DeCesar receives funding For NANOGrav Physics Frontier Center

Megan DeCesar, Senior Research Scientist, received National Science Foundation funding from Oregon State University for the NANOGrav Physics Frontiers Center.  

As a member of the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav) pulsar timing array collaboration, DeCesar will primarily contribute to the Timing Working Group (TWG) and Search Working Group (SWG).  

In the TWG, she will contribute to tasks including evaluation of new pulsars for inclusion in the array, pulsar timing and pipeline development for data set construction, proposal and paper writing on behalf of the TWG.  

She will contribute to proposals, observations, pulsar searches, and other tasks, as needed, for the SWG.  

Additionally, DeCesar will participate to varying degrees in the Education & Public Outreach working group, the International Pulsar Timing Array (IPTA) data combination and timing group, and potentially the NANOGrav Detection Working Group.   

She will also serve on one or more committees, including but not limited to the NANOGrav Climate & Equity Committee (of which she is currently the Chair), the International Pulsar Timing Array Steering Committee, and Science or Local Organizing Committees for NANOGrav collaboration meetings. 

DeCesar received $83,486 for this project. Funding began in April 2021 and will end in late March 2026.