Dr. Michael Sori was presented with the Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholar Award at the 2019 Awards of Distinction Luncheon and Ceremony, on April 1st.

After receiving his Ph.D. in Planetary Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr. Michael Sori joined the University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Sciences Laboratory in 2014 to pursue postdoctoral training under the mentorship of Dr. Christopher Hamilton and Dr. Shane Byrne. Dr. Sori’s research spans a variety of topics in planetary geophysics, including the origin and evolution of ices and what they tell us about the climates and orbital histories of planets, and how volcanism helps to shape planetary surfaces. Using remote sensing data from spacecraft to inform his geophysical models, he has contributed greatly to the study of the Moon, Mars, Ceres, and Uranian satellites.

Dr. Sori has made outstanding contributions to University of Arizona’s research, outreach, and teaching missions. Since beginning his tenure as a postdoctoral scholar, he has obtained his own funding through NASA and published 14 peer-reviewed articles in high-profile journals such as Nature and Science. These publications illustrate the breadth of his technical ability and understanding of fundamental scientific problems. His discoveries have caught the public’s eye, with one being among the University’s highest profile news stories in 2018. His classroom teaching and mentoring have also earned him the reputation of being a “natural educator.” The University of Arizona is privileged to serve as the postdoctoral home for Michael Sori who is, in the words of his nominators, “a talented and reliable collaborator, an insightful scientist, a great mentor, and a respected role model within our department and within the broader Planetary Sciences community.”