Dr. Lina Necib

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Professor Necib is a theoretical astroparticle physicist interested in understanding the origin of Dark Matter. She utilizes a combination of simulations and observational data to correlate the dynamics of Dark Matter and stars in the Milky Way, helping to infer properties about Dark Matter. Necib has investigated local dynamic structures in the Solar neighborhood using Gaia and contributed to the cataloging of local accreted stars with the aid of machine learning techniques. Notably, she discovered a new stellar stream called Nyx, named after the Greek Goddess of Night, and has utilized spectroscopy to identify its properties. Additionally, she is focused on leveraging Gaia data alongside spectroscopic surveys to comprehend the Dark Matter profile in the local solar neighborhood, the center of the Galaxy, and dwarf galaxies. Her research also intersects with background particle physics, enabling her to connect empirical results on Dark Matter to current direct and indirect detection experiments.

Research Interests

Experience

Assistant Professor

2021-07-01 — Present

Massachusetts Institute of Technology • Cambridge, MA

Engaged in teaching and research in theoretical astroparticle physics.

Sherman Fairchild Fellow

2017-01-01 — 2020-01-01

California Institute of Technology • Pasadena, CA

Conducted research in astrophysics.

Presidential Fellow

2020-01-01 — 2021-01-01

University of California, Irvine • Irvine, CA

Performed research in theoretical astrophysics.

Awards

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Sloan Research Fellow

2024-01-01
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NSF Early Career Development Award

2024-01-01
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George E. Valley, Jr. Prize

2023-01-01
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Carnegie Observatories Theoretical Astrophysics Fellow

2020-01-01
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Presidential Fellowship

2020-01-01
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Sherman Fairchild Postdoctoral Fellowship

2017-01-01
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Sergio Vazquez Prize

2016-01-01
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Praecis Presidential Graduate Fellowship

2012-01-01