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In his new role, his leadership will be critical in fostering an environment of scientific innovation and excellence, ensuring that JPL remains at the forefront of discovery.<\/em><\/p>\n Distinguished planetary scientist and astrophysicist Jonathan I. Lunine has been appointed chief scientist of NASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He will officially assume his role Aug. 16.<\/p>\n As chief scientist, Lunine will guide the laboratory\u2019s scientific research and development efforts, drive innovation across JPL\u2019s missions and programs, and enhance collaborations with NASA Headquarters, NASA centers, Caltech, academia, the science community, government agencies, and industry partners. In addition, he will oversee the formulation of JPL\u2019s scientific policies and priorities and guide the integrity of missions that JPL manages for NASA.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m elated that Jonathan is joining JPL,\u201d said Laurie Leshin, director of JPL. \u201cAs chief scientist, he will play a critical role in fostering innovation and excellence, ensuring that JPL remains at the forefront of scientific discovery and innovation as we dare mighty things together.\u201d<\/p>\n Lunine currently serves as the David C. Duncan Professor in the Physical Sciences and chair of the Department of Astronomy at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. A Caltech alumnus, he has performed pioneering research on the formation and evolution of planetary systems, the nature of planetary interiors and atmospheres, and where environments suited for life might exist in the solar system and beyond. His deep expertise will help JPL continue to seek answers to fundamental questions that crosscut the diverse science portfolio of the laboratory.<\/p>\n \u201cMy first experience working with scientists and engineers at JPL was over 40 years ago as a Caltech graduate student,\u201d said Lunine. \u201cFrom that time to the present, it has been clear to me that no other institution matches its combination of scientific breadth and engineering capability. JPL\u2019s portfolio of missions and research projects across the gamut \u2014 from our home planet to the solar system, heliosphere, and universe beyond \u2014 is an extraordinary resource to the nation. I am thrilled to be able to play a leadership role on the science side of this remarkable institution.\u201d<\/p>\n Lunine has collaborated with JPL on numerous missions. He was a guest investigator for the ultraviolet spectrometer on NASA\u2019s Voyager 2 Neptune encounter and an interdisciplinary scientist on the Cassini\/Huygens mission, and he is co-investigator on the agency\u2019s Juno mission to Jupiter as well as for the MISE (Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa) instrument on NASA\u2019s Europa Clipper mission. Lunine is also a member of the gravity science team for Europa Clipper and the Gravity & Geophysics of Jupiter and Galilean Moons gravity experiment on the ESA (European Space Agency) JUICE (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer) mission.<\/p>\n In addition, he served on the science working group as an interdisciplinary scientist for NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope and has contributed to concept studies for solar system and exoplanet characterization missions. A member of the National Academy of Sciences, he has chaired or co-chaired numerous advisory and strategic planning committees for the Academy, NASA, and the National Science Foundation.<\/p>\n As part of his new role, Lunine has also been appointed professor of planetary science with the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences at Caltech.<\/p>\n \u201cJonathan will bring a tremendous amount of experience in planetary science to the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences and the broader Caltech community,\u201d said John Grotzinger, chair of the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences at Caltech. \u201cHe has worked on a remarkably diverse set of science questions spanning the solar system and extending to exoplanets. We are thrilled to have him join our faculty.\u201d A division of Caltech in Pasadena, California, JPL began in 1936 and ultimately built and helped launch America\u2019s first satellite, Explorer 1, in 1958. By the end of that year, Congress established NASA and JPL became a part of the agency. Since then, JPL has managed such historic missions as Voyager, Galileo, Cassini, the Mars Exploration Rover program, the Perseverance Mars rover, and many more.<\/p>\n Veronica McGregor \/ Matthew Segal 2024-078<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
818-354-9452 \/ 818-354-8307
veronica.c.mcgregor@jpl.nasa.gov \/ matthew.j.segal@jpl.nasa.gov<\/p>\n