Faculty affiliated with Georgia Tech’s Space Research Institute (SRI) were recognized this awards season for achievements that underscore the Institute’s leadership in space‑related research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and high‑impact program development.

Spanning individual faculty honors and major institute‑level research awards, these recognitions reflect the depth and breadth of SRI‑affiliated work across engineering, physical sciences, and large‑scale collaborative initiatives advancing space exploration, technology, and manufacturing.

“SRI faculty are tackling some of the most complex challenges in space research, often through large, highly collaborative efforts,” said W. Jud Ready, executive director of SRI and principal research engineer at the Georgia Tech Research Institute. “These awards recognize not only individual excellence, but also the kind of cross‑cutting leadership and teamwork that defines impactful space research at Georgia Tech.”

Presented through peer‑driven nomination processes, Georgia Tech’s internal awards honor contributions across the research lifecycle, from foundational scholarship to interdisciplinary program building and long‑term research impact. This year’s SRI‑affiliated awardees include faculty recognized for outstanding publications as well as leaders and contributors to major research teams shaping Georgia Tech’s space enterprise.

In 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.

SRI Affiliate Award Recipients
 

Outstanding Achievement in Research Program Development Award

Human Space Exploration Team

The Outstanding Achievement in Research Program Development Award recognizes a faculty‑ and staff‑led research team that has built a thought‑leadership platform to significantly expand Georgia Tech’s research and scholarship portfolio. This year’s award honors the Human Space Exploration Team, whose interdisciplinary efforts have advanced Georgia Tech’s role in space research through cross‑college collaboration, external engagement, and integrated research vision.

The team brings together expertise across engineering, physical sciences, materials science, and human‑centered research to address the technical, biological, and societal challenges of sustained human presence in space. Their work spans foundational research, technology development, and program‑level coordination, helping position Georgia Tech as a leader in human space exploration research.

• Phillip First, Professor, School of Physics
• Masatoshi Hirabayashi, Associate Professor, School of Aerospace Engineering
• Brant Jones, Senior Research Scientist, College of Sciences
• Julie Linsey, Professor, College of Engineering
• Peter Loutzenhiser, Associate Professor, School of Aerospace Engineering
• Thomas Orlando (Team Leader), Regents’ Professor, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry
• Frances Rivera‑Hernandez, Assistant Professor, College of Sciences
• Alvaro Romero‑Calvo, Assistant Professor, College of Engineering
• Meisha Shofner, Professor, School of Materials Science and Engineering

Learn more about the Human Space Exploration Team.
 

Outstanding Achievement in Research Program Impact Award

Georgia Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing (GA‑AIM)
 

• Brian Gunter, Associate Professor, Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering
• Thomas Kurfess, Executive Director, Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute

Recognizes a research program demonstrating measurable impact, broad influence, and sustained engagement with academic, industry, and community partners.

Learn more about Georgia AIM.

 

Best Faculty Paper Award

Matthew McDowell
Professor, Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering

Recognized for outstanding scholarly publication advancing research excellence in engineering.

 

ANAK Faculty Award

John D. Cressler
Schlumberger Chair in Electronics and Professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Honors distinguished faculty contributions to the Georgia Tech community.

Newly Tenured or Promoted SRI Faculty Affiliates

Promoted to Professor

• John A. Christian, Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering
• Christopher Thomas Reinhard, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, College of Sciences
• Lawrence Peter Rubin, Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts

Promoted to Associate Professor / Awarded Tenure

• Christopher E. Carr, Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering; School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, College of Sciences
• Pengfei Liu, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, College of Sciences
• Jürgen Rauleder, Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering
• Samer Naif, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, College of Sciences