{"690146":{"#nid":"690146","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Awards Spotlight Space Research Leadership","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFaculty affiliated with Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESpace Research Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (SRI) were recognized this awards season for achievements that underscore the Institute\u2019s leadership in space\u2011related research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and high\u2011impact program development.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESpanning individual faculty honors and major institute\u2011level research awards, these recognitions reflect the depth and breadth of SRI\u2011affiliated work across engineering, physical sciences, and large\u2011scale collaborative initiatives advancing space exploration, technology, and manufacturing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cSRI faculty are tackling some of the most complex challenges in space research, often through large, highly collaborative efforts,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\/w-jud-ready\u0022\u003EW.\u202fJud\u202fReady\u003C\/a\u003E, executive director of SRI and principal research engineer at the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gtri.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Research Institute\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cThese awards recognize not only individual excellence, but also the kind of cross\u2011cutting leadership and teamwork that defines impactful space research at Georgia Tech.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPresented through peer\u2011driven nomination processes, Georgia Tech\u2019s internal awards honor contributions across the research lifecycle, from foundational scholarship to interdisciplinary program building and long\u2011term research impact. This year\u2019s SRI\u2011affiliated awardees include faculty recognized for outstanding publications as well as leaders and contributors to major research teams shaping Georgia Tech\u2019s space enterprise.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to these honors, SRI also celebrates affiliated faculty who received tenure or promotion this spring, reflecting their sustained contributions to research, teaching, and leadership at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESRI Affiliate Award Recipients\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EOutstanding Achievement in Research Program Development Award\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EHuman Space Exploration Team\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Outstanding Achievement in Research Program Development Award recognizes a faculty\u2011 and staff\u2011led research team that has built a thought\u2011leadership platform to significantly expand Georgia Tech\u2019s research and scholarship portfolio. This year\u2019s award honors the Human Space Exploration Team, whose interdisciplinary efforts have advanced Georgia Tech\u2019s role in space research through cross\u2011college collaboration, external engagement, and integrated research vision.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe team brings together expertise across engineering, physical sciences, materials science, and human\u2011centered research to address the technical, biological, and societal challenges of sustained human presence in space. Their work spans foundational research, technology development, and program\u2011level coordination, helping position Georgia Tech as a leader in human space exploration research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\/phillip-first\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPhillip First\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Professor, School of Physics \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/masatoshi-toshi-hirabayashi\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMasatoshi Hirabayashi\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Associate Professor, School of Aerospace Engineering \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/people\/brant-jones\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBrant Jones\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Senior Research Scientist, College of Sciences \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/linsey\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJulie Linsey\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Professor, College of Engineering \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/peter-loutzenhiser\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPeter Loutzenhiser\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Associate Professor, School of Aerospace Engineering \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\/thomas-orlando\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThomas Orlando\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (Team Leader), Regents\u2019 Professor, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eas.gatech.edu\/index.php\/people\/rivera-hernandez-frances-0\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFrances Rivera\u2011Hernandez\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Assistant Professor, College of Sciences \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/alvaro-romero-calvo\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlvaro Romero\u2011Calvo\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Assistant Professor, College of Engineering \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/meisha-shofner\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMeisha Shofner\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Professor, School of Materials Science and Engineering\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ELearn more about the\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/clever.research.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EHuman Space Exploration Team\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EOutstanding Achievement in Research Program Impact Award\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EGeorgia Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing (GA\u2011AIM)\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\/brian-gunter\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBrian Gunter\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Associate Professor, Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\/thomas-kurfess\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThomas Kurfess\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Executive Director, Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERecognizes a research program demonstrating measurable impact, broad influence, and sustained engagement with academic, industry, and community partners.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ELearn more about\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/georgiaaim.org\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EGeorgia AIM\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EBest Faculty Paper Award\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\/matthew-mcdowell\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMatthew McDowell\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EProfessor, Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERecognized for outstanding scholarly publication advancing research excellence in engineering.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EANAK Faculty Award\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\/john-d-cressler\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJohn\u202fD.\u202fCressler\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ESchlumberger Chair in Electronics and Professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHonors distinguished faculty contributions to the Georgia Tech community.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ENewly Tenured or Promoted SRI Faculty Affiliates\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EPromoted to Professor\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\/john-christian\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJohn A. Christian\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\/chris-reinhard\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChristopher Thomas Reinhard\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, College of Sciences\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\/lawrence-rubin\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELawrence Peter Rubin\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EPromoted to Associate Professor \/ Awarded Tenure\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\/christopher-e-carr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChristopher E. Carr\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering; School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, College of Sciences\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/pengfei-liu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPengfei Liu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, College of Sciences\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/juergen-rauleder\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJ\u00fcrgen Rauleder\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eas.gatech.edu\/people\/naif-samer-0\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESamer Naif\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, College of Sciences\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESeveral faculty affiliated with the Space Research Institute were recognized for contributions spanning individual scholarship and major interdisciplinary research programs.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Several faculty affiliated with the Space Research Institute were recognized for contributions spanning individual scholarship and major interdisciplinary research programs."}],"uid":"35575","created_gmt":"2026-05-05 19:13:44","changed_gmt":"2026-05-05 19:15:38","author":"adavidson38","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-05-05T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-05-05T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680181":{"id":"680181","type":"image","title":"55228237419_fb160740fc_o.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThis year\u0027s Outstanding Achievement in Research Program Development Award went to the Human Space Exploration Team, whose interdisciplinary efforts have advanced Georgia Tech\u2019s role in space research through cross college collaboration, external engagement, and integrated research vision.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1778008451","gmt_created":"2026-05-05 19:14:11","changed":"1778008451","gmt_changed":"2026-05-05 19:14:11","alt":"The Human Space Exploration research team smiles in front of a Georgia Tech background holding their awards on stage.","file":{"fid":"264423","name":"55228237419_fb160740fc_o.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/05\/55228237419_fb160740fc_o.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/05\/55228237419_fb160740fc_o.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2986961,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/05\/55228237419_fb160740fc_o.jpg?itok=q6CtKQtB"}}},"media_ids":["680181"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.gatech.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/24\/outstanding-employees-honored-annual-luncheon","title":"Outstanding Employees Honored at Annual Luncheon"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/georgiatech\/albums\/72177720333308109\/","title":"2026 Faculty Staff Honors Luncheon In Photos"}],"groups":[{"id":"660370","name":"Space"}],"categories":[{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:audra.davidson@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EAudra Davidson\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EResearch Communications Program Manager\u003Cbr\u003ESpace Research Institute\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["audra.davidson@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}