NASA Scientists and Engineers Receive Presidential Early Career Awards
*
President Obama named five NASA researchers Monday as recipients of the 2012
Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). These
recipients, and 97 other federal researchers, will receive their awards in a
ceremony early next year in Washington.

The PECASE awards represent the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government
on scientists and engineers beginning their research careers. The award
recognizes recipients' exceptional potential for leadership at the frontiers
of scientific knowledge and their commitment to community service as
demonstrated through professional leadership, education or community
outreach.

"These early career scientists and engineers represent some of the best and
brightest talent in our agency and our university partners," said NASA Chief
Scientist Ellen Stofan. "We are delighted to see them win this prestigious
award. Their contributions, ranging from micro-gravity and space radiation
effects, x-ray spectrometry, advanced composites, remote sensing, and climate
research, will benefit our nation and advance the scientific frontiers."

The 2012 NASA recipients were nominated by the agency's Science Mission
Directorate, Office of the Chief Engineer, and Office of the Chief
Technologist. The recipients are:

-- Dr. Joshua S. Alwood, at NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field,
Calif., for research into the temporal changes in skeletal tissue density,
cancellous orientation and vasculature during recovery from musculoskeletal
disuse

-- Dr. Douglas C. Hofmann, at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena,
Calif., for his innovative research in metal-matrix composites for future
NASA missions

-- Dr. Randall L. McEntaffer, at the University of Iowa, for development of
high resolution and high throughput X-ray gratings for use in the next
generation of space-based X-ray spectrometers.

-- Dr. Tamlin M. Pavelsky, at the University of North Carolina, for
outstanding research and leadership advancing satellite remote sensing of
river discharge, including enabling the broader community to develop and
improve algorithms for SWOT, a future NASA Satellite.

-- Dr. Patrick C. Taylor, at NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va.,
for exceptional early career achievements and innovations that have advanced
scientific understanding of the Earth's climate system

The PECASE awards were created to foster innovative developments in science
and technology, increase awareness of careers in science and engineering,
give recognition to the scientific missions of participating agencies,
enhance connections between fundamental research and many of the grand
challenges facing the nation, and highlight the importance of science and
technology for America's future. For a complete list of 2012 award winners,
visit:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/12/23/president-obama-ho...

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov


David Cottle

UBB Owner & Administrator