Professional Society Fellowship
The "Fellow" distinction is bestowed by professional organizations upon individuals who are recognized as leaders in their field of research. Only those who have made extraordinary and outstanding contributions to a scientific or technical body of knowledge -- over a lengthy career -- receive this honor. In fact, on average less than 1% of a society's membership go on to become Fellows, as each professional organization has its own rigorous vetting and selection process. Below is a list of JPL employees who are leaders in their fields and have been named as "Fellows" by professional organizations.
2025
| Name | Organization | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Sauder | American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics | Associate Fellow |
2024
| Name | Organization | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Richard Hofer | Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) | For revolutionizing Hall thruster design and pioneering leadership in electric propulsion, enabling groundbreaking space missions not previously possible. |
| Mina Rais-Zadeh | - | Fellow of Institution of Engineering and Technology |
2022
| Name | Organization | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Ryan S. Park | American Astronautical Society (AAS) | Fellow |
2020
| Name | Organization | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Shouleh Nikzad | IEEE | IEEE Fellow |
2019
| Name | Organization | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Eric J. Rignot | - | Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Science |
2017
| Name | Organization | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Shouleh Nikzad | National Academy of Inventors | National Academy of Inventors Fellow |
2016
| Name | Organization | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Shouleh Nikzad | SPIE | SPIE Fellow |
| Richard Otis | - | NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship |
| Michele Vallisneri | - | American Physical Society Fellow |
2015
| Name | Organization | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Nacer Chahat | IEEE | IEEE Senior member |
| Sarath D. Gunapala | OSA | OSA Fellow |
2014
| Name | Organization | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Goutam Chattopadhyay | Institute of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (IETE) | Fellow, Institute of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (IETE) |
| Scott Hensley | IEEE | IEEE Fellow |
| Christine Lee | AAAS Science and Technology Policy | AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow |
2013
| Name | Organization | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Sarath D. Gunapala | IEEE | IEEE Fellow |
| Eric J. Rignot | - | Fellow American Geophysical Union |
2012
| Name | Organization | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Amy Braverman | American Statistical Association | Fellow of the American Statistical Association |
| Shouleh Nikzad | American Physical Society (APS) | American Physical Society (APS) Fellow |
2011
| Name | Organization | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Goutam Chattopadhyay | Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) | Fellow, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) |
2010
| Name | Organization | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Paul A. Rosen | IEEE | Fellow IEEE |
2008
| Name | Organization | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Sarath D. Gunapala | SPIE | Fellow SPIE |
2002
| Name | Organization | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Dan M. Goebel | - | Boeing Technical Fellow |
1996
| Name | Organization | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Peter Day | - | Alexander von Humbolt Fellow |
1995
| Name | Organization | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Dariush Divsalar | IEEE | Fellow of IEEE |
1971
| Name | Organization | Area of Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Josette Bellan | Princeton | Amelia Earhart Fellowship, 1971-74 (remains an Amelia Earhart Fellow) |