Salary/Fringe for Stellar Afterlives and Black Hole Cataclysms: Learning about Stars, Galaxies, and the Cosmic Expansion with Gravitational Waves

Four years ago, the gravitational-wave detection of two black holes colliding gave rise to an exciting new field of gravitational-wave astronomy. Over the next three years, the sample of black holes and neutron stars detected in gravitational waves will reach hundreds of events. As I demonstrated in my PhD work, the rapidly increasing number of black-hole and neutron-star detections has the potential to completely revolutionize our understanding of (a) how massive stars live and die and (b) the cosmic expansion of the universe. As an Einstein Fellow, I will study: (Q1) the origins of black holes and neutron star systems (Q2) their relationships with their host galaxies and (Q3) their use as cosmological probes. By drawing connections between gravitational-wave sources and the astrophysics of stars, galaxies, and high-energy transients, my research will shape the growing field of gravitational-wave astrophysics and cosmology. These goals are especially relevant as we prepare for the upcoming space-based gravitational-wave mission LISA.