Space Affinity Group
The System-wide Space Experts Directory provides a consolidated view of faculty expertise across the Texas A&M University System. It serves as a practical resource to assist partners and collaborators in identifying relevant researchers and focus areas within space research.
ASTRONOMY AND PLANETARY SCIENCE
Dr. Robert Kennicutt, Distinguished Professor of Physics and Astronomy, serves as the Executive Director of the Texas A&M Mitchell Institute for Fundamental Physics and Astronomy. Dr. Kennicutt is a world-renowned expert in galaxy evolution and is best known for his work on the Kennicutt–Schmidt law, which relates gas density to star-formation rates. He is also known for his role in constraining the value of the Hubble constant and as Principal Investigator for the Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey. Dr. Kennicutt has received several accolades for his research, including the American Astronomical Society’s Dannie Heineman Prize in Astrophysics, the Gruber Cosmology Prize, and the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society for Astronomy. In 2020, he was elected as a Legacy Fellow of the American Astronomical Society.
Dr. Gongbo (Tony) Liang, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Texas A&M University–San Antonio, is using his expertise in computer vision and multimodal learning to increase our understanding of space. Along with partners at NASA and the University of Kentucky, Dr. Liang is working to improve the identification and near-real-time forecasting of solar flares and the ensuing space weather events. This work is becoming increasingly important as NASA seeks to return humans to the Moon through Project Artemis, where the hazards of space weather events to astronauts operating outside of the protective Earth magnetosphere is exacerbated. More recently, Dr. Liang has employed a transfer-learning approach to obtain reliable and accurate mass estimates for galaxy clusters across a wide range of redshifts and mass scales. The results were published in the Royal Astronomical Society.
Dr. Billy Quarles, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy at East Texas A&M University, is making gravitational waves with his research on the Alpha Centauri system. This work includes the groundbreaking discovery of a potential planet orbiting Alpha Centauri A, the closest star system to Earth. For this research, Dr. Quarles collaborated with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA Ames Research Center, and the Space Telescope Science Institute. Using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, scientists identified a potential planet located in the habitable zone of Alpha Centauri A, a region where temperatures might allow liquid water to exist. Their findings were recently published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. If confirmed, the discovery would mark a milestone in the study of planets beyond our solar system, particularly around stars that resemble our own.
Dr. Justin Spilker, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy, is a multi-wavelength observational astrophysicist at Texas A&M University. His research on galaxy evolution relates to processes that both create and prevent (i.e., quench) the formation of new stars from galaxies, as well as the physical mechanisms that transform a star-forming galaxy into a quiescent one. This work includes the 2023 discovery of complex organic molecules in a galaxy more than 12 billion light-years away from Earth, thus shedding light on the complex chemistry that accompanies the birth of new stars, even in the earliest periods of the universe’s history. Dr. Spilker has published prolifically in journals such as Nature, Astrophysical Journal, and Nature Astronomy. Prior to joining Texas A&M, he was a NASA Hubble Fellow with the University of Texas.
Dr. Krista Lynne Smith, Associate Professor of Astronomy and Physics at Texas A&M University, is an observational astrophysicist specializing in time-domain observations of supermassive black holes, binary active galactic nuclei, and their effects on host galaxies. She currently holds the Endowed Career Enhancement Chair in Physics. In 2024, Dr. Smith was one of six U.S. scientists selected by NASA to serve on the joint European Space Agency (ESA)-NASA Science Team for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission, which is set to begin searching for gravitational wave signatures in space within the next decade. She employs a variety of ground- and space-based instruments for her research, including the Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER), the Swift X-ray Telescope, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), the Very Large Telescope-Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (VLT-MUSE), the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, and the Very Large Array (VLA) radio observatory. Prior to joining Texas A&M in 2023, Dr. Smith was a NASA Earth and Space Sciences Fellow and an Einstein Fellow at Stanford University’s Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology.
Dr. Driss Takir, Texas A&M University at Galveston marine and coastal scientist, draws upon the marine sciences as a Planetary Scientist at Johnson Space Center’s Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) division, where he has been part of several space missions and concept studies to explore primitive bodies in the solar system. Dr. Takir’s research involves spectral analysis of primitive extraterrestrial materials and small bodies to constrain the abundance and distribution of volatiles and chemical compounds across the solar system. This work includes simulating space conditions for spectral analysis of asteroidal samples—such as carbonaceous chondrites and asteroid returned samples—to characterize their chemical and mineralogical compositions.
Dr. Michael Tice, Texas A&M University geologist, employs techniques from geochemistry, microbiology, and sedimentary geology to study the remote field geology and astrobiology of Mars. This work includes research into the geological history of Mars’ volcanic Jezero Crater, the landing site of NASA’s Perseverance rover. Dr. Tice and his team revealed two distinct types of volcanic rocks, indicating a complex volcanic history involving multiple lava flows with varying compositions. More recently, Dr. Tice’s work has revealed potential chemical signatures of ancient Martian microbial life in rocks examined by NASA’s Perseverance rover. These findings, published in Nature by an international team of scientists, focus on a region of the Jezero Crater known as the Bright Angel formation. Their findings show that the Bright Angel formation contains textures, chemical and mineral characteristics, and organic signatures that warrant consideration as potential biosignatures, i.e., features consistent with biological processes and the presence of life.
Dr. Sherry Yennello, Distinguished Professor and Regents Professor of Chemistry at Texas A&M University, is an internationally renowned nuclear chemist. She currently serves as Director of the Texas A&M Cyclotron Institute, where she holds the Bright Chair in Nuclear Science. Her research is expanding our understanding of the stars—specifically, the nuclear reactions that fuel them. Nuclear synthesis has been the driving force behind the evolution of the universe from the first few microseconds after the Big Bang. In an effort to understand this evolution, Dr. Yennello is utilizing the newly available ability to produce beams of nuclei removed from the valley of stability to investigate nuclear reaction mechanisms. The emission of fragments prior to equilibrium enables us to learn about cluster formation by studying the dynamics involved in the collision of two composite groups of nucleons. These reactions are important for studying the structure, chemical composition, and evolution of neutron stars and as well as the dynamics of supernova explosions. Dr. Yannello is the Program Director of the Texas A&M Center for Excellence in Nuclear Training and University-Based Research (CENTAUR) Laboratory. She is likewise a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Physical Society, and the American Chemical Society. Her research into nuclear reactions has received several honors, including the Glenn T. Seaborg Award for Nuclear Chemistry and the SURA Distinguished Scientist Award.
AVIATION AND AEROSPACE
Dr. Terry Alfriend, Distinguished Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, is currently Regents Professor and holds the Jack E. and Frances Brown Chair II. He is best known for his theoretical contributions, applied research, and leadership in the fields of satellite orbital mechanics and spacecraft attitude control. Dr. Alfriend was named to the Navy TENCAP Space Chair for three years in the Space Systems Academic Group at the Naval Postgraduate School before joining Texas A&M in 1997. His current research focuses on space domain awareness, astrodynamics, and dynamic model fidelity. A well-respected researcher, his contributions led to the highest honor for an engineer, membership in the National Academy of Engineering. Dr. Alfriend is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the American Astronautical Society, and the American Astronomical Society. He is also a Member of the National Academy of Engineering and the International Academy of Astronautics.
Dr. Robert H. Bishop is the Vice Chancellor and Dean for the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University and Director of the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station. Dr. Bishop is one of the leading and pioneering architects of the core curriculum for undergraduate engineering education in control theory. As an active researcher and scholar, he is a specialist in systems theory, guidance and control of spacecraft, and navigation and estimation theory, with applications across a broad range of aerospace challenges. Prior to joining Texas A&M in 2024, Dr. Bishop gained extensive experience working for NASA and the Department of Defense. His pioneering work significantly advanced the U.S. space program through technical innovations in guidance, navigation, and control systems for the early NASA space shuttle and space station programs. He later made pioneering advancements in precision navigation and landing capabilities for NASA’s Autonomous Landing Hazard Avoidance Technology (ALHAT) Project. Dr. Bishop has received several honors and awards for his seminal research, including the Mechanics & Control of Flight Award from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the NASA Advanced Exploration Systems Innovation Award, and the Dirk Brouwer Award from the American Astronautical Society. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Astronautical Society, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
Dr. Rodney Bowersox, Regents Professor, Senior Associate Dean for Research in the College of Engineering, currently serves as Deputy Director of the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station. He is also Executive Director of the University Consortium for Applied Hypersonics and founding Director of the Texas A&M National Aerothermochemistry and Hypersonic Flight Laboratory. Dr. Bowersox is an expert on theoretical and experimental hypersonic viscous flows (turbulent and transitional), non-equilibrium gas dynamics, and turbulence modeling—with applications in hypersonic aerodynamics and propulsion. He also develops state-of-the-art research facilities. For example, Dr. Bowersox designed two facilities for the AFRL air vehicle and directed energy directorates. His pioneering research has been funded by the NSF, NASA, and Department of Defense. Dr. Bowersox is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the American Society of Mechanical Engineering, and a DoD Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellow. He is also a Member of the National Academy of Engineering, the American Chemical Society, American Physical Society, and the Optical Society of America.
Dr. Angela (Angie) Griffin, Assistant Professor in the College of Arts & Sciences, leads the Aviation Science Program at Texas A&M University–Central Texas. Dr. Griffin is a passionate aviator with FAA certificates as a Commercial Rotor Pilot, a Certified Flight Instructor, and a Private Single-Engine Aircraft Pilot. She has completed many missions—both nationally and internationally. Dr. Griffin is also a STEM CTE Curriculum design specialist with the National Institute for STEM Education. She has been a featured speaker on leadership development, relationship building, and conflict resolution for aviation students at Fortune 100 companies and educational organizations. Her current research focuses on the use of Self-Determination Theory by high-performing female pilots.
Dr. John Junkins, Regents Professor, Distinguished Professor of Aerospace Engineering and Royce E. Wisenbaker Chair at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, is the founding Director of the Texas A&M Hagler Institute for Advanced Study. With a career that spans six decades, Dr. Junkins has made significant contributions to the navigation, mechanics, and control of aerospace systems. Early in his career, he worked on concepts and inventions to support U.S. space missions. From laser range measurements made during Apollo missions 15, 16, and 17 in 1971-72, Dr. Junkins developed a precise model of the moon’s shape. He later developed the first finite element representation of the Earth’s gravity anomalies, which supported early inertial guidance methods for Polaris missiles. In more recent years, in collaboration with his students, Dr. Junkins developed several innovations related to spacecraft navigation. His prolific publications include eight books and over 600 journal and conference articles. Dr. Junkins has received several honors and awards over the course of his career, including the TYCHO BRAHE Medal, the CCES Lifetime Achievement Award, the Robert H. Goddard Astronautics Award, and the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Distinguished Service Award.
Dr. Ivett Levya, Arthur McFarland Professor of Aerospace Engineering, is the Associate Dean for Research at Texas A&M–Fort Worth. She is a world-renowned expert on the aerodynamics of hypersonic flight and liquid rocket engines. Before joining Texas A&M in 2021, Dr. Leyva worked at the Air Force, where she served as the program officer for Hypersonic Aerodynamics at the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). Prior to that, she was a researcher at the AFRL Rocket Lab working on liquid rocket instabilities. This research will be especially relevant at Texas A&M–Fort Worth, which will be home to the upcoming Center for Advanced Aviation Technologies (CAAT)—a groundbreaking initiative aimed at advancing research and development in emerging aviation technologies. Dr. Levya is a Fellow of the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Air Force Research Laboratory, a National Associate of the National Research Council of the National Academies, and a recipient of a Civilian Achievement Medal and two meritorious Civilian Service Awards and Medals from the Air Force.
Dr. Manoranjan Majji, Endowed Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, is the Associate Department Head for Space Engineering and currently serves as Director of the Land, Air, and Space Robotics (LASR) Laboratory, which conducts groundbreaking research in the fields of astrodynamics, spacecraft proximity operations and rendezvous, and aerospace systems and robotics. Dr. Majji has made fundamental contributions in state estimation, astrodynamics, tensegrity systems, vision navigation, and system identification—resulting in over 190 publications. He is currently Co-PI of the Space University Research Initiative (SURI) along with scholars at UC Boulder, Texas A&M, and Georgia Tech. This collaborative project aims to develop new capabilities to improve space domain awareness. Currently, NASA and the Air Force can monitor objects like satellites, asteroids, and debris in low Earth orbit. The team will infer internal space object modes, sensor network architectures, and the art of the possible in ‘beyond geosynchronous orbit’ (XGEO) operations, as well as strategies for human-in-the-loop autonomous systems. Dr. Majji is a Fellow of the American Astronautical Society and recipient of the New Investigator Award from the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, the Texas A&M Dean of Engineering Excellence Award, and the TEES Faculty Fellow.
Dr. Jiansen Wang, Assistant Professor of Aviation, is leading the newly developed Aviation Program at Texas A&M University–Victoria. The program, which is housed at the Victoria Regional Airport, was established by the Texas Legislature in 2024. Dr. Wang’s research focuses on the use of industrial engineering tools to improve airport efficiency and statistical analysis to set healthy standards for the improved sustainability of airports.
IN-SPACE RESEARCH
Dr. Robert Ambrose, Distinguished Professor and Endowed Chair of Mechanical Engineering, leads the Texas A&M Robotics and Automation Design (RAD) Lab at Texas A&M–RELLIS. He also serves as both Director of the Texas A&M Space and Robotics Initiatives and Associate Director of the Texas A&M Space Institute. His research focuses on robotic manipulation and mobility, specifically in relation to space robotics. Before joining Texas A&M in 2021, Dr. Ambrose spent decades at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. There, he was the chief of the Software, Robotics, and Simulation Division—where he led the development of advanced robotic systems for space missions. In early 2024, Dr. Ambrose was chosen to lead the Space Strategic Technical Institute for In-Space Operations (SSTI-ISO). The SSTI-ISO is a collaborative effort involving leading academic institutions and industry partners for a 5-year project. With Texas A&M as the lead university, most of the testing will be performed in a dual spacecraft testbed located at the Texas A&M–RELLIS campus. SSTI-ISO will develop new in-space operations, infuse new technologies into industrial efforts and government laboratories, and provide access to workforce, talent, and subject matter experts for defense space missions. Dr. Ambrose has been recognized with several honors for his research, including the Thomas A Edison Patent Award, the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, and the NASA Exceptional Technology Achievement Medal.
Jessica Atkins, Ph.D. candidate from the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences in Texas A&M AgriLife Research—under the guidance of her advisor, Dr. Terry Gentry—has produced the first-ever chickpeas to be grown in moondust. Using simulated moondust (because there’s not enough lunar regolith on Earth for experimentation), Atkin and her colleagues grew chickpeas to seed in mixtures of up to 75% moondust. Using soil regeneration mechanisms from Earth, Atkin leveraged the interaction between beneficial soil fungi and vermicompost, or worm manure, to create a fertile moondust. These amendments help sequester toxic contaminants from the dust, change the soil structure for better hydraulic properties, and increase plant tolerance to stressors and toxins. As a result of her study, future moon-bound astronauts may have the opportunity to substitute a portion of their prepackaged foods with protein derived from crops grown on the lunar surface. NASA has provided a $150-thousand NASA Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology grant. The grant secures Atkin’s work for three years. A recent internship with NASA will see some of her research into plant systems arrive on the moon as part of humans’ return to the moon aboard Artemis III.
Dr. Serena Auñòn-Chancellor, Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Texas A&M College of Medicine, is Board-certified in Internal and Aerospace Medicine, a NASA astronaut, and an expert in extreme medicine. She has practiced medicine in almost every environment imaginable—both on and off the planet. Dr. Auñòn-Chancellor was selected by NASA in 2009 as one of 14 members. In 2018, she spent 197 days in orbit as Flight Engineer on the International Space Station for Expeditions 56 and 57. During her time in orbit, Dr. Auñòn-Chancellor’s crew completed over 150 different experiments in multiple fields, including biology & biotechnology, cancer, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s research, materials science, nuclear physics, physical sciences, and Earth science. This work led to breakthroughs in cancer treatment and in our understanding of the effects of microgravity on human physiology. Her prolific publications in journals such as New England Journal of Medicine, Nature Microgravity, and Annals of Internal Medicine include investigations into thrombosis in microgravity, space radiation and its clinical effects on humans, and the major medical challenges facing astronauts during exploration-class missions. She currently serves in the Astronaut Office, where she covers medical issues and provides guidance for ISS, Lunar, and Exploration-Class missions. Dr. Auñòn-Chancellor was awarded the United States Air Force Flight Surgeons Julian Ward Award, the Outstanding UTMB Resident Award, and the William K. Douglas Award.
Dr. Gregory Chamitoff, Professor of Practice in Aerospace Engineering at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, is another Aggie Astronaut. He joined Mission Operations at the Johnson Space Center in 1995 and was selected as an astronaut candidate in 1998. In 2011, Dr. Chamitoff served as a Mission Specialist on the last flight of Space Shuttle Endeavour, STS-134. During this mission, he performed operations with the Shuttle and Station Robotic Arms, including the installation of a pallet of spare equipment (ELC-3) and the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS), a particle physics observatory that holds great promise for fundamental breakthroughs in our understanding of the Universe. Dr. Chamitoff also performed two spacewalks, the last of which marked the completion of ISS assembly and was the final spacewalk of the Space Shuttle Program. To date, he has logged more than 198 days in space. Dr. Chamitoff is Director of the Texas A&M AeroSpace Technology, Research & Operations (ASTRO). His current research focuses on Vision-Based Solar System Navigation and Spacecraft System Modeling and Simulation. Dr. Chamitoff is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and was inducted into the California Astronaut Hall of Fame. His work has been recognized with several honors, including the Distinguished Service Medal and the Silver Snoopy Award from NASA.
Dr. Nancy Currie-Gregg, Don Lummus Professor, currently serves as Director for the Texas A&M Space Institute. Prior to joining Texas A&M, she spent the vast majority of her career supporting NASA’s human spaceflight programs and projects. Selected as an astronaut in 1990, Dr. Curie-Gregg accrued 1000 hours in space as a mission specialist on four space shuttle missions—STS-57, STS-70, STS-88, and STS-109. Following the Columbia tragedy in 2003, she was selected to lead the Space Shuttle Program’s Safety and Mission Assurance Office. She was then selected as a senior executive member of the NASA Engineering and Safety Center, serving for over a decade as the Chief Engineer at the Johnson Space Center before becoming Principal Engineer. Dr. Currie-Gregg’s research currently focuses on advancing the health, performance, safety, and efficiency of aviators and astronauts operating in complex, high-risk environments. This work includes the development of a Biomechanical Injury Calculator, systems safety engineering, and spacecraft occupant protection. Dr. Curie-Gregg has been the recipient of many awards and honors, including the U.S. Government Presidential Rank Award, NASA’s Exceptional Service Award, four NASA Spaceflight Medals, the Defense Superior Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and induction into both the Army Aviation and the Women in Aviation International Halls of Fame.
Dr. Ana Diaz Artiles, Associate Professor and Faculty Fellow of Aerospace Engineering in the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, currently serves as Director of the Texas A&M Bioastronautics and Human Performance (BHP) Laboratory. Her research focuses on the biomechanics of space exploration and on human performance in extreme environments—including altered gravity, extravehicular activity, and computational modeling. As space travel becomes more common, it’s crucial to understand the body’s reaction to changes in gravity and its effects on astronauts’ health. Dr. Diaz Artiles is a Fullbright Fellow, an Amelia Earhart Fellow, and was awarded the Man Vehicle Lab ‘Sherry’ Award by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Dr. Bonnie J. Dunbar, Professor and John & Bea Slattery Chair of Aerospace Engineering, serves as Director of the Aerospace Human Systems Laboratory (AHSL) at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station. Dr. Dunbar became a NASA astronaut in August 1981. A veteran of five space flights, Dr. Dunbar has logged more than 1,208 hours (50 days) in space. She served as a mission specialist on STS 61-A in 1985, STS-32 in 1990, and STS-71 in 1995. She was also the Payload Commander on STS-50 in 1992 and STS-89 in 1998. Dr. Dunbar retired from NASA to serve as President and CEO of the Seattle Museum of Flight before joining Texas A&M in 2016 as a Chancellor Research Initiative Professor. Her research focuses on microgravity fluid physics, their effects on humans, and human-space systems—such as the EVA suit and the Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG). This work has been recognized with several accolades, including the John P. McGovern Medal, the George R. Stibitz Computer and Communications Award, the NASA Superior Accomplishment Award, five NASA Spaceflight Medals, and election to the Astronaut Hall of Fame. Dr. Dunbar is a Fellow of the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Royal Aeronautical Society, and the National Academy of Engineering. She is also a Member of the International Academy of Astronautics.
Dr. Premkumar Saganti, Regents Professor of Physics at Prairie View A&M University, currently serves as Director of both the Radiation Institute for Science and Engineering (RaISE) and the Prairie View Solar Observatory. He is a Research Faculty member of the NASA Center for Applied Radiation Research and has served as lead PI on several NASA grants. For example, Dr. Saganti led the first Prairie View designed-and-developed payload, the Radiation Particle Pixel Detector (PPD), which was launched from Japan in December 2014 as part of the Asteroid Explorer. PPD reached deep space beyond the Moon’s orbit. This project received the highest recognition and honors from the Japanese Science and Engineering Society in 2016 for successfully collecting radiation data and transmitting it from deep space onboard the Shinen-2 spacecraft near Venus’ orbit. The second payload, the Solar and Heliospheric Assessment of Radiation Particles (SHARP) Charged Particle Detector (CPD), was launched into orbit onboard the Ten-Koh spacecraft of KIT-Japan in 2018 by the H2 rocket of JAXA, Japan. Both payloads successfully collected and transmitted data through the onboard spacecraft’s radio frequency communication portals.
PEDAGOGY AND OUTREACH
Dr. José Baca Garcia, Associate Professor of Engineering at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, researches the use of robotic systems in space, particularly those capable of transforming themselves to overcome obstacles and explore unknown scenarios. In the quest to explore new frontiers in space, these systems could not only enhance exploration capabilities but also support crew health and performance. In addition to his many publications, Dr. Baca Garcia is using his expertise to train, teach, and inspire future generations of space engineers—from elementary school through college—with funding from agencies like NASA, the Department of Education, NSF, and the Texas Space Grant Consortium. These outreach programs, such as the STEM-tronics Program, offer students a unique opportunity to become familiar with complex engineering at a younger age, giving them a competitive edge both before and after entering college. At TAMU-CC, his students were recently awarded the Top Design team at the NASA Texas Space Grant Consortium Design Challenge. In 2024, Dr. Baca Garcia was selected as an alternate crew member for the Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) program at NASA. He is currently a Research and Innovation Faculty Fellow.
Don Carona, longtime manager of the Texas A&M Physics Observatory at Texas A&M University, devoted decades of service before passing away on September 8, 2025. From maintaining the observatory’s telescopes to welcoming thousands of students to his astronomy class, he became a face of stargazing at Texas A&M. His quiet reliability and welcoming nature made him a cornerstone of many of the department’s outreach efforts. Mr. Carona’s work extended far beyond equipment and logistics; he built bridges between science and community, sparking curiosity in all who looked through the observatory’s telescopes. His legacy lives on in the countless students, educators, and amateur astronomers who were inspired by his efforts to bring the universe a little closer to home.
Dr. David Craig, Associate Professor of Physics at West Texas A&M University, is leveraging his background in optical and radio astronomy to provide students in West Texas and beyond with real-world research experience and a community of practice through the NSF-funded Arecibo Legacy Fast (ALFA) Team. This consortium of 25 institutions, including WT, promotes undergraduate research within the context of the extragalactic ALFA HI blind legacy survey project. The next phase will perform radio spectral line observations to trace the atomic gas content of the local universe. Overall, this highly successful program has had a demonstrable impact on science education and astronomy participation, yielding successful outcomes. Undergraduate students learn observation and data analysis techniques via lectures and group work. In partnership with Arecibo and Green Bank Observatories, the ALFA team organizes annual workshops, multiple research projects, and networking at national meetings. In 2024, Dr. Craig was awarded the Magister Optimus in recognition of his outstanding teaching and service to the university, the highest honor for a WT faculty member.
Peter Davis, Planetarium educator, serves as Director of the Lamar Bruni Vergara (LBV) Planetarium at Texas A&M International University. The LBV Planetarium—which is open to the public for stargazing and educational engagement—was upgraded in 2014 to one of the most sophisticated planetaria in the state of Texas. Mr. Davis joined Texas A&M this same year, following a Master’s in Planetarium Education. He has since written and produced roughly 25 shows for the LBV Planetarium in addition to organizing regular guest speakers and events. As the only planetarium within a 150-mile radius, the LBV Planetarium serves as a vital hub for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and outreach. The content produced by Mr. Davis consequently plays a crucial role in expanding scientific literacy, knowledge about astronomy, and space exploration in South Texas. He also teaches introductory astronomy and earth science courses at Texas A&M International University. Mr. Davis currently serves on the newly formed Workgroup on Space Exploration and Aviation at TAMIU, which is part of the university’s larger effort to join the Texas Space Commission in its Space Exploration Workforce Initiative.
Dr. Tatiana Erukhimova, Presidential Professor for Teaching Excellence of Physics and Astronomy at Texas A&M University, uses social media to get her students, as well as future generations, excited about science and physics. Dr. Erukhimova performs physics tricks with boundless energy and enthusiasm. Videos of her theatrical demonstrations have racked up hundreds of millions of views across YouTube and other social media platforms. The TAMU Physics & Astronomy – YouTube Page now has roughly 3.68 million subscribers—an astronomical following that eclipses even the renowned Aggie athletics program. These demonstrations have been featured nationally, including on The Jennifer Hudson Show, Good Morning America, and CBS News. Dr. Erukhimova has a long-standing record of sharing her enthusiasm for physics with the public. She developed the Texas A&M Physics Show, which has been attended by more than 40,000 people since 2007. In 2012, she started the innovative program Discover, Explorer, and Enjoy Physics & Engineering (DEEP), which engages students in hands-on teamwork and outreach activities. She was also a co-organizer of the Mitchell Institute Physics Enhancement Program (MIPEP) for high-school physics teachers. Dr. Erukhimova has received several accolades for her teaching, including the David Halliday and Robert Resnick Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Physics Teaching, the Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service, the American Physical Society’s Medal for Outreach, and the Wells Fargo Faculty Mentor Award. She is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Physical Society, and the American Association of Physics Teachers.
Dr. Shaukat Goderya, Professor of Physics, serves as Director of the Program for Astronomy Education and Research at Tarleton State University. Through the program, students have the opportunity to undertake significant astronomical research using Tarleton’s observatory. Located at the university’s Hunewell Ranch, the Tarleton State University Observatory is an 840-square-foot facility featuring a 32-inch, computer-controlled reflecting telescope. Utilizing the observatory, Dr. Goderya has provided mentorship and direct experience with astronomical research to dozens of students. Students at Tarleton participate in data collection, analysis, and scientific communication on a variety of projects, including the monitoring of exoplanets, the automated classification of light curves of eclipsing binary stars, and the photometric investigation of the eclipsing binary star, BX Draconis. Dr. Goderya additionally organizes outreach programs through the Tarleton Planetarium, which hosts special digital presentations for the public throughout the year. These programs include community support for school-aged children through science enrichment. Dr. Goderya is a Member of the American Astronomical Society, the American Association of Physics Teachers, the Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers, and the Texas Space Grant Consortium.
Dr. Hye Jung Kang, Associate Professor of Physics at Texas A&M University–Texarkana, is using her background in quantum mechanics and neutron scattering to empower future engineers and astronomy students by integrating research with pedagogical innovation. Recent publications on this topic include Modern Tesla Coil as a Multidisciplinary Example in STEM Teaching and A New Approach for Introducing Schrödinger’s Equation Using Maxwell’s Equations, Quantum Mechanics, and Special Relativity. Dr. Kang was the recipient of the prestigious Tennessee Advanced Materials Laboratory Fellowship and the Paul H. Stelson Fellowship.
Dr. Hua Li, Professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, currently serves as Director of the Sustainability and Simulation Laboratory at Texas A&M University–Kingsville. In addition to researching the optimization of wind and wave energy, Dr. Li is leading the next generation of aerospace engineers across Texas with funding from organizations such as NASA, NSF, and the U.S. Department of Education. In the NASA-funded INCLUDES program, for example, Dr. Li and TAMU-K led the effort to broaden participation and enhance the education of South Texan students in Aerospace Engineering and related STEM fields by partnering with Laredo College, Del Mar College, South Texas College, and local high schools—including home-schooled children. These partnerships include High School Camps that give younger students the opportunity to build and launch air-powered and solid-fuel rockets, build and fly different airplane models, and fly drones under the guidance of local faculty. Along with access to a webinar series, college students interned with various companies and institutions, allowing them a seamless transition to the Aerospace workforce. Earlier this year, Dr. Li’s students at TAMU-K were awarded the Top Design team at the NASA Texas Space Grant Consortium Design Challenge.
The Texas A&M University System AeroSpace Frontiers of Discovery
Institutes & Centers
Prairie View A&M Center for Radiation Engineering and Science for Space Exploration (CRESSE)
Texas A&M Mitchell Institute for Fundamental Physics and Astronomy