President Biden has named 19 researchers who contribute to NASA's mission to receive the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). These recipients are among nearly 400 federally funded researchers to receive this honor.
The PECASE Award was established by the U.S. National Science and Technology Council in 1996. It is the highest honor awarded by the U.S. government to scientists and engineers who have just begun their research careers. The award recognizes the recipient's demonstrated potential to advance the frontiers of scientific knowledge and his or her commitment to community service through professional leadership, education, or community outreach.
“I am deeply impressed by these honorees and what they have accomplished,” said Kate Calvin, chief scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "They have made valuable contributions to NASA science and engineering, and I can't wait to see what they do in the future."
The following NASA award recipients were nominated by the agency:
- Natasha Battaglia, NASA Ames Research Center, Silicon Valley, California - Transformative scientific research to develop open source systems for exoplanet atmosphere modeling and observation
- Elizabeth Blaber, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York - for Transformative aerospace and ground-based space biology research
- james burns, University of Virginia, Charlottesville—Innovative research at the intersection of metallurgy, solid mechanics, and chemistry
- Eger Sekanaviciut, NASA Ames Research Center – Conducting transformative research to enable long-term human exploration of the Moon and Mars
- Naser ChahatNASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California - for Leading innovation in spacecraft antennas that enable NASA deep space and Earth science missions
- Erin Enderling, Boise State University, Idaho - Innovative approach to studying glaciers using various satellite data sets
- David Estrada, Boise State University, Idaho – Conducting innovative research in space-based manufacturing of printed electronics and harsh environment sensors
- Burku Gurkan, Case Western Reserve University, cleveland ohio – Transforming contemporary energy storage and carbon capture methods to make them safer and more economical for applications in space and on Earth
- Elliot Hawkes, University of California, Santa Barbara – Recognizing highly creative innovations in bionic robotics that advance science and support NASA’s mission
- John Huang, UC San Diego – Innovative approach to air taxi design and key contribution to urban air mobility industry
- James Tuttle Keane, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory – Innovative and groundbreaking planetary geophysics research, and renowned planetary science illustrations
- Caitlin Clutter, University of Arizona, Tucson – In recognition of our leadership in studying the formation and evolution of stars and planetary systems beyond our own
- Lindsay MacMillan-Brown, NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio – For leadership in photovoltaic research, development and demonstration
- Debbie Seneski, Stanford University, California – Recognizes research that enables sensing and electronic devices to operate in high-temperature and high-radiation environments
- Helen Selusi, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire– Leading the cryosphere science community in new research directions examining the role of ocean circulation in destabilizing major parts of the Antarctic ice sheet
- Timothy Smith, NASA Glenn Research Center – Recognizes achievements in materials science research, particularly in innovations in superalloys
- Mitchell Spearing, UCLA – Made groundbreaking scientific and technological advances in multiple areas critical to NASA’s current and future space missions, including rocket propulsion, planetary access and sensor systems
- Michelle Thompson, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana – dedicated to planetary science and developing the next generation of STEM leaders
- mary beth william, NASA Ames Research Center – Achievements in science, technology and community outreach through her work in space science and astrobiology
The PECASE Award was established to highlight the importance of science and technology to America's future. These early career awards promote innovative developments in science and technology, raise awareness of science and engineering careers, recognize the scientific missions of participating institutions, and strengthen the connection between research and the challenges facing the nation. For a complete list of winners, please visit: