Nergis Mavalvala
MIT
Candidate for General Councillor
Biographical Summary
Nergis Mavalvala is an associate professor of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She works on experimental gravitational wave detection and precision measurement at the quantum limit. She received her B.A. in Physics and Astronomy from Wellesley College in 1990, and completed her Ph.D. in 1997, under the supervision of Rai Weiss at MIT. Her thesis work involved developing and testing the alignment sensing and control systems for the LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory) interferometers. As a postdoctoral researcher at the California Institute of Technology, she was heavily involved in all aspects of the design and commissioning of the LIGO detectors. Since 2002 she has been on the Physics faculty at MIT, where she has continued her involvement with LIGO, but has also branched out into experimental quantum optics and quantum measurement in macroscopic mechanical systems. Nergis has been a Sloan fellow and enjoys teaching and interacting with students as much as she does her research.
Nergis's research interests span two related fields -- experimental gravitational wave (GW) interferometry, and the quantum limits of precision measurement. She has been involved in experimental activities within the LIGO Laboratory over the past fifteen years, including design and implementation of interferometric sensing and control systems, commissioning of the initial LIGO detectors, study of quantum effects in future GW detectors, use of squeezed quantum states of light to enhance GW detector performance, and measurement of quantum behavior of macroscopic objects.
Candidate's Statement
The APS serves its members through a wide range of services and advocacy. It would be an honor for me, in turn, to offer my service as General Councillor to help steer the organization towards meeting the constantly changing challenges it faces. The APS is faced with several issues today that I would like to work on. Foremost among these are:
* Science funding -- both for research and education
The APS and its officers must continue their tireless efforts to shape priorities in Washington through education of lawmakers and taxpayers on the importance of the national investment in the physical sciences and science education.
* The role of physics and physicists in shaping our society
It is important for physicists to play a proactive role in bringing the excitement of science to the public through diverse means, be it through education outreach at schools or clubs, through the press, or through the entertainment industry. The APS can help facilitate involvement of its members in this important undertaking.
* The dearth of women and under-represented minorities in physics
The lack of diversity is a particularly unfortunate problem in physics. Some very talented women and minorities abandon careers in physics because they perceive an environment that is uninviting to them. As a woman physicist who as advised many young women, I have some sense of the most important issues that must be addressed systemically, and would work hard with colleagues at the APS to tackle this long-standing problem.
* Mentorship and recognition of physicists in the early stages of their careers
I would work to devote greater resources to mentoring of young physicists, and also to create greater opportunities for recognition through fellowships and awards for students, postdoctoral researchers and junior faculty.
