Mavalvala was among the team of scientists who, for the first time, observed ripples in the fabric of spacetime called gravitational waves. Mavalvala has been working on gravitational waves since 1991. After the announcement of the observation, she became an instant celebrity scientist in her birthplace of Pakistan. A statement by the Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif praised Mavalvala, calling her a source of inspiration for Pakistani scientists and students aspiring to become future scientists. He also stated that "the entire nation is proud of her valuable contribution."