Thomas Hansueli Zurbuchen (born 1968) is a Swiss-American astrophysicist. From October 2016 until the end of 2022, he was the longest continually running Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA. Prior to this, he was Professor of Space Science and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Michigan, where he helped found the Center for Entrepreneurship.
Currently, Thomas Zurbuchen is a full professor at ETH Zürich where he leads the ETH Zürich | Space initiative and has built the space systems master's degree programme. He also does advisory engagements and keynote speaking.
In 2021 an asteroid was named after Zurbuchen.
Personal life and education Zurbuchen was born and grew up in Switzerland as the child of a Free Church preacher. He attended both high school and university against the wishes of his parents. Zurbuchen studied physics at the University of Bern, with a minor in mathematics, and was awarded a PhD in 1996 with a thesis entitled "Turbulence in the interplanetary medium and its implications on the dynamics of minor ions".
Career
Zurbuchen moved to the United States two weeks after completing his PhD. He joined the University of Michigan as a research associate, and was made professor in 2008. His scientific research focuses on solar and heliospheric physics, experimental space research, and space systems; he is also well known for his personal work on innovation and entrepreneurship.
Zurbuchen served as team leader for the development of one of the scientific instruments aboard NASA's Messenger spacecraft to Mercury, the Fast Imaging Plasma Spectrometer. He chaired the National Academy of Sciences committee that produced a report in 2016 on Cubesats.
From October 2016 until the end of 2022, Zurbuchen was the longest continually running Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA. During this time, NASA launched 37 missions and started another 54. Among them were the James Webb Space Telescope, Perseverance and Ingenuity Mars Landings, DART, and many others for which he was responsible, and to the success of which he contributed majorly. Due to his work, Zurbuchen is routinely featured in interviews, public lectures, and podcasts, focussed on leadership innovation and management techniques, especially in complex organizations. Examples include, but are not limited to the Harvard Business Review, the Knowledge Project, (German) Chefgespräch, and (German) Alles Gesagt.
As of January 2023, Zurbuchen works as an international speaker. Since August 2023, Zurbuchen is director of ETH Zurich Space and holds a full professorship there.
Other activities Planet Labs, Member of the European Advisory Board (since 2026)Driving Strategic Growth in Europe: Announcing Planet’s European Advisory Board Planet Labs, press release of 13 February 2026. Schindler Group, Member of the Board of Directors (since 2024) Firefly Aerospace, Member of the Board of Directors (since 2025) Voyager Space, Member of the advisory board (since 2024) McKinley Apartments, Member of the Board of Directors
Awards 1996-1997: Swiss National Science Foundation's Young Researcher Award 2001: Research Scientist Excellence Award, University of Michigan, College of Engineeringhttps://adaa.engin.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2013/07/zurbuchen.pdf 2004: National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Presidential Early Career for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) Award 2004: US Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. 2005: University of Michigan College of Engineering 2005 Service Excellence Award 2006: NASA Group Achievement Award, Ulysses Mission 2009: Rackham Faculty Recognition Award, University of Michigan 2018: Heinrich-Greinacher-Prize of the University of BernGreinacher Foundation. University of Bern. Retrieved 20 November 2022. 2020: von Kármán Lecture in Astronautics Award AIAA 2020: NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal 2021: US Presidential Rank Award 2021: Honorary doctorate degree (Dr. of Science) of Northern Michigan University. 2022: NASA Distinguished Service Medal 2022: Space Transport Association Leadership Award 2022: Member of the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW) 2022: Wernher von Braun Distinguished Science Award. 2022: Honorary doctorate degree (Dr. h. c.) of the ETH ZurichPutting all our energy into education. ETH Zurich, 19 November 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2022. 2023: Innovator of the Year, Wirtschaftswoche 2023: Honorary doctorate degree (Doctorate of Science) of Rochester Institute of Technology 2023: Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) 2023: Excellence in international cooperation award, International Astronautical Federation 2023: Honorary doctorate degree (Dr. of Science) of University of Michigan 2024: Aerosuisse Award 2024: Nelson W. Spencer Lecturer Award 2025: von Braun Award for Excellence in Space Program Management, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) 2025: Stratton Prize for outstanding career achievements in fostering intercultural understanding between Switzerland and the United States 2026: AIAA Public Service Award 2026: Prix Suisse 2026 laureate, for exceptional contributions to Switzerland
Popular culture Zurbuchen is referenced in the King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard song The Last Oasis.
References
External links
Personal web site for Thomas Zurbuchen Web site for Thomas Zurbuchen at NASA Web site for Thomas Zurbuchen at the University of Michigan Podcast with Harvard Business Review Podcast with Knowledge Project German Podcast with Die Zeit German Podcast with Wirtschaftswoche