Maria T. Zuber
E.A. Griswold Professor of Geophysics
Download .pdf version of CV/publication list.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
- Theoretical modeling of geophysical processes.
- Analysis of altimetry, gravity and tectonics to determine the structure and dynamics of the Earth and solid planets.
- Development and implementation of spacecraft laser and radio tracking experiments.
EDUCATION
- Ph.D. Geophysics, Brown University, 1986.
Ph.D. Thesis: Unstable Deformation in Layered Media: Application to Planetary Lithospheres. Thesis Advisor: E.M. Parmentier
- Sc.M. Geophysics, Brown University, 1983.
- B.A. Astronomy (honors) and Geology, University of Pennsylvania, 1980.
Honors Thesis: Velocity-Inclination Correlations in Galactic Clusters.
EMPLOYMENT
 - Vice President for Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2013-Present.
- E.A. Griswold Professor of Geophysics, Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1998-Present.
- Head of the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2003-2011.
- Consultant, Aerospace Division, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, 2002-Present.
- Senior Research Scientist, Laboratory for Terrestrial Physics, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, 1994-Present.
- Professor of Geophysics and Planetary Science, Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1995-1998.
- Professor of Geophysics, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, 1995.
- Second Decade Society Term Associate Professor of Geophysics, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, 1993-1995.
- Associate Research Professor of Geophysics, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, 1991-1992.
- Geophysicist, Geodynamics Branch, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, 1986-1992.
- National Research Council Research Associate, Geodynamics Branch, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, 1985-1986.
- Research Assistant, Department of Geological Sciences, Brown University, 1980-1985.
VISITING APPOINTMENTS
- Guest Investigator, Department of Geology and Geophysics,, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Summers, 1996-2012.
- Senior Science Fellow, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, and Visiting Scholar, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, 2002-2003.
- Visiting Assistant Professor of Geophysics, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, 1990.
HONORS AND AWARDS
- National Space Society, Space Pioneer Award in Science and Engineering, GRAIL Team, 2013.
- American Geophysical Union Harry H. Hess Medal, 2012.
- NASA Outstanding Public Leadership Medal, 2012.
- NASA Group Achievement Award for the GRAIL Science Team, 2012.
- NASA Group Achievement Award for the GRAIL Project Office Team, 2012.
- NASA Group Achievement Award for the GRAIL Mission FormulationTeam, 2012.
- MIT James R. Killian, Jr. Faculty Achievement Award, 2012-2013.
- NASA Group Achievement Award for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Team, 2010.
- NASA Group Achievement Award for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Laser Ranging Team, 2009.
- List of America's Best Leaders, U.S. News and World Report/Harvard Kennedy School Center for Public Leadership, 2008.
- Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa, Brown University, 2008.
- Fellow, Geological Society of America, 2008.
- Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2007.
- American Astronautical Society/Planetary Society Carl Sagan Memorial Award, 2007.
- Geological Society of America G.K. Gilbert Award, 2007.
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Outstanding Teamwork Award for the Earth-Mars Laser Ranging Experiment, 2006.
- Brown University Horace Mann Medal, 2005.
- Member, American Philosophical Society, 2005
- NASA Group Achievement Award for the Mercury Laser Altimeter Instrument Team, 2004.
- NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, 2004.
- Member, National Academy of Sciences, 2004.
- Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 2004.
- NASA Group Achievement Award for the Mercury Laser Altimeter, 2004.
- NASA Group Achievement Award for the Mars Global Surveyor Project Science Group, 2003.
- Listed as one of the 50 Most Important Women in Science, Discover Magazine, November, 2002.
- Scientific Achievement Award, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, New England Section, 2002.
- NASA Group Achievement Award for the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous-Shoemaker Mission Team, 2002.
- Fellow, American Geophysical Union, 2001.
- NASA Group Achievement Award for the Mars Program Independent Assessment Team, 2000.
- NASA Group Achievement Award for the Mars Global Surveyor Science Team, 2000.
- Asteroid 6635 Zuber (a Mars crosser!), discovered by Carolyn and Eugene Shoemaker at Palomar Observatory, 1987; approved by the IAU, 1998.
- NASA Group Achievement Award for the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous spacecraft encounter of Asteroid 253 Mathilde, 1998.
- NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal, 1995.
- Johns Hopkins University David S. Olton Award for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Student Research, 1995.
- NASA Group Achievement Award for the Deep Space Program Science Experiment Lunar Orbit Mission Operations Support Team, 1994.
- Johns Hopkins University Oraculum Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, 1994.
- Johns Hopkins University Second Decade Society Faculty Development Chair, 1993-1995.
- NASA Group Achievement Award for the Mars Observer Payload Development Team, 1993.
- NASA Group Achievement Award for the Mars Observer Laser Altimeter Project, 1991.
- NASA Outstanding Performance Award, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992.
- NASA Peer Award, 1988.
- Sigma Xi, 1983, 1985.
SELECTED LECTURESHIPS
- Robert M. Walker Distinguished Lecturer, McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 2012.
- William H. Pickering Lecturer, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Pasadena, CA, 2012.
- Neekeyfar Lecturer in Science and Mathematics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 2012.
- Tommy Gold Lecturer, Department of Astronomy, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 2012.
- School of Earth Sciences Distinguished Speaker, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 2012.
- Distinctive Voices Lecturer, National Academy of Sciences Jonsson Center, Woods Hole, MA 2010.
- Welsh Lecturer, Department of Physics, University of Toronto, Toronto 2010.
- WISEST Visiting Scholar, University of Illinois-Chicago, Chicago, IL 2010.
- Keynote Speaker, Giant Leaps 40th Anniversary of Apollo Symposium, Cambridge, MA 2009.
- Krumbein Lecturer, Department of Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago and Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Nortwestern University, Evanston, IL, 2009.
- StatoilHydro Plenary Lecturer, International Geological Congress, Oslo 2008.
- Distinguished Lecturer, National Space Science and Technology Center, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL 2008.
- Centennial Lecturer, School of Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 2008.
- Plenary Speaker, 50th Anniversary of Sputnik Celebration, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 2007.
- Crafoord Jubilee Plenary Lecturer, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Lund 2007.
- Special Lecture, Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences, Kuwait City 2007.
- Capital Science Evening Lecturer, Carnegie Institution, Washington, DC 2004.
- Pappalardo Distinguished Lecturer, Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 2004.
- Niels Bohr Lecturer, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2003.
- Speaker, Crafoord Prize Symposium, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm 2002.
- Academic Master, Chien-Shiung Wu Education Foundation Science Camp, National Central University, Republic of Taiwan 2002.
- Sverdrup Visiting Scholar, Department of Physics, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN 2002.
- Plenary Speaker, MIT Technology Day, June 2001.
- Inaugural Carl Sagan Lecturer, American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA 2000.
- Distinguished Leaders in Science Lecturer, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC 1999.
- Harold S. Masursky Lecturer, Twenty-fourth Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Houston, TX 1993.
PLANETARY MISSION PARTICIPATION
- Principal Investigator, NASA Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) Mission, 2008-Present.
- Investigation Lead, Laser Ranger, NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission, 2006-Present.
- Deputy Principal Investigator, Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter, NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission, 2004-Present.
- Co-investigator, NASA Dawn Mission to Vesta and Ceres, 2001-Present.
- Team Leader, Radio Science Gravity Investigation, 2005 NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission, 2001-Present.
- Co-investigator and Lead of the Geophysics Investigation, NASA MESSENGER Mission to Mercury, 1999-Present.
- Team Leader, Laser Ranging Investigation, NASA Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous Mission, 1994-2001.
- Deputy Principal Investigator, Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter, NASA Mars Global Surveyor Mission, 1994-Present.
- Gravity and Altimetry Team, Ballistic Missile Defense Organization/NASA Clementine Mission, 1993-1995.
- Co-investigator, Mars Observer Laser Altimeter, NASA Mars Observer Mission, 1990-1993.
PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT
- Chair, External Review Committee, Harvard University Center for the Environment, 2013.
- Alliance Board of Directors, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 2013-Present.
- Member, National Science Board, 2013-Present.
- Visiting Committee, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University, 2013.
- Executive Committee, Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center, 2013-Present.
- Co-convener, Session on "GRAIL Explores the Moon's Interior", Lunar and Planetary Science Conference XLIV, Houston, TX, 2013.
- Co-convener, Session on “Initial Results of the GRAIL Mission”, American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA, 2012.
- Co-chair, MIT Execution Planning Committee on the Environment, 2012.
- Chair, Faculty Search Committee on Space, MIT-Skolkovo Initiative, 2012.
- Council of the National Academy of Science, 2012-Present.
- Scientific Organizing Committee, BepiColombo-MESSENGER Joint Workshop on the Internal Constitution of Mercury, 2012.
- President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) Study Group on The Future of the U.S. Science and Technology Research Enterprise, 2011-2012.
- Member, Draper Laboratory Space Systems Review Board, 2011.
- Co-chair, MIT Center for Global Change Science Advisory Board, 2011-Present.
- Organizing Committee, Climate and Economics Symposium, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University, 2011.
- Co-convener, MIT Women in Aerospace Symposium, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012.
- Co-organizer, Exploration Symposium, celebrating MIT 150th Anniversary, 2011.
- Scientific Organizing Committee, Brown-Vernadsky Microsymposium, The Woodlands, TX, March 2011, 2012.
- Member, Advisory Board, Search for MIT Dean of Engineering, 2010.
- Member, NASA OSIRIS-REX Red Team Review, NASA New Frontiers Program, 2010.
- Co-convener, MIT Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Forum, 2010.
- Member, Advisory Board, Search for MIT Dean of Graduate Studies, 2010.
- Member, MIT Energy and Environment Advisory Board, 2010-2012.
- Member, NASA/Artemis Mission Senior Review, 2010.
- Scientific Organizing Committee, NASA Lunar Science Institute Symposium, 2010.
- Co-convener, MIT Climategate Forum, 2009.
- Chair, Committee on the Recruitment and Professional Development of Women, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia, 200-2011.
- Board of Fellows, Brown University Corporation, 2009-Present.
- MIT News Office Advisory Group, 2009-Present.
- Co-Chair, Research Working Group, MIT Institute-wide Planning Task Force, 2009.
- Co-convener, Union Session on "MESSENGER at Mercury: The Second Flyby", American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA, 2008.
- Program Committee, MIT Darwin Bicentennial Conference, 2008.
- Co-convenor, Session on "Mars Exploration", 37th Scientific Assembly, COmmittee on SPAce Research (COSPAR), Montreal, Canada, 2008.
- Co-convenor, Session on "Lunar Science and Exploration", Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (AOGS) Meeting, Busan, Korea, 2008.
- External Advisory Board, Brown University ADVANCE Program, 2007-Present.
- Advisory Panel, Minding the Gap study on women in science at NASA, 2007.
- Chair, Committee to Assess Environmental Activities at MIT, 2007.
- Organizing Committee, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study Symposium on "Origins of Life: The Earth, the Solar System and Beyond", 2007-Present.
- Co-convener, National Academy of Sciences Sackler Colloquium on Evolution and Exploration of Solar Systems, Irvine, January 5-6, 2007.
- External Review Team, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado at Boulder, 2006.
- American Geophysical Union Fellows Committee, 2006-2009.
- Chair, Advisory Committee on the Lincoln Laboratory Director Search, 2006.
- National Academy of Sciences Committee on Women in Academic Science and Engineering, 2005-2006.
- Screening Committee, Lemelson-MIT Prize, 2005-2006.
- National Academy of Sciences J. Lawrence Smith Medal Selection Committee, 2005.
- National Academy of Sciences Earth Science and Applications from Space Panel on Solid Earth Hazards, Resources and Dynamics, 2005-2006.
- Co-chair, NASA Science Instruments and Sensor Capability Roadmap Team, 2004-2005.
- President's Commission on Implementation of U.S. Space Exploration Policy, 2004.
- NASA Mars Exploration Rover Independent Status Review Board, 2003-2004.
- Visiting Committee, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University, 2003-Present.
- NASA Mars Exploration Rover Operations Readiness Review Board, 2003.
- NASA Mars Exploration Rover Landing Site Selection Review Board, 2003.
- NASA Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter Science Definition Team, 2003-2004.
- Advisory Board, Mars Gravity Biosatellite Mission Concept, 2003.
- Chair, American Geophysical Union Honors and Recognition Committee, 2002-2004.
- Chair, American Geophysical Union Planetary Sciences Section Nominating Committee, 2003.
- Prize Committee, Division of Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society, 2001-2004.
- Visiting Committee and Advisory Council, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 2000-Present.
- Board of Directors, The Planetary Society, 2000-2005.
- Board of Reviewing Editors, Science, 2000-Present.
- NASA Space Science Advisory Committee, 1999-2002.
- Mars Program Independent Assessment Team, 2000.
- Judge, Siemens-Westinghouse Science and Technology Competition, 1999.
- Co-convener, Session on "Highlights of Planetary Exploration", American Geophysical Union Spring Meeting, Boston, June, 1999.
- Co-convener, Session on "New Frontiers of Earth Gravity from Space", IUGG General Assembly, Birmingham, UK, July, 1999.
- Co-convener, Session on "Latest Results from Mars Global Surveyor", American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, December, 1998.
- President, Planetary Sciences Section, American Geophysical Union, 1998-2000; President-elect,1996-1998.
- Co-convener, Session on "Results of Mars Global Surveyor Elliptical Orbit Mapping, American Geophysical Union Spring Meeting, May, 1998.
- Chair, American Geophysical Union Audit and Legal Affairs Commitee, 1998-2000; Member, 1996-Present.
- NASA Europa Orbiter Mission Science Definition Team, 1997-1999.
- Local Organizing Committee, AAS Division for Planetary Sciences Annual Meeting, Cambridge, MA, July, 1997.
- Chair, American Geophysical Union, Eos Editor Search Committee, 1997-Present; Member, 1996-1997.
- Chair, American Geophsyical Union Best Student Paper in Planetary Science Selection Committee, Fall Meeting, 1996; Spring Meeting, 1997.
- Co-Author, National Academy of Sciences/NASA "Nature of Origins" Report, 1996.
- Co-Convener, Session on "A Tribute to S.K. Runcorn", American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, December, 1996.
- NASA Europa Orbiter Study Team, 1996.
- NASA Mars Exploration Working Group, 1996-1997.
- National Academy of Sciences Committee on Earth Gravity from Space, 1996.
- American Geophysical Union Edward A. Flinn Award Committee, 1996-1997; 2000-Present.
- Co-Convener, Session on "Deformation of Thick Lithospheres on Earth and Venus", Western Pacific Geophysics Meeting, Brisbane, Australia, July, 1996.
- Chair, NASA/Mars Surveyor 1998 Lander Science Payload Selection Panel, 1995.
- Guest Editor, Odyssey Magazine, "Mapping the Planets" issue, November, 1995.
- NASA/Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous Mission Science Data Center Review Board, 1995-Present.
- National Academy of Sciences Committee on Planetary and Lunar Exploration, 1994-1996.
- NASA Mars Science Working Group, 1993-1996.
- Chair, Mars Observer Geodesy and Geophysics Working Group, 1993.
- NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program Review Panel, 1993-1995.
- American Geophysical Union Bucher Medal Selection Committee, 1992.
- NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics Management and Operations Working Group, 1993-1995.
- American Geophysical Union Bucher Medal Selection Committee, 1992-1995.
- NASA Venus Data Analysis Program Review Panel, 1992.
- NASA Planetary Geology Speakers' Bureau, 1991-1992.
- NASA Dynamics of the Solid Earth Program Review Panel, 1991.
- American Geophysical Union Tectonophysics Section Nominating Committee, 1991.
- NASA Solid Earth Science Coolfont Report Panel, 1989.
- Program Committee, Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, 1989.
- Associate Editor, Journal of Geophysical Research, 1989-1992.
- Consultant, NASA Education Office National High School Mission to Mars Course, 1988-1992.
- Editor, Planetary Geosciences -- 1988-1990.
- Associate Editor, Geophysical Research Letters, 1988-1991.
- NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics Working Group, 1987-1990.
- Planetary Program Committee, American Geophysical Union Spring Meeting, 1985.
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
ENGINEERING CERTIFICATIONS (for those who think I have no practical skills)
- Laser Safety
- Clean Room Procedures
- Electrostatic Discharge Control
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