Focus on Alumni

LPL Associate Staff Scientist Kathryn Volk (2013) is named the recipient of the Vera Rubin Early Career Prize.

Alum David Grinspoon (1989) - Astrobiologist, science communicator and author

David Grinspoon (1989) of the Planetary Science Institute has been named an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow in the field of astronomy. 

LPL alumnus Moses Milazzo (2005) has been selected by NASA as First Chief Scientist for the Planetary Data Ecosystem.

LPL alumna Nancy Chabot (1999) is Coordination Lead for the DART Mission.

Our planet is vulnerable to thousands of “city-killer” space rocks. If—when—one is found on a collision course with Earth, will we be ready to deflect it?  LPL alum Andy Rivkin is DART Co-Investigation Team Lead.

For her outstanding contributions to planetary science, the Arizona Alumni Association has named LPL alumna Dr. Elizabeth "Zibi" Turtle the 2020-2021 Alumna of the Year for the College of Science.

She’ll lead the Dragonfly mission to Saturn’s moon Titan. She’ll also lead the next generation of women in planetary science.

The $500,000 award from the Simons Foundation will support Fortney’s research on planetary atmospheres.

Michelle Thompson is one of the new generation of scientists working on the Apollo moon missions.