Thomas Hansueli Zurbuchen (born 1968) is a Swiss-American astrophysicist. Since October 2016,[2] he has been the Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA.[3] Prior to this, he was Professor of Space Science and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Michigan, where he helped found the Center for Entrepreneurship.[not verified in body]
Thomas Zurbuchen | |
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![]() Zurbuchen in 2016 | |
Born | 1968 (age 53–54) Heiligenschwendi, Canton of Berne, Switzerland |
Nationality | American |
Education | University of Bern |
Occupation | Government agency administrator |
Employer | University of Michigan |
Known for | Associate Administrator, NASA (2016-2022)[1] |
Zurbuchen studied physics at the University of Bern, with a minor in mathematics, and was awarded the PhD in 1996 with a thesis entitled "Turbulence in the interplanetary medium and its implications on the dynamics of minor ions".[4]
Zurbuchen joined the University of Michigan as a research associate, and was made professor in 2008. His scientific research focuses on solar and heliospheric physics, experimental space research, and space systems; he is also well known for his personal work on innovation and entrepreneurship.[citation needed]
In 2004, Zurbuchen was awarded the US Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.[5] He served as team leader for the development of one of the scientific instruments aboard NASA's Messenger spacecraft to Mercury, the Fast Imaging Plasma Spectrometer.[6] He chaired the National Academy of Sciences committee that produced a report in 2016 on Cubesats.[7]
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