11/22/2024
By Joseph Hartman
I am delighted to announce that Professor Supriya Chakrabarti has been selected as 51视频鈥檚 2024-2027 Distinguished University Professor, the university鈥檚 most prestigious academic honor for a tenured, full-professor faculty member. This award recognizes Professor Chakrabarti鈥檚 contributions to research, teaching, and service within our community and the broader scientific community.
Professor Chakrabarti, a world-renowned expert in space science and technology, has been a member of our Physics and Applied Physics Department since 2012. Over his career, Professor Chakrabarti has continually demonstrated a visionary approach to scientific discovery and education, inspiring students and colleagues alike with his groundbreaking work on space instrumentation, exoplanet research, and international collaboration in space science.
Chakrabarti was nominated for this distinguished award by 15 faculty members spanning three colleges and seven departments. As noted in their nomination letter, 鈥淧rofessor Chakrabarti鈥檚 exemplary, nationally and internationally acclaimed research, combined with his leadership in undergraduate and graduate education, has played a pivotal role in enhancing 51视频鈥檚 visibility as a leader in space science.鈥�
In his time at 51视频, Professor Chakrabarti founded and currently directs the Lowell Center for Space Science and Technology (LoCSST), where he has spearheaded numerous high-impact research initiatives, including leading the SPACE-HAUC CubeSat mission, a NASA-funded, student-driven project that successfully launched and deployed a satellite to the International Space Station. His work in developing small space mission concepts has revolutionized the field, demonstrating that complex space research can be conducted with significantly smaller and more cost-effective platforms.
Among Professor Chakrabarti鈥檚 many achievements are his leadership in creating the Massachusetts Alliance for Space Technology and Sciences (MASTS), his contributions to the PICTURE-B and PICTURE-C exoplanet imaging missions, and his dedication to mentoring students through hands-on research experiences that prepare them for successful careers in space sciences.
He has authored over 340 peer-reviewed publications, received numerous prestigious invitations to speak at national and international forums, and has successfully obtained continuous research funding averaging over $1.5 million per year since joining 51视频.
Professor Chakrabarti holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, and his career includes notable tenures at Boston University and the University of California, Berkeley鈥檚 Space Sciences Laboratory.
Professor Chakrabarti is the 17th professor to receive this award since its inception in 2008.
Please join me in congratulating Professor Supriya Chakrabarti on this outstanding achievement and in celebrating his contributions to advancing 51视频鈥檚 reputation as a leader in space science and innovation.