Samaya Nissanke joins DESY as Lead Scientist
...and professor for multi-messenger astrophysics at the University of Potsdam
DESY is pleased to announce the appointment of Samaya Nissanke to a joint professorship with the university of Potsdam. A world-leading expert in gravitational-wave and multi-messenger astrophysics, Nissanke will significantly strengthen this fast-growing research area at DESY and in Germany. This appointment was made possible by the Helmholtz Association's prestigious and highly competitive funding instrument, the Helmholtz Distinguished Professorship, which Nissanke acquired in 2023.
Nissanke is a pioneer in multi-messenger astronomy with gravitational waves and electromagnetic observations. Her work played a key role in the first observation of a neutron star merger on 17 August 2017, marking the dawn of a new era in astronomy where cosmic events can be seen and “heard” for the first time.
Nissanke is one of the most visible figures in the international astrophysics community with gravitational waves. Until recently, she served as the spokesperson and an associate professor at GRAPPA (a center of excellence in gravitation and astroparticle physics) at the University of Amsterdam and has been deeply involved in several international collaborations that shaped the field.
In addition to her research at Helmholtz and the professorship, Nissanke will also contribute to the German Centre for Astrophysics (DZA), where she will help build up the multi-messenger program with a focus on gravitational wave follow-up observations – a strategic pillar of the centre’s scientific mission.
"Samaya Nissanke brings a wealth of experience and visionary thinking to DESY and the University of Potsdam," says Christian Stegmann, Director of Astroparticle Physics at DESY. "Her appointment is a milestone for Brandenburg’s growing role in gravitational wave research and for our joint efforts to make the field and DZA a global hub for multi-messenger astrophysics."
Beyond her scientific excellence, Nissanke is deeply committed to equity and inclusion in science and has mentored many early-career researchers, many of whom now hold international faculty positions. Her achievements have been recognized with numerous awards, including the New Horizons Prize in Physics and the International Jacques Solvay Chair in Physics.
The appointment is part of a broader strategic partnership between DESY and the University of Potsdam, to foster innovation and international collaboration in this transformative field.