| Thomas Zurbuchen | |
| Birth Place: | Heiligenschwendi, Canton of Bern, Switzerland |
| Education: | University of Bern |
| Known For: | Associate Administrator, NASA (2016-2022)[1] |
| Occupation: | Government agency administrator |
| Employer: | ETH Zürich |
| Nationality: | Swiss, American |
Thomas Hansueli Zurbuchen (born 1968) is a Swiss-American astrophysicist. From October 2016[2] until the end of 2022, he was the longest continually running Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA.[3] [4] 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.[5]
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 the PhD in 1996 with a thesis entitled "Turbulence in the interplanetary medium and its implications on the dynamics of minor ions".[6]
Zurbuchen moved to the United States two weeks after completing his PhD.[7] 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.[8] He chaired the National Academy of Sciences committee that produced a report in 2016 on Cubesats.[9]
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. [10] [4] 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. [11] [4] 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,[12] the Knowledge Project,[13] (German) Chefgespräch,[14] and (German) Alles Gesagt.[15]
As of January 2023, Zurbuchen works as an international speaker.[16] [17] From August 2023, Zurbuchen will be director of ETH Zurich Space,[18] after having spent his entire professional career in the United States. Zurbuchen will work in Switzerland for 60% of the time, while continuing his speaking and consulting career.