Austin Jennings

"As an Operator, I am one of the main people running the detector, often times alongside commissioners. It is really a unique experience being at the center of everything and seeing all the work that goes into the detector. You realize just how complex and intricate everything is! On our off time, we wear many different hats, depending on what is needed at the time. This can range from helping to build suspensions for the next observing run, to writing scripts to help with more efficient commissioning or data analysis, and even helping out with our outreach programs! One of my favorite parts about working here is how much people care about making sure everyone and anyone feels included and welcome. Being Native Hawaiian and part of an underrepresented minority, seeing the amount of effort LIGO puts in to achieve this goal really means a lot to me. From holding monthly inclusion seminars, to doing outreach events in underrepresented communities, it makes all the world of difference and makes me proud to be where I am!"

Austin Jennings is an Operations Specialist at LIGO Hanford. He considers his field trip to the Challenger Center Hawai'i as a child, where his class got to enact a rendezvous with Halley's comet, the catalyst for getting into astrophysics. In his free time, Austin loves to practice and play the guitar, explore the great Washington outdoors and occasionally play ultimate frisbee.