Banafsheh Beheshtipour

Banafsheh Beheshtipour

Staff Scientist
PhD, Washington University in St. Louis
MA, Washington University in St. Louis
MSc, Sharif University of Technology
BSc, Sharif University of Technology
research interests:
  • High energy astrophysics
  • Experimental astrophysics
  • X-ray optics
  • Detector developments
  • Black holes and their surroundings
  • Continuous gravitational wave physics
  • Deep learning networks
  • Data analysis techniques
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    contact info:

    mailing address:

    • Washington University
    • MSC 1105-109-02
    • One Brookings Drive
    • St. Louis, MO 63130-4899
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    Dr. Beheshtipour's interests lie in probing astrophysical phenomena and compact objects such as black holes and neutron stars.

    She is currently involved in developing adjustable X-ray mirrors for future X-ray missions. Previously, she searched for continuous gravitational waves using LIGO observational data and implemented a deep learning network to improve the search. During her Ph.D., she simulated black holes' X-ray energy and polarization spectra of their inner accretion flow and coronal emission. Dr. Beheshtipour also was part of the X-Calibur mission and worked on X-ray polarization detector developments and electronic readout packages.

    Professional history:

    2022-Present  Postdoctoral research associate at Washington University in St. Louis
    2018-2022  Postdoctoral research associate at Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (AEI) 
    2013-2018  Ph.D. in physics from Washington University in St. Louis
    2011-2013  M.Sc. in physics from Sharif University of Technology
    2007-2011  B.Sc. in physics from Sharif University of Technology