Kaze W.K. Wong (JHU)
"Building New Tools for Gravitational Wave Astronomy"

Honorable Mention:

• Naoki Aritomi (NAOJ), "Frequency-Dependent Squeezed Vacuum Source with Filter Cavity Control using Coherent Control Sidebands for Gravitational-Wave Detectors"
• Pierre Auclair, "Primordial Cosmology and Gravitational Waves: From Phase Transitions to Cosmic Strings and Primordial Black Holes"
• Francesca Badarasso (U. Clouvain), "Newtonian Noise Studies in 2nd and 3rd Generation Gravitational-Wave Interferometric Detectors"
• Vishal Baibhav, "Black Hole Beasts and Where to Find Them"
• Bhaskar Biswas (Stockholm U.), "Constraining the Equation of State of Neutron Stars using Multimessenger Observations"
• Lumen Boco (SISSA), "Gravitational Waves throughout Galaxy Evolution: Stellar BH Mergers and Heavy SMBH Seeds"
• Riccardo Buscicchio, "Topics in Bayesian Population Inference for Gravitational Wave Astronomy"
• Ugo N. Di Carlo (CMU), "Black Holes in Young Star Clusters"
• Martyna Chrushinska (MPG), "Galaxies, Binaries and Gravitational Waves"
• Roberto Cotesta (JHU), "Multipolar Gravitational Waveforms for Spinning Binary Black Holes and Their Impact on Source Characterization"
• Sayak Datta (AEI), "Distinguishing Black Holes, Neutron Stars and Exotic Compact Objects in Inspiraling Binaries"
• Alexandu Dima (U. of Illinois), "Testing the Gravitational Phenomenology of Compact Objects: Superradiance, Scalarization and Screening Mechanisms"
• Amelia Drew (Cambridge), "Cosmic String Radiation with Adaptive Mesh Refinement"
• Raphael Duque (U. of Frankfurt), "Compact Object Coalescences and Gamma-Ray Bursts in the Gravitational-Wave Era"
• Rachel Gray (QMUL), "Gravitational Wave Cosmology: Measuring the Hubble Constant with Dark Standard Sirens"
• Panagiotis Iosif, "Models of Relativistic Stars as Neutron Star Merger Remnants"
• Alex Jenkins, "Cosmology and Fundamental Physics in the Era of Gravitational-Wave Astronomy"
• Jakub Klencki (ESO), "Tales of the uncommon: massive binary stars and gravitational-wave sources"
• Francois Larrouturou, "Analytical Methods for the Study of the Two-body Problem, and Alternative Theories of Gravitation"
• Adrian Macquet (IFAE), "Recherche de signaux d'ondes gravitationnelles transitoires de longue durée avec les détecteurs Advanced Virgo et Advanced LIGO"
• Neha Singh, "Exploring Compact Binary Populations with Einstein Telescope"
• Shammi Tahura (Guelph U.), "Probing Strong-Field Gravity with Gravitational Waves"
• Hiroki Takeda (Kyoto U.), "Tests of Alternative Theories of Gravity through Gravitational-Wave Polarizations"
• Satoshi Tanioka (Syracuse U.), "Optical Loss Study of Molecular Layers Using a Cryogenic Folded Cavity for Future Gravitational-wave Detectors"
• Alexandre Toubiana (AEI), "Tests of General Relativity and Bayesian Population Studies with Gravitational Waves from Coalescing Binaries"
• Marcella Wijngaarden, "From Data to Dense Matter: Inferring Neutron Star Physics using Computational Analyses"

2021 Committee Members:

• Chair: Chiara Mingarelli
• Pia Astone
• Stas Babak
• Enrico Barausse
• Daniel Brown
• Steve Fairhurst
• Jon Gair
• Paul Lasky
• Scott Ransom
• Jax Sanders
• B.S. Sathyaprakash
• Swetha Shah
• Patrick Sutton
• Manasa Thirugnanasambandam

Marina Trad Nery (Max-Planck Institut für Gravitationsphysik, Leibniz Universität Hannover)
"Laser Power Stabilization via Radiation Pressure"

Honorable Mention:

• Enis Belgacem (Utrecht University), "Nonlocal Cosmological Models and Tests of Modified Gravity with Gravitational Waves"
• Yutaro Enomoto (University of Tokyo), "Interferometer Locking Scheme for Advanced Gravitational-Wave Detectors and Beyond"
• Eleanor Hamilton (University of Zurich), "Towards a precision description of precessing black-hole-binaries"
• Aaron (Miguel) Holgado (Carnegie Mellon University), "Gravitational Waves as Direct Probes of Binary Evolution and Astrophysical Environments
• Mikhail Korobko (University of Hamburg), "Taming the quantum noise: How quantum metrology can expand the reach of gravitational-wave observatories"
• Koji Nagano (University of Tokyo), "Control scheme for a Fabry–Perot type interferometric space gravitational wave antenna"
• Nihan Pol (West Virginia University), "Modeling the Galactic Compact Binary Neutron Star Population and Studying the Double Pulsar System"
• Arianna Renzini (Imperial College), "Mapping the Gravitational-Wave Background"
• Amit Reza (IIT Gandhinagar), "Improving low-latency gravitational wave search pipeline using numerical linear algebra"
• Colm Talbot (Monash University), "Astrophysics of Binary Black Holes at the Dawn of Gravitational-Wave Astronomy"
• Sebastian Völkel (University of Tübingen), "On the Gravitational Wave Spectrum of Compact Relativistic Objects"
• Min Jet Yap (Australian National University), "Quantum noise reduction for gravitational-wave interferometers with non-classical states"
• Michael Zevin (University of Chicago), "Unveiling the Lives and Deaths of Stars through Compact Object Mergers"
• Yuhang Zhao (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan), "Development of a frequency dependent squeezed vacuum source for broadband quantum noise reduction in advanced gravitational-wave detectors"

2020 Commitee Members

• Chair: Chiara Mingarelli
• Pia Astone
• Stas Babak
• Enrico Barausse
• Daniel Brown
• Curt Cutler
• Megan DeCesar
• Paul Lasky
• Samaya Nissanke
• Maria Alessandra Papa
• Scott Ransom
• Jax Sanders
• Manasa Thirugnanasambandam

Nancy Aggarwal (MIT)
"A Room Temperature Optomechanical Squeezer"

Honorable Mention:

• Lorenzo Aiello, "Development of new approaches for optical aberration control in gravitational wave interferometers", Cardiff University
• Alex Amato, "Low Thermal Noise Coating for New Generation Gravitational-Wave Detectors", University of Lyon
• Dániel Barta, "Astrophysical sources and fast prediction of gravitational waves: Radial pulsation of compact stars, surrogate-model representation of signals and their propagation in interstellar medium", Eötvös Loránd University
• Tom Callister, "Searching for the Astrophysical Gravitational-Wave Background and Prompt Radio Emission from Compact Binaries", Caltech
• Alessio Cirone, "Magnetic and Newtonian noises in Advanced Virgo: evaluation and mitigation strategies", University of Geneva
• José María Ezquiaga, "Probing the Dark Universe with Gravitational Waves", Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
• Nicola Giacobbo, "Demography of Compact-object Binaries in the Era of Multi-messenger Astronomy", University of Padova
• Otto Hannuksela, "Topics in the Frontiers of Gravitational-Wave Research", Nikhef
• Terra Hardwick, "High Power and Optomechanics in Advanced LIGO Detectors", LSU
• Kentaro Komori, "Optomechanical Torsion Pendulum for Measurement of Quantum Radiation Pressure Fluctuation", MIT
• Ajit Kumar Mehta, "Exploring gravitational-wave astrophysics: Source modelling, tests of general relativity and gravitational lensing", Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (AEI)
• Cody Messick, "Gravitational Waves and Such", University of Texas - Austin
• Andrew Miller, "Using Machine Learning and the Hough Transform to Search for Gravitational Waves from Young, Isolated Neutron Stars", University of Florida / Sapienza University of Rome
• Marius Oltean, "Study of the Relativistic Dynamics of Extreme-Mass-Ratio Inspirals", Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona
• Vijay Varma, "Black Hole Simulations: From Supercomputers to Your Laptop", Caltech
• Alejandro Vigna-Gómez, "On the Evolution and Fate of Interacting Massive Binary Stars", University of Birmingham

2019 Committee Members

• Chair: David Ottaway
• Lisa Barsotti
• Katerina Chatziioannou
• John Conklin
• Tanya Hinderer
• Jess McIver
• Chiara Mingarelli
• Hiroyuki Nakano
• Vivien Raymond
• Jacob P. Slutsky
• Kentaro Somiya
• Sarah Vigeland

Jonathan D. Cripe (Louisiana State University)
"Broadband Measurement and Reduction of Quantum Radiation Pressure Noise in the Audio Band"

Honorable Mention:

• Elisa Bortolas, "Dynamics of Single and Binary Black Holes in Galactic Nuclei", University of Padova, Italy
• Miriam Cabero, "Gravitational-wave astronomy with compact binary coalescences: From blip glitches to the black hole area increase law", Leibniz University
• Andrea Endrizzi, "Investigating the Effects of Magnetic Fields and Microphysics in Binary Neutron Star Mergers", University of Trento
• Bhooshan Gadre, "Efficient Methods for Detection of Gravitational Waves from Compact Binary Coalescences", Jawaharlal Nehru University
• Abhirup Ghosh, "Testing general relativity using observations of gravitational waves from the inspiral, merger and ringdown of binary black holes", International Centre for Theoretical Science, TIFR
• Max Isi, "Fundamental physics in the era of gravitational-wave astronomy: The direct measurement of gravitational-wave polarizations and other topics", Caltech
• Katharina-Sophie Isleif, "Laser Interferometry for LISA and Satellite Geodesy Missions", Leibniz University Hannover
• Sina Koehlenbeck, "Towards the SQL Interferometer Length Stabilization at the AEI 10 m-Prototype", Leibniz University Hannover
• Nicholas Loutrel, "Eccentric Compact Binaries: Modeling the Inspiral and Gravitational Wave Emission", Montana State University
• Simone Mastrogiovanni, "Advanced data analysis techniques for the detection of gravitational waves from asymmetric spinning neutron stars: an application to the first and second LIGO-Virgo observing runs", Sapienza University of Rome
• Nikhil Mukund, "Characterization and Reduction of Noise in Gravitational Wave Detectors", Jawaharlal Nehru University
• Raymond Robie, "Characterisation of the mechanical properties of thin-film mirror coating materials for use in future interferometric gravitational wave detectors", University of Glasgow
• Emil Schreiber, "Gravitational-wave detection beyond the quantum shot-noise limit, The integration of squeezed light in GEO 600", Leibniz University Hannover
• Ling Sun, "Hidden Markov Model and Cross-correlation Searches for Continuous Gravitational Waves", University of Melbourne
• Marek Szczepanczyk, "Multimessenger Astronomy with Gravitational Waves from Core-Collapse Supernovae", Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Lucia Trozzo, "Low Frequency Optimization and Performance of Advanced Virgo Seismic Isolation System", Universitá degli Studi di Siena, Italy

Hector Okada da Silva (University of Mississippi)
"Compact Objects in Relativistic Theories of Gravity"

Honorable Mention:

• Anirban Ain, "Sources of Stochastic Gravitational Waves and Efficient Observation with Laser Interferometric Detectors", The Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics
• Carl Blair, "Parametric Instability in Gravitational Wave Detectors", University of Western Australia
• Eleonora Capocasa, "Optical and noise studies for Advanced Virgo and filter cavities for quantum noise reduction in gravitational-wave interferometric detectors", Paris Diderot University
• Karan Jani, "Journey of binary black holes: From supercomputers to LIGO to universe", Georgia Tech
• Gavin Lamb, "Relativistic Jets from Compact Binary Mergers as Electromanetic Counterparts to Gravitational Wave Sources," Liverpool John Moores University
• Pantelis Pnigouras, "Saturation of the f-mode instability in neutron stars", Universität Tübingen
• Simon Stevenson, "Insights into binary black hole formation from gravitational waves", University of Birmingham
• Alejandro Torres-Fome, "Gravitational-Wave Astronomy: Modelling, detection, and data analysis", University of Valencia

Eric Oelker (MIT), winner of the 2016 GWIC Thesis Prize
"Squeezed States for Advanced Gravitational Wave Detectors"

Davide Gerosa (University of Cambridge), winner of the 2016 Braccini Thesis Prize
"Source modelling at the dawn of gravitational-wave astronomy"

Honorable Mention:

• Michalis Agathos, "The Swan Song of a Neutron Star Binary: Fundamental physics and astrophysics with gravitational waves from compact binary coalescence", Vrije Univertieit
• Diego Bersanetti, "Development of a New Lock Acquisition Strategy for the Arm Cavities of Advanced Virgo", Università deli Study di Genova
• Katerina Chatziioannou, "Spin-Precessing Compact Binaries: Gravitational Wave Modeling and Information Extraction", Montana State University
• Carl-Johan Haster, "Compact, Diverse and Efficient: Globular Cluster Binaries and Gravitational Wave Parameter Estimation Challenges", University of Birmingham
• Sean Leavey, "Enhancing the Sensitivity of Future Laser-Interferometric Gravitational Wave Detectors", University of Glasgow
• Martina Neri, "Advanced Virgo: the magnetic coupling to the Payloads and its impact on the low frequency sensitivity of the detector"
• Zhu Xingjiang, "Detection of Gravitational Waves: from Nanohertz to the Audio Band", University of Western Australia

Denis Martynov (Caltech), winner of the 2015 GWIC Thesis Prize
"Lock Acquisition and Sensitivity Analysis of Advanced LIGO Interferometers"

Vikram Ravi (University of Melbourne), winner of the 2015 Braccini Thesis Prize
"Evincing the histories of the cosmic supermassive black hole and galaxy populations with gravitational waves"

Honorable Mention:

• Juan Calderón Bustillo, "Subdominant modes of the gravitational radiation from compact binary coalescence: Construction of hybrid waveforms and impact on gravitational wave searches," University of the Balearic Islands
• Robert Coyne, "LIGO GRB searches in the aLIGO Era: An optimized Burst Database and a New Method for detecting Intermediate-duration GWs", George Washington University
• Liang Dai, "Primordial Perturbations in the Universe: Theory, Detection, and Implications for Inflation", Johns Hopkins University
• Jenne Driggers, "Noise Cancellation for Gravitational-Wave Detectors", Caltech
• Daniel Hoak, "Gravitational Wave Astrophysics: Instrumentation, Detector Characterization, and a Search for Gravitational Signals from Gamma-ray Bursts", University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Nikolaos Karnesis, "Bayesian Data Analysis for LISA Pathfinder", Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
• Natalia Korsakova, "Probing low gravity gradient with LISA Pathfinder," Leibniz University of Hannover
• Lindley Lentati, "Searching for Weak Signals from the Distant Universe," University of Cambridge
• Dustin Madison, "Efforts to Broaden and Facilitate Pulsar Timing Array Searches for Gravitational Radiation", Cornell University
• Ignacio Mateos Martín, "Design and Assessment of a Low-Frequency Magnetic Measurement System for eLISA", Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
• Jessica McIver, "The impact of terrestrial noise on the detectability and reconstruction of gravitational wave signals from core-collapse supernovae", University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Duncan Meacher, "Compact Binaries: Models of Populations, Multi-Messenger Detection and Cosmology", Universite of Nice-Sophia Antipolis
• Ilaria Nardecchia, "Control of optical aberrations in advanced interferometric gravitational wave detectors", Università di Roma
• Ayaka Shoda, "Development of a High-Angular-Resolution Antenna for Low-Frequency Gravitational-Wave Observation", University of Tokyo
• Daniel Siegel, "Binary neutron star mergers and short gamma-ray bursts: magnetohydrodynamics and electromagnetic emission", Potsdam University
• Alexa Staley, "Locking the Advanced LIGO Gravitational Wave Detector: with a focus on the Arm Length Stabilization Technique", Columbia University
• Alex Vañó-Viñuales, "Free evolution of the hyperboloidal initial value problem in spherical symmetry", University of the Balearic Islands
• Madeline Wade, "Gravitational-wave Science with the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory", University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Leo Singer (Caltech), winner of the 2014 GWIC Thesis Prize
"The needle in the 100 deg² haystack: The hunt for binary neutron star mergers with LIGO and Palomar Transient Factory"

Yan Wang (Leibniz University of Hannover), winner of the 2014 Braccini Thesis Prize
"On inter-satellite laser ranging, clock synchronization and gravitational wave data analysis"

Honorable Mention:

• Tara Chalermsongsak, High Fidelity Probe and Mitigation of Mirror Thermal Fluctuations, Caltech
• Ryan DeRosa, Performance of Active Vibration Isolation in the Advanced LIGO Detectors, Louisiana State University
• Benjamin Farr, Extracting Astrophysical Information from the Gravitational Waves of Compact Binary Mergers and Their Electromagnetic Counterparts, Northwestern University
• Prayush Kumar, Topics in Gravitational-Wave Astrophysics, Syracuse University
• Grant Meadors, Directed searches for continuous gravitational waves from spinning neutron stars in binary systems, University of Michigan
• Chiara Mingarelli, Gravitational-Wave Astrophysics with Pulsar Timing Arrays, University of Birmingham
• Christopher Mueller, Techniques for Resonant Sideband Interferometry with Applications to the Advanced LIGO Gravitational-Wave Detectors, University of Florida
• Stephen Privitera, The Importance of Spin for Observing Gravitational Waves from Coalescing Compact Binaries with LIGO and Virgo, Caltech
• Patricia Schmidt, Studying and Modelling the Complete Gravitational-Wave Signal from Precessing Black Hole Binaries, Cardiff University
• Sweta Shah, The synergy between Gravitational wave and Electromagnetic data of compact binaries, Radboud University Nijmegen
• Andrea Taracchini, Inspiral-Merger-Ringdown Models for Spinning Black-Hole Binaries at the Interface between Analytical and Numerical Relativity, University of Maryland
• Stephen Taylor, Exploring the Cosmos with Gravitational Waves, University of Cambridge

Sheon Chua (ANU), winner of the 2013 GWIC Thesis Prize
"Quantum Enhancement of a 4km Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Detector"

Tjonnie Li (Vrije University Amsterdam), winner of the 2013 Braccini Thesis Prize
"Extracting Physics from Gravitational Waves: Testing the Strong-field Dynamics of General Relativity and Inferring the Large-scale Structure of the Universe"

Honorable Mention:

• Christopher Berry, Exploring Gravity with Gravitational Waves & Strong Field Tests, University of Cambridge
• Thilina Dayanga, Searching for Gravitational-Waves from Compact Binary Coalescences while Dealing With Challenges of Real Data and Simulated Waveforms, Washington State University
• Sheila Dwyer, Quantum noise reduction using squeezed states in LIGO, MIT
• Shaon Ghosh, Improving the Detectability of Gravitational Wave Counterparts of Short-Hard Gamma Ray Bursts, Washington State University
• Christian Graef, Optical Design and Numerical Modeling of the AEI 10m Prototype sub-SQL Interferometer, Leibniz University of Hannover
• Ioannis Kamaretsos, Gravitational-wave radiation from merging binary black holes and Supernovae, Cardiff University
• Shivaraj Kandhasamy, Searches for stochastic gravitational waves and long gravitational wave transients in LIGO S5 data, University of Minnesota
• Laura Nuttall, Electromagnetic Follow-Up of Gravitational Wave Candidates, Cardiff University
• David Radice, Advanced Numerical Approaches in the Dynamics of Relativistic Flows, Leibniz University of Hannover
• Patxi Ritter, Ondes gravitationnelles et calcul de la force propre pour un astre compact en mouvement autour d’un trou noir super-massif, Université d’Orléans
• Rory Smith, Gravitational-Wave Astronomy with Coalescing Compact Binaries: Detection and Parameter Estimation with Advanced Detectors, University of Birmingham
• Alexander Wanner, Seismic Attenuation System (AEI-SAS) for the AEI 10 m Prototype, Leibniz University of Hannover
• Christopher Wipf, Toward Quantum Opto-Mechanics in a Gram-Scale Suspended Mirror Interferometer, MIT
• Huan Yang, Topics in Gravitational-Wave Science: Macroscopic Quantum Mechanics and Black Hole Physics, Caltech
• Aaron Zimmerman, Topics in Black Hole Perturbation Theory and the Visualization of Curved Spacetime, Caltech

Paul Fulda (University of Birmingham), winner of the 2012 GWIC Thesis Prize
Precision Interferometry in a New Shape: Higher-order Laguerre-Gauss Modes for Gravitational Wave Detection

Kiwamu Izumi (University of Tokyo), co-winner of the 2012 Braccini Thesis Prize
Multi-Color Interferometry for Lock Acquisition of Laser Interferometric Gravitational-wave Detectors

Vivien Raymond (Northwestern University), co-winner of the 2012 Braccini Thesis Prize
Parameter Estimation Using Markov Chain Monte Carlo Methods for Gravitational Waves from Spinning Inspirals of Compact Objects

Honorable Mention:

• Romain Bonnand, The Advanced Virgo Gravitational Wave Detector: Study of the optical design and development of the mirrors, University of Lyon
• Luke Butcher, The Localisation of Gravitational Energy, Momentum, and Spin, University of Cambridge
• Sarah Caudill, Searches for Gravitational Waves from Perturbed Black Holes in Data from LIGO Detectors, Louisiana State University
• Irene Di Palma, A First Search for coincident Gravitational Waves and High Energy Neutrinos, Albert Einstein Institute and Leibniz University of Hannover
• Philip Graff, Bayesian Methods for Gravitational Waves and Neural Networks, University of Cambridge
• Kiwamu Izumi, Multi-Color Interferometry for Lock Acquisition of Laser Interferometric Gravitational-wave Detectors, University of Tokyo
• Shawn Mitryk, Laser Noise Mitigation through Time Delay Interferometry for Space-Based Gravitational Wave Interferometers Using the UF Laser Interferometry Simulator, University of Florida
• Vivien Raymond, Parameter Estimation Using Markov Chain Monte Carlo Methods for Gravitational Waves from Spinning Inspirals of Compact Objects, Northwestern University
• Dipongkar Talukder, Multi-Baseline Searches for Stochastic Sources and Black Hole Ringdown Signals in LIGO-Virgo Data, Washington State University

Rutger van Haasteren (University of Leiden), winner of the 2011 GWIC Thesis Prize
Gravitational Wave detection and data analysis for Pulsar Timing Arrays

Aleksandr Khalaidovski (Albert Einstein Institute and Leibniz University of Hannover), winner of the 2011 Stefano Braccini Thesis Prize
Beyond the Quantum Limit--A Squeezed-Light Laser in GEO600

Honorable Mention:

• Sarah Burke-Spolaor, Supermassive Black Hole Binaries and Transient Radio Events: Studies in Pulsar Astronomy,, Swinburne University of Technology
• Priscilla Canizares, Extreme-Mass-Ratio Inspirals: Modelling and Test of an Alternative Theory of Gravity, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona
• Collin Capano, Searching for Gravitational Waves from Compact Binary Coalescence Using LIGO and Virgo Data, Syracuse University
• Marc Diaz-Aguilo, Magnetic Diagnostics Algorithms for LISA Pathfinder: System Identification and Data Analysis, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya and Institut d'Estudis Espacials de Catalunya
• Kate Dooley, Design and Performance of High Laser Power Interferometers for Gravitational-wave Detection, University of Florida
• Scott Field, Applications of Discontinuous Galerkin Methods to Computational General Relativity, Brown University
• Tobin Fricke, Homodyne Detection for Laser-Interferometric Gravitational Wave Detectors, Louisiana State University
• Massimo Granata, Optical Development for Second- and Third-Generation Gravitational-Wave Detectors: Stable Recycling Cavities for Advanced Virgo and Higher-Order Laguerre-Gauss Modes, Universite Paris Diderot (Paris 7) and Universita degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata
• Ian Harry, Can we hear black holes collide?, Cardiff University
• Eliu Huerta, Source modelling of extreme and intermediate mass ratio inspirals, University of Cambridge
• Jonah Kanner, LOOC UP: Seeking Optical Counterparts to Gravitational Wave Signals, University of Maryland
• Aleksandr Khalaidovski, Beyond the Quantum Limit--A Squeezed-Light Laser in GEO600, Albert Einstein Institute and Leibniz University of Hannover
• Paolo Pani, Applications of perturbation theory in black hole physics, Universita degli Studi di Cagliari
• Larne Pekowsky, Characterization of Enhanced Interferometric Gravitational-wave Detectors and Studies of Numeric Simulations for Compact-Binary Coalescences, Syracuse University
• Michal Was, Searching for gravitational waves associated with gamma-ray bursts in 2009-2010 LIGO-Virgo data, Universite Paris XI
• Yinan Yu, Arm Locking for Laser Interferometer Space Antenna, University of Florida

Haixing Miao (University of Western Australia), winner of the 2010 GWIC Thesis Prize
Exploring Macroscopic Quantum Mechanics in Optomechanical Devices

Honorable Mention:

• Kazuhiro Agatsuma, Study of pendulum thermal noise in gravitational wave detectors, University of Tokyo
• Lindy Blackburn, Open Issues in the Search for Gravitational Wave Transients, MIT
• Christine Tsung Yi Chung, Radio, X-ray, and Gravitational Wave Emission from Neutron Stars, University of Melbourne
• Marco Drago, Search for transient gravitational wave signals with a known waveform in the LIGO Virgo network of interferometric detectors using a fully coherent algorithm, University of Padova
• Nickolas V. Fotopoulos, The search for compact binary coalescence in association with short GRBs with LIGO/Virgo S5/VSR1 data, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
• Evan A. Goetz, Gravitational Wave Studies: Detector Calibration and an All-Sky Search for Spinning Neutron Stars in Binary Systems, University of Michigan
• Jeffrey Kissel, Calibrating and improving the sensitivity of the LIGO detectors, Louisiana State University
• Patrick Kwee, Laser Characterization and Stabilization for Precision Interferometry, Albert Einstein Institute and Leibniz University of Hannover
• John Miller, On Non-Gaussian Beams and Optomechanical Parametric Instabilities in Interferometric Gravitational Wave Detectors, University of Glasgow
• Evan Ochsner, Improving analytical templates and searching for gravitational waves from coalescing black hole binaries, University of Maryland
• Pinkesh Patel, Search for Gravitational Waves from a nearby neutron star using barycentric resampling, California Insitute of Technology
• Maria Principe, Noise Modeling and Reduction in Gravitational Wave Detection Experiments, University of Sannio
• Christian Reisswig, Binary Black Hole Mergers and Novel Approaches to Gravitational Wave Extraction in Numerical Relativity, Albert Einstein Institute and Leibniz University of Hannover
• Jameson Graef Rollins, Multimessenger Astronomy with Low-Latency Searches for Transient Gravitational Waves, Columbia University
• Lucia Santamaria Lara, Coalescence of black-hole binaries: from theoretical source model to applications in gravitational-wave astronomy, Albert Einstein Institute and University of Potsdam
• Karl William Wette, Gravitational waves from accreting neutron stars and Cassiopeia A, Australian National University

Holger Pletsch (Albert Einstein Institute and Leibniz University of Hannover), winner of the 2009 GWIC Thesis Prize
Data Analysis for Continuous Gravitational Waves: Deepest All-Sky Surveys

Honorable Mention:

• James Clark, An Evidence Based Search For Transient Gravitational Waves From Neutron Stars, University of Glasgow
• Vladimir Dergachev, An All-Sky Search for Continuous Gravitational Waves, University of Michigan
• Diego Fazi, Development of a Physical-Template Search for Gravitational Waves from Spinning Compact-Object Binaries with LIGO, University of Bologna
• Drew Keppel, Signatures and Dynamics of Compact Binary Coalescences and a Search in LIGO S5 Data, Caltech
• Ryan Lang, Observable Signatures of General Relativistic Dynamics in Compact Binaries, MIT
• Vanessa Lauburg, Black Hole Dynamics and Gravitational Radiation In Galactic Nuclei, University of Maryland
• Iain Martin, Studies of materials for use in future interferometric gravitational wave detectors, University of Glasgow
• Josep Sanjuan Munoz, Development and validation of the thermal diagnostics instrumentation in LISA Pathfinder, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya
• Atsushi Nishizawa, Search for cosmological gravitational-wave background at high frequencies, Kyoto University
• Joris Verbiest, Long-Term Timing of Millisecond Pulsars and Gravitational Wave Detection, Swinburne University of Technology
• Alexander Zhidenko, Linear perturbations of black holes: stability, quasi-normal modes and tails, Universidade de Sao Paulo

Henning Vahlbruch (Albert Einstein Institute and Leibniz University of Hannover), winner of the 2008 GWIC Thesis Prize
Squeezed Light for Gravitational Wave Astronomy

Honorable Mention:

• Thomas Corbitt, Quantum Noise and Radiation Pressure Effects in High Power Optical Interferometers, MIT
• Lisa Goggin, A Search for Gravitational Waves from Perturbed Black Hole Ringdowns in LIGO Data, Caltech
• Chad Hanna, Searching for Gravitational Waves From Binary Systems in Non-stationary Data, Louisiana State University
• Peter Kalmus, Search for Gravitational Wave Bursts from Soft Gamma Repeaters, Columbia University
• Ben Lee, Advanced Test Mass Suspensions and Electrostatic Control for AIGO, University of Western Australia
• Kirk McKenzie, Squeezing in the Audio Gravitational Wave Detection Band, Australian National University
• Sean McWilliams, Applying Numerical Relativity to Gravitational Wave Astronomy, University of Maryland
• Jocelyn Read, Neutron Stars in Compact Binary Systems: From the equation of state to gravitational radiation, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
• Gabriele Vajente, Analysis of sensitivity and noise sources for the Virgo gravitational wave interferometer, University of Pisa
• Nicolas Yunes, At the Interface: GW as Tools to test Quantum Gravity and probe the astrophysical Universe, Pennsylvania State University

Keisuke Goda (MIT), winner of the 2007 GWIC Thesis Prize
Development of Techniques for Quantum-Enhanced Laser-Interferometric Gravitational-Wave Detectors

Honorable Mention:

• Joseph Betzwieser, Analysis of spatial mode sensitivity of a gravitational wave interferometer and a targeted search for gravitational radiation from the Crab pulsar, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Aidan Brooks, Hartmann Wavefront Sensors for Advanced Gravitational Wave Interferometers,, University of Adelaide
• Stefan Hild, Beyond the first Generation: Extending the Science Range of the Gravitational Wave Detector GEO 60, Leibniz University of Hannover
• Bence Kocsis, Astrophysical Applications of Gravity-waves” (Postscript), Eotvos Lorand University
• Matteo Lorenzini, Suspension Thermal Noise Issues for Advanced GW Interferometric Detectors, University of Florence
• Miquel Nofrarias, Thermal Diagnostics in the LISA Technology Package Experiment, University of Barcelona
• Ajith Parameswaran, On aspects of gravitational-wave detection: Detector characterisation, data analysis and source modelling for ground-based detectors, Albert Einstein Institute and Leibniz University of Hannover
• Christian Roever, Bayesian inference in astrophysical binary inspirals based in gravitational-wave measurements, University of Auckland

Yoichi Aso (University of Tokyo)
Active Vibration Isolation for a Laser Interferometric Gravitational Wave Detector using a Suspension Point Interferometer

Note, the gravitational wave thesis prize was started initially by LIGO as a biannual prize, limited to students of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration. In 2006, the thesis prize was adopted by GWIC, renamed, converted to an annual prize, and opened to the broader community. In this transition year, theses completed between 1 July 2005 and 31 December 2006 were eligible for the 2006 Prize.

Honorable Mention:

• Stefan Ballmer, LIGO interferometer operating at design sensitivity with application to gravitational radiometry, MIT
• Lisa Barsotti, The control of the Virgo interferometer for gravitational wave detection, University of Pisa
• Shourov Chatterji, The search for gravitational wave bursts in data from the second LIGO science run, MIT
• Sanjit Mitra, Efficient analysis algorithms for Gravitational Waves and Cosmology, University of Pune
• Yi Pan, Topics of LIGO physics: Template banks for the inspiral of precessing, compact binaries, and design of the signal-recycling cavity for Advanced LIGO, Caltech
• Kohei Takeno, Development of a 100-W Nd:YAG laser using the injection locking technique for gravitational wave detectors, University of Tokyo
• Ira Thorpe, Laboratory Studies Of Arm-locking Using The Laser Interferometry Space Antenna Simulator At The University Of Florida, University of Florida

Rana Adhikari (MIT)
Sensitivity and Noise Analysis of 4 km Laser Interferometric Gravitational Wave Antennae

Note, the gravitational wave thesis prize was started initially by LIGO as a biannual prize, limited to students of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration. The first award covered the period from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2005. In 2006, the thesis prize was adopted by GWIC, renamed, converted to an annual prize, and opened to the broader community.