Professor Zsuzsa Márka is a scientist at Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory. She works on the LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory) project, the experiment that in 2016 announced the first direct detection of gravitational-waves.

Márka led the project that built the LIGO and KAGRA timing distribution systems, key subsystems for instrument control and gravitational wave data acquisition, at Columbia University.

Márka works with members of the Columbia Experimental Gravity group on various aspects of gravitational-wave multimessenger astrophysics with a special focus on joint high-energy neutrino and gravitational wave searches.

She is also involved in the development of new technologies through the Columbia BioOptics Group with a focus on combating disease transmitting vectors via optical and acoustic technologies and a murine model of neurodegenerative diseases.

As the mother of four children, Márka believes educating young minds for the beauty and value of scientific endeavors is very important for progress. She has given talks at urban schools and helped organize events to spread scientific knowledge to the younger generation. It is essential to invest efforts in high quality science education, as a strong science curriculum starting at an early age can help reduce the recognized gender and racial disparity in scientific professions.