The Lew Allen Award for Excellence (1986 - 2023)
The Lew Allen Award for Excellence was designed to recognize and encourage significant individual accomplishments or leadership in scientific research or technological innovation by JPL employees during the early years of their professional careers. The award consisted of a monetary amount from the JPL Research and Technology Development Fund (R&TD) to be used at JPL to enhance the professional efforts of the awardee. In addition to R&TD funds, the awardees received a monetary award and a memento. Annually, up to four (4) individuals were awarded.
2023
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Scott N Roberts | For outstanding intellectual leadership in printed porous materials technology foundational to advancements in thermal, structural and propulsion applications. |
| Jennifer E. Scully | For outstanding contributions to Dawn, Europa Clipper’s Reconnaissance Focus Group activities, and dedication to community service and inclusion. |
| Rashmi Shah | For outstanding achievements and leadership spanning science and engineering in the emergent field of Signals of Opportunity remote sensing. |
| James Sinclair | For exceptional leadership advancing outer-planet atmospheric research and our understanding of atmospheric-magnetospheric interactions. |
2022
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| David Bekaert | For his leadership in applying radar and optical remote sensing to societal needs, and for leading the OPERA Science Team |
| Tuan H. Vu | For his pioneering experimental work on the chemical composition and geological processes of icy worlds. |
| Emma Wollman | For outstanding record of innovation in superconducting nanowire single photon detectors and their implementation in the DSOC project. |
2021
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Ali Agha | For exceptional leadership and technological innovation in the emerging field of AI in support of autonomous exploration of extreme terrains. |
| Emmanuel Decrossas | For outstanding leadership and technological innovation advancing the field of low frequency antenna simulation and measurements. |
| Jonathan Hobbs | For outstanding accomplishments in research and development of uncertainty quantification approaches for atmospheric retrievals. |
| Laura H. Kerber | For exceptional scientific leadership and research on the geology and geophysics of the terrestrial planets and of the Moon. |
2020
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Brian Bue | For exceptional contributions to machine-learning for remote sensing systems. |
| Morgan Leigh Cable | For exceptional contributions to our understanding of chemistry on Titan’s surface. |
| Benjamin Hamlington | For exceptional contributions to understanding sea level change. |
| Sidharth Misra | For exceptional contributions to digital microwave radiometry. |
2019
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Davide Farnocchia | For exceptional leadership and research roles in orbit reconstruction and prediction of asteroids and comets. |
| Davide Farnocchia | Jet Propulsion Laboratory Lew Allen Award 'For exceptional leadership and research roles in orbit reconstruction and prediction of asteroids and comets' |
| Marco Lavalle | For sustained leadership in creating and advancing new Earth-science applications of Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar. |
| Joseph Masiero | For his work in establishing the physical properties of near-Earth asteroids and the threats they pose to Earth. |
| Maria Fernanda Mora | Lew Allen Award for "excellence in the development and validation of chemical analysis methodology and electrophoresis instruments for future life detection missions." |
| Maria Fernanda Mora | For excellence in the development and validation of chemical analysis methodology and electrophoresis instruments for future life detection missions. |
2018
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Laurie Barge | For pioneering research on the application of electrochemistry to studies of the origin and emergence of life. |
| Alex S. Gardner | For establishing a new unified system architecture to process Cryosphere data, leading to new scientific discoveries related to the evolution of polar ice caps. |
| Cecile Jung-Kubiak | For demonstrated excellence in the development of innovative silicon micromachining techniques that have enabled novel electromagnetic, mechanical, and propulsion devices. |
| Jose V. Siles | Lew Allen Award for Excellence for the development of high-power ultra-compact room-temperature multi-pixel terahertz sources and receivers for balloon-borne and space instruments. |
2017
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Piyush Agram | For major contributions to InSAR-based geodetic imaging and geophysical time series analysis |
| Nacer Chahat | For demonstrated unique talent as a leader in rapid spacecraft antenna development and telecom systems engineering for CubeSats |
| Nacer Chahat | The Lew Allen Award for Excellence, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
| Arezou Khoshakhlagh | For technical innovation in developing the novel Gallium-free antimonides superlattice epitaxial material system for advanced mid-wavelength and long-wavelength infrared detectors |
| Sylvain Piqueux | For leadership in the study of surface thermal properties of terrestrial worlds, and support of JPL missions to these bodies |
2016
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Mathieu Choukroun | For pioneering studies of the physical properties of cryogenic materials and contributions to MIRO and the US Rosetta mission |
| Andrew Klesh | For technical leadership of deep space smallsats and under-ice robotic rover technologies in support of terrestrial and outer planets exploration |
| Boon Lim | For leadership and technological innovation in the emerging field of microwave remote sensing science on nanosatellites |
| David Wiese | For exceptional leadership and research roles in GRACE data processing and Earth gravity science |
2015
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Darmindra Arumugam | For inventing and developing Active and Passive Magneto-Quasi-Static Positioning for long-range near-field positioning for non-line of sight environments |
| Sabah Bux | For leadership in the development of novel high performance high temperature nanocomposite bulk thermoelectric materials using advanced synthetic methods |
| Damon Landau | For innovation in mission architecting and mission design, and for leadership and creativity in the development of advanced mission concepts |
| Jason Williams | For innovative research in ultra-cold atoms, atom interferometry, and fundamental physics |
2014
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Rodney Anderson | For his exceptional discoveries and leadership in the development of new trajectory design techniques, particularly the lunar low-energy trajectory design |
| Michelle M. Gierach | For expanding the scope of JPL oceanography research in marine biophysical interaction, ecosystem dynamics, and ocean salinity science |
| Robert P. Hodyss | For pioneering studies of the properties of cryogenic hydrocarbon liquids and critical contributions to the development of the PIXL instrument |
| Aaron Parness | For development of new climbing robots and robotic grippers with widespread application to space and terrestrial exploration |
| David Ray Thompson | Caltech / JPL Lew Allen Award for Excellence |
2013
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Abigail Allwood | For geobiology research and scientific leadership in Mars Sample Return impacting direction of the Mars 2020 mission |
| Carmen Blackwood | For performing fundamental interdisciplinary research in climate science and coordinating research on sea level rise at JPL. |
| Carmen Boening | For performing fundamental interdisciplinary research in climate science and coordinating research on sea level rise prediction at JPL |
| Michael A. Mischna | For leadership in Mars atmospheric science research that enables improved EDL precision and advances in knowledge of Mars’ climate history |
| David Ray Thompson | For leadership of machine learning by autonomous robots and intelligent onboard analysis of large datasets |
2012
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Marina Brozović | For her exceptional leadership and research roles in both satellite ephemeris development and near-Earth object radar research |
| Ian Clark | For exceptional leadership and achievement in the development of advanced Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) technologies |
| Ken Cooper | JPL Lew Allen Award for Excellence |
| Baris Erkmen | For outstanding leadership and technical accomplishments in optical communications and imaging research, especially the establishment of computational ghost imaging as a significant new area of research at JPL |
| Christian Frankenberg | For quantifying global plant photosynthesis from satellite chlorophyll fluorescence observations, enabling uniquely valuable unprecedented insights into the terrestrial carbon cycle |
2011
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Ken Cooper | For the development and demonstration of the world's first THz imaging radar system |
| Kevin Peter Hand | For outstanding leadership in the field of Astrobiology |
| Richard Hofer | For outstanding technical contributions and leadership in establishing JPL as a world leader in Hall thruster research and development |
| Eric Larour | For outstanding accomplishment in developing the Ice Sheet System Model that significantly contributes to our knowledge of Global Change |
2010
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Shannon Brown | For innovations in the field of microwave radiometry as demonstrated on Topex, Jason-I and II and the novel application of radiometers to measure climate change |
| Julie Castillo-Rogez | For outstanding leadership in establishing the Planetary Tides Simulation Facility and exceptional scientific accomplishments in measuring fundamental ice physical properties under planetary conditions |
| Amy Mainzer | For her knowledge of solar system minor bodies based on automated methods of analyzing space infrared observations |
| Nathan Strange | For expertise and innovation in gravity-assist tour design, and for both leadership and creativity in the development of novel advanced mission concepts |
2009
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Charles M. (Matt) Bradford | For the development of a novel design for a submillimeter/far infrared grating spectrometer being used for ground-based discoveries and future observation from space |
| Cory J. Hill | For technical innovation and leadership in developing epitaxial growth processes for advanced Sb-based optoelectronics and long wave superlattice focal plane arrays for remote sensing systems |
| Jeffrey S. Norris | For exemplary vision, innovation and leadership in fundamentally advancing the capabilities for scientific involvement in planning operations on NASA's missions |
| Joshua K. Willis | For fundamental contributions to the understanding of global ocean circulation and sea level change from analysis of satellite and in-situ observations |
2008
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Pekka Kangaslahti | For demonstrating world leadership in the fields of monolithic microwave integrated circuit design and millimeter-wave component development, capabilities |
| Ioannis (Yiangos) Mikellides | Theory and numerical simulation of plasmas in electric propuslion |
| Hui Su | For major advances in the understanding of water vapor and cloud feedbacks on climate change |
| Kiri Wagstaff | For advancing the performance and application of machine learning methods to onboard and ground-based space science, Earth science and spacecraft engineering |
2007
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Paul V. Johnson | For research in the areas of atomic and molecular physics, physics and chemistry of planetary ices, and instrument development |
| Jason D. Rhodes | For outstanding scientific leadership in the field of weak lensing which enabled the first large-scale measurement of the three-dimensional distribution of dark matter in our universe |
2006
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Amanda Hendrix | For outstanding scientific leadership and major contributions to the field of ultraviolet spectroscopic research of planetary bodies |
| Harish Manohara | For advancing the performance of carbon nanotube-based field emitters and Schottky diode high-frequency detectors as enabling technologies for miniature science instruments and nanoelectronics |
| Adrian Ponce | For pioneering work on chemical and biological detection and instrumentation, which meets critical needs in astrobiology, planetary protection and national defense |
2005
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Linda del Castillo | For the work in development of high temperature resistant electronics and the associated electronic packaging to be used in hostile environments such as encountered on the surface of the planet Venus |
| Lorene Samoska | For the development and fostering of millimeter-wave power amplifier technology. This technology has become mission enabling for passive and active science observations in the frequency range 90-2500GHz |
| Daniel Stern (aka Stevens) | For revealing the early history of the Universe. Finding one of the most distant galaxies known, he inferred that the Universe remains ionized to an earlier epoch than previously believed |
2004
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Andrey Matsko | For seminal and unique theoretical contributions in quantum optics, in particular the nonlinear interactions of crystalline whispering gallery mode resonators |
| Alina Moussessian | Outstanding leadership and technological innovation that has enabled a new capability using lightweight active membrane antennas for space-based radar and for helping build a strong technology program |
| Charles Norton | For demonstration of unique talents as a technical leader in the field of advanced parallel computing which has enabled high fidelity, efficient simulations of physical systems |
| Michael D. Seiffert | Leadership in establishing dark energy as a new field of research at JPL and for breakthrough developments in mass-producible cryogenic radiometer arrays |
2003
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Jennifer Dooley | Singularly responsible for establishing a significant new area of nanolaminate reflector technology at JPL and is now leading the technology effort on the large aperture technology development |
| Christophe Dumas | In the application of adaptive optics to astrophysical problems. Effectively combined the techniques of diffraction-limited imaging and infrared spectroscopy to provide multispectral views of small bodies in the solar system and nearby young stars at high spatial resolution |
| Eui—Hyeok Yang | Developed several significant areas of research in MEMS-based actuators for space applications, utilizing MEMS actuators for the development of high-pressure, low leak-rate microvalves, continuous membrane deformable mirrors and inch-worm devices for segmented mirror assembly and control for large aperture, space-based telescopes |
2002
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Serge Dubovitsky | Interferometric & formation flying technologies & space missions, and developing highly innovative optoelectronic concepts including dual target metrology and the Modulation Sideband Technology for Absolute Range (MSTAR) sensor |
| Andrew Johnson | Machine vision algorithms for safe and precise landing |
| Dmitry Strekalov | Quantum Lithography, and creating the quantum internet tested and the single-photon quantum optics technology capabilities at JPL, which form the keystone for the larger JPL quantum Technologies, thrust area |
| Daniel Wilson | Fabrication of diffractive optics by electron beam lithography, particularly as applied to convex gratings for imaging spectrometers |
2001
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Ayanna Howard | Autonomous systems development, including innovative real time software tools for spacecraft precise and safe entry descending and landing applications |
| Ian Joughin | Interferometric SAR for polar ice sheet topography and motion; development of remote sensing techniques for vector measurement of ice flow; contributions to Earth Science missions |
| Victoria S. Meadows | Bringing to JPL an important new research endeavor in the now-evolving area of detection of biosignatures from extrasolar planets by spectroscopic observations with space-based astronomical instruments |
| Juergen Mueller | Development of miniaturized thrusters and feed system components, a new area of propulsion engineering which is critical to the development of highly capable microspacecraft |
2000
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Sabrina M. Grannan (Feldman) | MECA Wet Chemistry Laboratory and the development of critical microfluidics technologies, which are enabling important new in situ measurement capabilities for NASA |
| Richard Dekany | Development of the Palomar Adaptive Optics System which provides a dramatic new capability for the 5-m telescope & opens new areas of astrophysical research such as the search for planets |
1999
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| James Bock | Low-background SPIDER bolometer arrays, whose extremely low noise characteristics and large array sizes enable a significant step forward in submillimeter astronomy |
| Son Nghiem | Polarimetric scatterometry for Earth science remote sensing investigations and contributions to future spaceborne advanced instrument concepts |
| Adrian Stoica | Evolvable hardware & for creating a world-class research center in this rapidly emerging field |
1998
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Michael E. Ressler | Scientific utilization of satellite radar interferometry to study the stability and mass balance of the great polar ice sheets at their junction with ocean waters |
| Eric J. Rignot | Satellite radar interferometry to study the stability and mass balance of the great polar ice sheets at their junction with ocean waters |
| Eric J. Rignot | JPL Director Lew Allen Award for Excellence |
| Simon H. Yueh | Research of passive microwave polarimetric remote sensing to Earth Science investigations |
1997
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Shouleh Nikzad | Fundamental understanding and development of advanced scientific low-energy particle detectors |
| Shouleh Nikzad | Lew Allen Award of Excellence, Fundamentals of Low Energy Particle Detectors |
| Bedabrata Pain | Maintaining and expanding JPL’s lead role in advanced solid state imagers, particularly the Active Pixel Sensor |
| Paul Stolorz | Data mining, image analysis, and massively parallel computing for the automated analysis of very large scientific data sets, and in the pioneering of concepts for onboard analysis of science data |
1996
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Yi Chao | Ocean Circulation model and in situ and satellite observations |
| W. Thomas Pike | Development of the microseismometer for planetary exploration |
1995
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Steve A. Chien | Autonomous Systems |
| George A. Hajj | Theoretical Physics |
| Michael E. Hoenk | Physics |
| Gloria L. Manney | Atmospheric Physics |
1994
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Rajiv S. Desai | Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Technology |
| Sarath D. Gunapala | QWIP Long Wavelength Focal Plane Arrays |
| Sarath D. Gunapala | - |
| David C. Redding | Complex Optical Systems |
1993
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Pierre F. Baldi | Theory and Applications of Artificial Neural Systems |
| Usama M. Fayayad | Pioneer work in machine learning/advanced S/W technology to support development of scientist-trainable automated image analysis systems |
| Seth R. Marder | Science of organic materials for nonlinear optics |
| Patrick J. Smyth | Pattern recognition, learning and classification for the analysis of planetary images |
1992
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| L. Douglas Bell | Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Lew Allen Award |
| Edward T. Chow | Sequence alignment coprocessors Biological Information Signal Processor |
| James L. Fanson | Articulating Fold Mirrors for the Wide Field/Planetary Camera-II |
| Eric R. Fossum | Focal Plane Signal Processing and High Performance Image Sensors |
| Lloyd D. Bell II | Scanning tunneling microscopy-related technologies |
1991
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Michael Hecht | Photovoltaic effects in metal-semiconductor systems |
| Kevin J. Hussey | Computer animation of remotely sensed data |
| Randy D. May | Laboratory and atmospheric tuneable laser spectroscopy |
| David P. Miller | Artificial intelligence for microrobotics and planetary rovers |
1990
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Randall R. Friedl | Kinetics and photochemistry of Earth’s stratosphere and the phenomenon of polar ozone depletion |
| Brian D. Hunt | Thin film deposition technology and high-temperature superconductors |
| Robert W. Fathauer and True-Lon Lin | Development of Si-based MWIR and LWIR detectors |
| William R. McGrath | Submillimeter wave superconductor-insulator-superconductor tunnel junction heterodyne receivers |
1989
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Geoffrey Blewitt | Long-baseline geodesy using GPS |
| Bonnie Buratti | Photometric function studies of planetary and planetary satellite surfaces |
| Henry Le Duc | NbN-based Josephson-junction mixers for submillimeter astronomy |
| Joseph W. Perry | Organic non-linear materials research |
1988
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Brian C. Beckman | Computer technology, simulation, concurrent processing |
| Michael H. Freilich | Satellite oceanography, NSCAT |
| Howard A. Zebker | Radar polarimetry and its application to studies of surface roughness, multiple scattering, and other geophysical parameters |
| Jakob J. van Zyl | Radar scattering, imaging radar polarimentry |
1987
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Robert H. Brown | Outer planet satellite studies |
| Margaret A. Frerking | Millimeter and submillimeter wavelength heterodyne receivers |
| Joseph Katz | Optoelectronic devices |
| Paul M. McElroy | High accuracy, light weight, graphite-epoxy panels, LDR feasibility |
1986
| Name | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|
| Graeme Aston | Development and advocacy of electric propulsion technology |
| Lee-Lueng Fu | Analysis of ocean satellite altimetry data |
| Paula J. Grunthaner | Studies of the chemical structure of interfaces in metal-semiconductor and insulator-semiconductor systems |