Van Haevermaet**
*Assistent Professor, Universiteit Antwerpen*

Research topics: ET Pathfinder, LVDT coils, interferometer simulations

As experimental physicist I have 11 years of experience in data analysis on particle collisions recorded by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC accelerator. My main objective was to understand the structure and dynamics of the proton in a precise way, by conducting novel measurements. To accomplish this I also contributed to the commissioning and operation of the very forward CASTOR calorimeter at CMS, and worked on its simulation, calibration and alignment. In August 2020 I started working on gravitational wave instrumentation. In particular I will contribute to the development of ET Pathfinder, and work on the construction and development of LVDT coils for seismic attenuation systems. In addition I’m interested in interferometer and noise budget simulation studies. In my spare time I love to play (and try to compose) music and go cycling when the weather is not too bad.

Email me: hans.vanhaevermaet@uantwerpen.be

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**Eleni Bagui**
*PhD student, Université Libre de Bruxelles*

Research topics: Stochastic background, primordial black holes

My PhD is focused on the study of primordial back holes as a dark matter candidate, in particular the gravitational wave signatures coming from their mergers and their formation mechanisms.

Email me: eleni.bagui@ulb.be

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**Aäron Rase**
*PhD student, Vrije Universiteit Brussel*

Research topics: Stochastic gravitational-wave background.

I obtained my master’s degree in physics at the VUB in 2021, where I investigated how cosmic defects, in particular domain walls, can generate a stochastic background of gravitational waves. I am now working as a PhD student at the VUB, where I continue working on the topic of my thesis. I am a member of the LVK collaboration where I contribute to the activity of the stochastic group.

Email me: aaron.rase@vub.be

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**Nick van Remortel**
Professor, *Universiteit Antwerpen*

Research topics: ET Pathfinder, stochastic gravitational wave backgrounds

I obtained my Ph.D. in physics at the University of Antwerpen in 2003, on the analysis of the DELPHI experiment at CERN’s Large Electron Positron accelerator, where I was based for more than four years. In subsequent years I worked at many large particle physics experiments all over the world: H1 at HERA of the DESY laboratory in Hamburg, CDF at the TEVATRON at FERMILAB in Chicago, and at the CMS experiment of the LHC at CERN, Geneva. In 2014 I was strongly involved in the creation of SoLid, a short baseline neutrino experiment near the BR2 reactor of SCK-CEN at Mol, Belgium. In 2018 I got interested in gravitational wave science, and together with good friends and colleagues from the Belgian physics community we got involved in the LIGO-VIRGO collaboration, in the Einstein Telescope project, and in several of ET’s R&D and preparatory initiatives such as ETpathfinder, and in E-TEST. At the level of gravitational wave instrumentation my group is active in electronics, data-acquisition and controls. In LIGO-Virgo my group is active in the search for the stochastic gravitational wave background. I am also co-convener of the stochastic search group for Virgo.
I currently represent Belgium in the ET Steering committee and play an active role in promoting the region of Limburg – Maastricht – Aachen as candidate host site for the Einstein Telescope to public and private stakeholders. I am also representing our country in the Einstein Telescope steering committee.
I live with my wife and two teenage children in Wilrijk, where we can often be seen around field hockey courts, supporting our children. In my spare time I love to read, camp, cook, make oil paintings, and fly around in small sports aircrafts. I’m also a big fan of Belgian comics, and I like to enjoy a good cigar and a good whiskey.

Email me: nick.vanremortel@uantwerpen.be

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**Hannah Duval**
*PhD student, Vrije Universiteit Brussel*

Research topics: Stochastic gravitational-wave background.

I received my master’s degree in theoretical physics from the KU Leuven, where I focused on cosmology and more specifically on Starobinsky inflation. I am now working as a PhD student at the VUB, where the stochastic background of gravitational waves is my main research area. I am a member of the LIGO-Virgo collaboration. In my free time, I like to go to the cinema, read a book, enjoy an opera or take a walk with my two dogs.

Email me: hannah.marie.d.duval@vub.be

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**Alba Romero-Rodriguez**
*Postdoc, Vrije Universiteit Brussel*

Research topics: Stochastic gravitational-wave background

I obtained my PhD at the Institute of High Energy Physics (IFAE). I worked on various topics but mainly focused on the search for an isotropic gravitational wave background (GWB). Apart from assuming an agnostic energy density spectrum describing the GWB, I also assumed it was sourced by FOPTs and the formation of PBHs, leading to constraints on the model parameters using LIGO-Virgo data from the first three observing runs. I also contributed with the design, assessment of viability and calibration photodiodes of the new instrumented baffles installed around the end test mass of the Input Mode Cleaner (IMC) in Virgo. Also, I did the first analysis of the data retrieved after installation.

Email me: Alba.Romero-Rodriguez@vub.be

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**Anoop Nagesh Koushik**
*PhD student, Universiteit Antwerpen*

Research topics: Inertial sensors, readout chips, DAQ systems, ETpathfinder

Email me: AnoopNagesh.Koushik@uantwerpen.be

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**Max Lalleman**
*PhD student, Universiteit Antwerpen*

Research topics: Stochastic background, noise characterization

I studied the stochastic background of gravitational waves coming from first-order phase transitions based on a dark matter model in my master thesis at the VUB where I graduated in 2021. This sparked my interest into gravitational waves and currently, I am pursuing my PhD at the UAntwerpen with a focus on gravitational waves. Specifically, I contribute to the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA isotropic search for the stochastic background of gravitational waves and its implications combined with CBC measurements. Next to that, I work on Virgo detector (noise) characterisation with a slight focus on magnetic noise, hopefully helping with noise hunting on location in the future. In my free time, I like to stroll, read, play video games, enjoy a night-out and watch fast cars going around in circles.

Email me: max.lalleman@uantwerpen.be

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**Cezary Turski**
*PhD student, Universiteit Gent*

Research topics: Gravitational-wave cosmology, galaxy catalogues

Email me: cezary.turski@ugent.be

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**Daniela Pascucci**
*Postdoc, Universiteit Gent*

Research topics: Optics, Optical Simulations, Wavefront Sensors, ETpathfinder

I started to work on gravitational wave instrumentation in 2012 during my master’s degree at the University of Napoli “Federico II”, where I graduated in 2013. For my master’s degree thesis, I worked on the thermal noise measurements of the Virgo+ mirrors with an interferometric sensor that I built and characterised. In 2018 I obtained a PhD in Physics and Astronomy at the University of Glasgow. My work mainly focused on defining the arm cavity mirrors requirements for the Sagnac Speed Meter proof-of-concept experiment and on the analysis of the effects of the mirror surface imperfections on the quantum noise. From 2018 until 2021 I was a postdoctoral researcher at Nikhef, where I worked on developing and testing the wavefront sensors for LISA and on the characterisation and data analysis of the Virgo Phase Camera. Since 2021 I have been a postdoctoral researcher at Ghent University, working mainly on ETpathfinder. Specifically I am working on the design of the Mode Matching Telescope and the development of the Output Mode Cleaner for the 2µm wavelength.

Email me: daniela.pascucci@ugent.be

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**Freija Beirnaert**
*PhD student, Universiteit Gent*

Research topics: Gravitational-wave cosmology, astrophysics

Email me: freija@beirnaert@ugent.be

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**Gergely Dálya**
*Postdoc, Universiteit Gent*

Research topics: Galaxy catalogues, cosmology, supernovae

Email me: gergely.dalya@ugent.be

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**Ioanna Stamou**
*Postdoc, Université Libre de Bruxelles*

Research topics: Primordial black holes

I work on the formation of primordial black holes from inflation and I study PBHs as dark matter candidate. I also work on update merger rates of light PBHs. Finally, I study the connection of the PBHs with the induced gravitational waves.

Email me: ioanna.stamou@ulb.be

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**Dixeena Lopez**
*Postdoc, Université de Liège*

Research topics: Data Analysis – short transient burst searches & ET noise cancellation

Email me: Dixeena.Lopez@uliege.be

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**Matteo Pracchia**
*Postdoc, Université de Liège*

Research topics: GW Data Analysis – Multimessenger Astronomy & Short Bursts

I did my PhD at LAPP in Annecy (France), working with the local Virgo group. The main topic of my PhD thesis was about a multimessenger GW-GRB analysis to constrain the short GRB population, modeled through a luminosity probability distribution. I contributed also to the LVK O3b unmodeled GW followup analysis of GRBs, searching for subthreshold generic GW signals compatible in time and sky position with observed GRB events. I am currently keeping to collaborate with the LVK Multimessenger transient searches group and I am starting apply machine learning techniques to the short GW burst analysis. In my spare time I love cooking, climbing, enjoying music and concerts, playing video games, playing guitar and enjoying the nightlife.

Email me: mpracchia@uliege.be

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**Vincent Juste**
*Postdoc, Université Libre de Bruxelles*

Research topics: Data analysis – MBTA CBC and SSM searches

I work on gravitational waves data analysis using the MBTA pipeline. This pipeline is dedicated to the search of Compact Binary Coalescences (CBC) signals in the LIGO and Virgo data. It also runs a Sub-Solar Mass (SSM) search. My PhD consisted in developing a search using the single detector triggers of the pipeline, I am now working on the SSM search.

Email me: vincent.juste@ulb.be

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**Stavros Venikoudis**
*Postdoc, Université catholique de Louvain*

Research topics: Stochastic gravitational-wave background

I obtained my master’s degree in Theoretical Physics from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. I have worked mainly on the inflationary era of the primordial Universe using extensions of GR. Now, my research is focused on Stochastic gravitational-wave backgrounds as a member of the LIGO-Virgo collaboration.

Email me: stavros.venikoudis@uclouvain.be

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**Ricardo Cabrita**
*PhD student, Université catholique de Louvain*

Research topics: Mode matching, optics, wavefront sensing

I am studying the use of wavefront sensing, specifically using the phase camera, to generate error signals to correct for mode mismatch. This is being done in parallel at Advanced Virgo, through simulations in OSCAR and data analysis of the phase cameras already isntalled there as well as in a table-top set-up at UCLouvain. At UCLouvain we aim to develop a controlled environment to study how the phase camera can be used to measure mode mismatch in first a linear, and later a coupled cavity, and generate error signals to correct for it. In broader terms I’m interested in how we can measure and compensate mode mismatch in complex interferometers like gravitational-wave detectors, as well as the creation and analysis of higher-order modes in these systems. I have also been working with laser frequency noise stabilization in the lab, not only with the Pound Drever Hall technique, but also optical feedback and others.

Email me: ricardo.cabrita@uclouvain.be

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**Pengbo Li**
*PhD student, Universiteit Antwerpen*

Research topics: ET Pathfinder, LVDT sensors

Email me: pengbo.li@uantwerpen.be

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**Kumar Akhil Kukkadapu**
*PhD student, Universiteit Antwerpen*

Research topics: ET Pathfinder, LVDT sensors

Email me: kumarakhil.kukkadapu@uantwerpen.be

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**Jorden De Bolle**
*PhD student, Universiteit Gent*

Research topics: Mirror coatings

Email me: jorden.debolle@ugent.be

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Alumni

**Grégory Baltus**
PhD student, *Université de Liège*

Research topics: Machine learning and inspiraling neutron stars

I have done my Bachelor and Master at the University of Liège, where I do now a PhD since October 2018. As I’m working on gravitational waves data science, I joined the Virgo collaboration when I started my thesis. I develop new techniques of data analysis to detect gravitational waves.
Email me: greg.baltus@gmail.com

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**Kamiel Janssens**
Postdoc, Universiteit Antwerpen

Research topics: Stochastic background, noise characterization

During my bachelors and masters I mainly focused on particle physics, but for my PhD I switched to gravitational waves. I contribute to the LIGO-Virgo efforts to search for a stochastic gravitational wave background. I work on Virgo data-quality and have a high interest in magnetic noise which can contaminate the stochastic analysis. Therefore I am not only active in data-analysis but also go regularly to Virgo to help with noise hunting. In my free time I like to do indoor rock climbing, handball, traveling and enjoying nature.

Email me: kamiel.janssens@uantwerpen.be

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**Andrew Miller**
Postdoc, *Université catholique de Louvain*

Research topics: Continuous waves, boson clouds, primordial black holes, dark matter

I work in gravitational-wave data analysis to detect continuous waves from isolated neutron stars, depleting boson clouds around black holes and inspiraling primordial black holes. I am also adapting methods to search for different types of dark matter that interact directly with gravitational-wave interferometers, whose signatures are remarkably similar to those from continuous waves. Apart from physics, I enjoy travelling, hiking, playing volleyball, and drinking wine and craft beers.

Email me: andrew.miller@uclouvain.be

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**Joris van Heijningen**
Research scientist, *Université catholique de Louvain*

Research topics: Mode matching, cryogenic inertial sensing, E-TEST

I have worked at CERN, SLAC and the Virgo and KAGRA gravitational wave observatories. I now work on cryogenic inertial sensing and vibration isolation for the E-TEST project. For Advanced Virgo and future GW detectors, I lead a mode matching and cavity control project using phase cameras and other sensing solutions. In my time off, I like to make music: I have been playing saxophone since my hands were big enough for the instrument, and I sing rock ‘n’ roll classics from the ’60s/’70s in a band. Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Email me: joris.vanheijningen@uclouvain.be

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