NASA Innovators Honored: Presidential Early Career Awards Celebrate Scientists and Engineers Making an Impact

President Biden has honored 19 researchers from NASA with the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). They’re part of a larger group of nearly 400 federally funded researchers being recognized this year.

Since its launch in 1996, the PECASE Award has been the highest accolade for early-career scientists and engineers in the U.S. This award not only acknowledges their research contributions but also their commitment to community service and professional leadership.

“These winners have made remarkable contributions to NASA,” said Kate Calvin, NASA’s chief scientist. “I’m excited to see what they will achieve in the coming years.”

Here are the NASA recipients and their notable achievements:

• Natasha Batalha – Developed open-source systems for studying exoplanet atmospheres at NASA Ames Research Center.
• Elizabeth Blaber – Conducted groundbreaking research in space biology at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
• James Burns – Focused on innovative research in metallurgy and chemistry at the University of Virginia.
• Egle Cekanaviciute – Pioneered studies for human exploration on the Moon and Mars at NASA Ames Research Center.
• Nacer Chahat – Led the creation of spacecraft antennas at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
• Ellyn Enderlin – Explored glacier studies using satellite data at Boise State University.
• David Estrada – Researched printed electronics for space manufacturing at Boise State University.
• Burcu Gurkan – Advanced safer alternative energy storage methods at Case Western Reserve University.
• Elliott Hawkes – Innovated bio-inspired robotics at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
• John Hwang – Contributed to urban air mobility designs at the University of California, San Diego.
• James Tuttle Keane – Conducted notable research in planetary geophysics at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
• Kaitlin Kratter – Led research on the formation of planets beyond our solar system at the University of Arizona.
• Lyndsey McMillon-Brown – Focused on photovoltaic research at NASA Glenn Research Center.
• Debbie Senesky – Developed tech for harsh environments at Stanford University.
• Hélène Seroussi – Advanced ocean circulation studies impacting Antarctica’s ice sheets at Dartmouth College.
• Timothy Smith – Innovated high-temperature alloys at NASA Glenn Research Center.
• Mitchell Spearrin – Made strides in rocket propulsion and planetary science at UCLA.
• Michelle Thompson – Researched planetary science while mentoring future STEM leaders at Purdue University.
• Mary Beth Wilhelm – Merged science, technology, and community outreach at NASA Ames Research Center.

The PECASE awards shine a light on the critical role of science and technology for America’s progress. They promote innovative research, recognize the efforts of scientists, and nurture connections between science and the challenges our nation faces.

For a complete list of all award recipients, check out the details here.