Dr. Maria Zuber is the E. A. Griswold Professor of Geophysics and Presidential Advisor for Science and Technology Policy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she shapes science policy and research strategy at the highest institutional level. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in astronomy and geology from the University of Pennsylvania before completing both her Master's and Doctoral degrees in geophysics at Brown University. Professor Zuber has made history at MIT through multiple leadership milestones, becoming the first woman to head a science department as Chair of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences from 2003 to 2012, and subsequently serving as Vice President for Research from 2013 to 2024. Her distinguished career has seen her appointed by Presidents Obama, Trump, and Biden to significant national science roles including the National Science Board and the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
Professor Zuber's pioneering research revolutionized planetary science through the development and application of gravity and laser altimetry measurement techniques to determine the interior structure and evolution of solid solar system objects. As Principal Investigator for NASA's Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission, she became the first woman to lead a NASA planetary spacecraft mission, producing the most accurate topographic maps of the Moon that surpass Earth's own mapping precision. Her scientific contributions span leadership roles on ten NASA missions including Mars Global Surveyor, Dawn, and MESSENGER, where her laser altimeters generated foundational data about planetary structure and tectonics that transformed understanding of thermal history and surface-atmosphere interactions. These accomplishments established her as a preeminent researcher whose methods for interpreting planetary shapes and gravitational fields have become standard practice across the field.
Beyond her technical achievements, Professor Zuber has significantly influenced planetary science through her leadership as Chair of NASA's Mars Sample Return mission Standing Review Board and her commitment to science education and public engagement. She pioneered the inclusion of educational components in NASA missions, notably developing the Moon Knowledge Acquired by Middle school students (MoonKAM) program for GRAIL that engaged thousands of students in lunar exploration. As a member of the National Academy of Sciences, recipient of the AGU's Harry H. Hess Medal and the Gerard P. Kuiper Prize, and holder of the MIT James R. Killian Jr. Faculty Achievement Award, her contributions have been widely recognized across the scientific community. Professor Zuber continues to advance planetary science through her research leadership, policy guidance, and dedication to inspiring future generations of scientists through accessible space exploration initiatives.
