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Symposium & Memorial for Professor Rainer Weiss, February 27–28, 2026

The MIT Department of Physics and Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research would like to share with you plans for a symposium and memorial service honoring Professor Rainer Weiss, Nobel Laureate in Physics (2017) and longtime member of our faculty, whose visionary work made the discovery of gravitational waves possible.

Symposium: Friday, February 27, 2026 (all day) — A full day of scientific talks and reflections celebrating Rai’s pioneering contributions to physics and his profound influence on generations of researchers.

Memorial Service: Saturday, February 28, 2026 (morning) — A gathering of family, friends, and colleagues to honor his life and legacy.

We invite members of the scientific community, alumni, collaborators, and friends to join us in celebrating the life and work of Rai.

Both events will take place at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with further details—including venues and programs — to follow in the coming weeks.

We kindly ask you to indicate your intent to attend by using this form: Weiss Event Form.

Deepto Chakrabarty, MIT Physics Department Head

Robert A. Simcoe, Director, MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research

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Gravitational Waves and Detection Technologies – PAS Rome Meeting 2026, March 16-17

Gravitational Waves and Detection Technologies - PAS Rome meeting 2026, jointly organized by the Polish Academy of Sciences, the University of Perugia and INFN Perugia, will take place in Rome from 16 March to 17 March 2026. This event aims to provide a platform for sharing recent advancements in the rapidly evolving field of gravitational-wave science, with a particular focus on detector science and experimental technologies.

The program will bring together researchers working on both theoretical and experimental aspects of gravitational waves, fostering exchange across different detector concepts, data analysis techniques and astrophysical applications. Talks will focus on the future of interferometric detectors, modern sensing technologies, signal processing methods and multi-messenger connections encouraging discussions that span physics, engineering and data science.

Invited speakers

prof. dr hab. Andrzej Królak, Institute of Mathematics of the Polish Academy of Sciences

prof. dr hab. Tomasz Bulik, Astronomical Observatory of the University of Warsaw

dott. Gianluca Gemme, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, VIRGO Collaboration spoke-person

Important dates

  • Opening abstract submission: Tue, 2 Sep 2025
  • Opening registration: Tue, 7 October 2025
  • Closing abstract submission: Fri, 5 Dec 2025 (extended to Fri, 19 Dec 2025)
  • Abstract acceptance notification: Mon, 5 Jan 2026
  • Closing registration (final): Mon, 9 Mar 2026

Meeting Website

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10th anniversary of the launch of LISA Pathfinder

[December 3rd 2025] Today, we commemorate the tenth anniversary of the launch of the LISA Pathfinder (LPF) mission. This milestone was a moment of deep pride for the entire LISA Community and the thousands of people who contributed to this extraordinary feat of engineering and science.

LISA Pathfinder was an extremely successful mission that demonstrated our ability to go above and beyond the key technological requirements for the future LISA mission. LPF successfully measured and controlled the motion of the test masses in space with unprecedented precision, effectively removing one of the main technological risks and paving the way for LISA to become reality.

Liftoff of Vega VV06 carrying LISA Pathfinder on 3 December 2015 from Europe’s Spaceport, French Guiana.
Copyright: ESA–Stephane Corvaja, 2015

The success of LPF is a testament to the dedication of its international team. This was a scientifically, technologically, and organizationally demanding project whose success created the essential conditions that now enable us to realize the revolutionary potential of LISA.

We are now half way between the launch of LPF and the nominal launch date of the LISA. Looking to the next decade one of our key responsibilities is to ensure the knowledge and expertise developed through the LPF project are passed on to the next generation of scientists and engineers.

-Prof. Dr. Niels Warburton, University College Dublin and Spokesperson of the LISA Consortium

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Postdoctoral position in GW cosmology at ICG, University of Portsmouth

This postdoctoral position will focus on testing dark energy and modified gravity models with cosmological observations. Two aspects of this are of interest for this position, candidates are welcome via either route:

i) Linking simulations of large-scale structure (LSS) in modified gravity theories to observables relevant to stage IV surveys. Relevant skills include: experience with running and handling outputs from numerical simulations of LSS. Experience constructing emulators. Experience with forecasting and/or data analysis of galaxy clustering and weak lensing observables. Experience with HOD modelling. Other experience in constraining gravity with LSS will be considered.

ii) Testing gravity through the association of gravitational waves (GWs) and galaxies, e.g. dark sirens, GW-galaxy cross-correlation. Relevant skills include: experience with dark sirens software pipelines (e.g. gwcosmo, IcaroGW, CHIMERA…). Experience with GW x LSS cross-correlation computations. Experience with forecasting for 3G GW detectors. Other experience in GW cosmology will be considered.

Application deadline: 02/01/2026

The successful candidate will join the research team of Prof. Tessa Baker, and contribute to the ERC-funded SHADE project. Queries on the post can be directed to tessa.baker@port.ac.uk.

The working pattern for this post is full-time. Whilst there is a need to be in Portsmouth a few days a week, hybrid working is available for this role.

The interviews are currently anticipated to be held on 19 January 2025.

This appointment is a fixed-term contract for 12 months.

Applications (application form, CV, publication list and research proposal for the fellowship) should be submitted by the closing date. Applicants should also arrange for three letters of recommendation to be sent by email to icg-recruitment(at)port.ac.uk, to arrive by the same date.

Please find here full details.

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Massive Black Hole Spin Workshop, April 21-24 2026, Edinburgh

Astrophysical black holes can be entirely described by just two properties: their mass and their spin. While masses of black holes have been extensively studied, black hole spin remains poorly understood. This is because spin is both much more difficult to observe and more complex to model. Nevertheless, spin is no less integral to the evolution of massive black holes over time, and the role they play in shaping their host galaxies.

This workshop is a chance to discuss the nature and evolution of massive black hole spin from both an observational and theoretical point of view. It aims to bring together the theoretical and observational communities to advance our collective understanding of black hole spin evolution. In this workshop we will focus on the evolution of the massive black hole spin distribution across cosmic time, as informed by analytic models, numerical simulations as well as multi-frequency and multi-messenger observations.  Theoretical sessions will cover simulations and analytic models, from accretion-disc scale phenomena via the impact of binaries and inspiral on massive black hole spin to a discussion on what we can learn from galaxy scale and cosmological simulations on the spin distribution of massive black holes. Observation-focused sessions will include gravitational waves, X-ray based and interferometry-based spin measurements, and those based on transient events. The goal of this workshop is to bring together theorists and observers to exchange state-of-the-art insights and guide future efforts to maximise the understanding of black hole spin across cosmic time.

Core questions include:

– When and where can we observe massive black hole spin?

– What can we learn about massive black hole spin from current theoretical and numerical efforts on different astrophysical scales?

– What observations do we need most to constrain models?

– Where should modelling efforts be focused to make the most of the existing and upcoming observational missions?

– What do we need to prepare to make the most of upcoming missions?

Confirmed invited speakers so far

  • Matthew Liska
  • Davide Gerosa
  • Filip Husko
  • Margherita Giustini

 ** Please note there is no attendance fee for this workshop**

If you are interested in attending this workshop, please register by clicking on the registration section of this page. We will confirm your registration if your abstract is accepted.

Registration is now open and will close on the 19th of January 2026.

Please be aware of this Travel Scam! 

If you received emails from travellerpoint(dot)org (or another travel company), please be careful. The email asks about arrival and departure dates to Edinburgh and offers a hotel booking form where they ask for credit card details.
Please, ignore the emails and do not reply nor click on any link given by them. You can also block the domain on your email client.
Our official emails are all from this website’s domain “@ed.ac.uk” (usually, sopa.events@ed.ac.uk). Please avoid giving private information to external sources. 

Workshop Website

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From LISA Pathfinder to LISA: Celebrating 10 years of the LPF launch, December 3-4 2025 at CSIC Catalan Delegation

On 3 December 2015, the European Space Agency launched LISA Pathfinder, a pioneering mission designed to test the technologies required to open a new window onto the Universe: the detection of low-frequency gravitational waves from space. Over its operational lifetime, LISA Pathfinder surpassed expectations, demonstrating with unprecedented precision that free-falling test masses could be shielded from all external forces, and that their motion could be tracked with picometre accuracy.

Now, ten years later, we come together to celebrate the success of this extraordinary mission, which laid the foundations for LISA, ESA’s future space-based gravitational wave observatory. LISA Pathfinder not only proved the feasibility of revolutionary instrumentation — from drag-free control to micro-newton thrusters — but also paved the way for a completely new form of astronomy. This anniversary is an opportunity to look back on a milestone in space science, and to look ahead to the scientific revolutions that LISA will bring.

Workshop Website

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SIGRAV International School 2026: Neutron Stars: Modelling and Detection, February 16-20 in Vietri sul Mare

This edition of the Italian Society of General Relativity and Gravitation (SIGRAV) International School is dedicated to the study of neutron stars as outstanding sources of gravitational and electromagnetic waves in the strong-field regime. The program is structured to promote scholarly interaction and collaboration, offering participants the opportunity to engage with leading experts in the field. Through a series of advanced lectures and discussions, the School aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of current developments in gravitational research and to equip attendees with the knowledge and tools necessary to advance their own scientific work in the study of gravity.

The School will take place in Vietri sul Mare (SA), Italy, 16-20 February 2026.

The program of the School comprises the following four courses:

  • B. Haskell (Milano Bicocca Univ., IT): Modelling of Neutron Stars as Gravitational Wave Sources
  • T. Hinderer (Utrecht Univ., NL) : Gravitational Signal from Late Inspiral and Merger of Neutron Stars
  • M.A. Papa (AEI, Hannover, DE) : Detection of Continuous Gravitational Waves
  • M. Ghirlanda (INAF, Brera, IT): Multimessenger Astrophysics with Neutron Stars

The School is intended for PhD students and young post-docs. In order to receive the certificate of participation, all lectures and seminars should be attended.

The Participation Fee (350 EUR for non-SIGRAV members, 300 EUR for SIGRAV members) guarantee the access to all courses and activities, including lunch and coffee breaks.

A reduced participation fee (50 EUR) is available for those which will be only able to attend the lectures remotely.

The room should be booked in the Lloyd’s Baia Hotel. Please, reserve your room by using the form available in the section “Practical Info – Accomodation and Transport”.

The deadline for registration and payment of the relative fee is 06 February 2025 (see Registration section).
A social excursion is planned for Wednesday, offering participants the opportunity to visit the Royal Palace of Caserta

School Website

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Listening to the Cosmos: New Frontiers in Gravitational Wave Physics, Aug 24 – Sep 26, 2026, Firenze

The first detection of gravitational waves from the Ligo-Virgo-Kagra collaboration and the recent results of several pulsar timing arrays have opened the exploration of the gravitational wave Universe. Over the next decade, several other ground and space-based experiments will join this exploration and allow us to access a broad band of the gravitational wave spectrum. This new exploration comes with a series of challenges that can only be overcome through close collaboration between experimentalists and theorists. This workshop will bring together experts working on the experiments enabling this exploration, as well as particle physicists and cosmologists, to discuss the open challenges that this new exploration presents and highlight the synergies between these different communities. Application deadline: April 30th 2026.

Topics
Week 1 (24th – 30th August): Pulsar Timing Arrays
Week 2 (31st August – 6th September): Space-Based GW Detectors
Week 3 (7th – 13th September): Conference Week
Week 4 (14th – 20th September): Ground-Based GW Detectors
Week 5 (21st – 27th September): Ultra-High Frequency GW Detectors

Application:
To submit your application, please click the Apply button above and complete the registration form. The minimum stay is one week; however, participants are strongly encouraged to stay for several weeks to make the most of the program. The application deadline is April 30, 2026.

Accommodation :
Selected participants will have the opportunity to book accommodation through GGI, ensuring access to the best available rates at local hotels. A limited number of participants may receive support from GGI to cover local expenses. If you wish to be considered for such support, please indicate this in your application.

Organizers

Diego Blas — ICREA and IFAE Barcelona
Neil Cornish — Montana State University
Valeriya Korol — Max Planck Institute and University of Birmingham
Andrea Mitridate — DESY
Mauro Pieroni — Instituto de Estructura de la Materia, Madrid
Michele Redi — INFN Florence
Alberto Sesana — University of Milano Bicocca, INFN and INAF Milan

Local organizer
Michele Redi

Contact
andrea.mitridate(at)nanograv.org
michele.redi(at)fi.infn.it

Workshop Website

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Workshop on the “New Frontiers in Strong Gravity IV” in Benasque in July 19-31 2026

The fourth installment of the two-week workshop “New frontiers in strong gravity” will take place in Benasque, Spain, from 19–31 July 2026 at the Science Center in Benasque (https://benasque.org/new_general/cgi-bin/years.pl?ano=2026) in the Spanish Pyrenees. The registration will open in Spring 2026.

The goal of the workshop is to foster new ideas and collaborations by bringing together experts across different disciplines, including gravity, gravitational wave astrophysics, numerical and mathematical relativity. We plan for only two talks per day, with ample time for informal discussions, sessions and collaborations. We aim at creating a diverse and inclusive meeting that thrives through communication and discussion, and we would greatly welcome participation and contributions from different communities, as well as researchers at different career stages.

Topics planned for this installment include:

  • Precision GW modeling
  • Future GW facilities
  • New detector proposals (atom IFOs, lunar, high frequency, deciHz, μHz) and sources
  • Future data analysis
  • Tests of beyond-GR
  • Cosmology
  • PBHs/Memory Burden
  • Formal mathematical relativity, perturbative methods (PN, PM)
  • Memory, tails, other soft effects
  • Analog gravity
  • Environmental effects (dark matter halos, accretion disks)
  • Scattering and Amplitudes
  • Developments in quantum gravity
  • New developments in NR / GPU computing

We would appreciate it if you could kindly note the dates if you plan to attend and forward the announcement to interested researchers in our field.

We look forward to welcoming you to Benasque.

On behalf of the organisers (D. Blas, P. Figueras, S. Nissanke, L. Stein, H. Witek)

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Multiple funded PhD positions available at the U²GRC

Multiple funded PhD positions are available at the UMass Dartmouth and University of Rhode Island gravity research group. 
We seek candidates for multiple, fully-funded PhD positions at UMass Dartmouth and the University of Rhode Island in the broad area of gravitational-wave science.

Gravitational physics researchers at both universities have recently established the UMass-URI Gravity Research Consortium (U2GRC) — a joint gravity research group. Several new researchers have been hired by both universities, including Drs. Aidan Chatwin-Davies (URI), Sarah Caudill (UMassD), Derek Davis (URI), Deborah Ferguson (URI), Michael Puerrer (URI) and Vijay Varma (UMassD). This is in addition to others who were already present, i.e. Drs. Rob Coyne (URI), Scott Field (UMassD), Bob Fisher (UMassD), Doug Gobeille (URI), and Gaurav Khanna (URI/UMassD). Most are members of the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Collaboration, LISA Consortium and the SXS Collaboration. U2GRC currently has over 20 PhD students working on various different aspects of gravitational-wave science. The group has Zoom meetings twice a week and meets in person monthly. Course exchange agreements have been formalized between the two universities to make it seamless for U2GRC students to take classes being offered at either campus. Additional agreements underway include joint student advising, collaborative grant funding, and extensive computational resource sharing.

We are particularly interested in applicants interested in working in these specific research areas: gravitational-wave data analysis and detector characterization, data driven surrogate models, numerical relativity, black hole perturbation theory, and quantum information / gravity. Please apply by February 1st, 2026 for best chances of receiving funding.

Please reach out with any questions to Drs. Scott Field (UMass Dartmouth) and Gaurav Khanna (URI) by emailing u2grc-faculty(at)googlegroups.com. Candidates are welcome to apply to either or both universities, but may wish to consult Drs. Field and Khanna first on the best match for their interests and goals. To find out more about the PhD programs at both universities: UMass Dartmouth Interdisciplinary PhD (Computational Science option) and URI Physics PhD Program.

Please find here details.