Bio
BioDr. Jorge Núñez is a planetary scientist, astrobiologist, and engineer who studies the geology and composition of planetary surfaces, from the macroscale to the microscale, using a variety of remote sensing and in situ techniques, including visible/near-infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and microscopy. He is interested in understanding the geologic history and potential habitability of the planetary surfaces of Mars and ocean worlds such as Saturn’s moons Titan and Enceladus. He also studies terrestrial analogs in the field and laboratory and develops new instruments and technologies for future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
Notable Awards and Leadership
Notable Awards and Leadership| Year(s) | Description |
|---|---|
| Year(s) 2019 | Description Asteroid 176610 Núñez |
| Year(s) 2017 | Description NASA Group Achievement Award, New Horizons Mission |
| Year(s) 2015 | Description NASA Early Career Fellow |
| Year(s) 2013 - 2014 | Description Fulbright Scholar, U.S. Department of State |
| Year(s) 2008 - 2012 | Description NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (NESSF) |
| Year(s) 2010 | Description NASA Group Achievement Award for 2010 International Lunar Surface Operations (ILSO)/In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) Operations Test on Mauna Kea, Hawaii |
| Year(s) 2010 | Description Frank Drake and Elliot Kalmbach Award for First Place in the NAI Student Poster Competition, 2010 Astrobiology Science Conference |
| Year(s) 2009 - 2010 | Description Young Explorers Grant, National Geographic Society |
| Year(s) 2009 | Description First Place, Student Poster Competition, 2nd NLSI Lunar Science Forum |
| Year(s) 2008 - 2009 | Description Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research in Astrobiology |
| Year(s) 2005 - Present | Description American Geophysical Union, Geological Society of America, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, American Association for the Advancement of Science |
