Dr. Rita Sambruna is the Deputy Director of the Astrophysics Division, Code 660. Previously she was at HQ, where she held positions of science management and leadership. In 2019 she was awarded the NASA Extraordinary Achievement Medal for her leadership on the 2020 Astrophysics Decadal Survey studies. Rita was elected Fellow of the American Physical Society in 2020, Fellow of the American Astronomical Society in 2021, and Fellow of the AAAS in 2021. She received a Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Astronomical Society in 2023 for her many contributions to science research and management at NASA, and a NASA Honor Award and the Robert H. Goddard award for DEIA in 2023.
Rita M Sambruna (she/her/hers)
(Deputy Director)
| Email: | rita.m.sambruna@nasa.gov |
| Phone: | 301.286.3966 |
| Org Code: | 660 |
| Address: |
NASA/GSFC Mail Code 660 Greenbelt, MD 20771 |
| Employer: |
Brief Bio
Research Interests
Dr. Rita Sambruna
Astrophysics: Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN)Relativistic jets; physics of compact objects; supermassive black holes in galaxies; Multiwavelength and Multimessenger Astrophysics; space missions and exploration
Positions/Employment
Deputy Director, Astrophysics Science Division
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center - Greenbelt, MD
July 2020 - Present
Manages and supervises a workforce of 400 in astrophysical projects and programs, with a budget of over $1B. Foster creativity and innovation through active oversight of ongoing efforts in technology and research. Provides strategic directions to the Division that align with the priorities of the Astrophysics Decadal, the Center, and the Agency. Advocates for under-privileged communities within the Division and NASA.
Program Scientist and Decadal Study Scientist
NASA HQ - Washington, DC
September 2010 - January 2020
Senior Scientist
NASA's GSFC - Greenbelt, MD
July 2005 - September 2010
Clare Boothe Luce Professor of Physics and Astronomy
George Mason University - Fairfax, VA
July 2000 - August 2005
Teaching Experience
From 2000 till 2005, Dr. Sambruna was the Clare Boothe Luce Professor of Astrophysics at George Mason University, where she taught undergraduate and graduate classes and led an independent research program supported by external funds. She received the NSF CAREER and NASA LTSA awards.
Rita continues to mentor individuals and especially early career scientists, aiming to be the catalyst for their blossoming in professional and personal environments. She has helped several colleagues achieve recognitions and land permanent jobs at NASA.
Education
October 1994, PhD, SISSA/ISAS, Trieste, Italy. Thesis: The X-ray Properties of Blazars
October 1992, Master Phil. SISSA/ISAS, Trieste, Italy. Thesis: The EXOSAT Spectral Survey of Blazars
October 1989, Laurea degree, Univ. of Milan, Italy. Thesis: X-ray Observations the Magnetic Cataclysmic Variables E1405--451 (V834 Cen) and E1013--477 (KO Vel)
October 1992, Master Phil. SISSA/ISAS, Trieste, Italy. Thesis: The EXOSAT Spectral Survey of Blazars
October 1989, Laurea degree, Univ. of Milan, Italy. Thesis: X-ray Observations the Magnetic Cataclysmic Variables E1405--451 (V834 Cen) and E1013--477 (KO Vel)
Professional Societies
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Member
2019 - Present
American Astronomical Society
Fellow
1991 - Present
American Physical Society
Fellow
2020 - Present
High Energy Astrophysics Division
Member
2000 - Present
Royal Astronomical Society
Honorary Fellow
2023 - Present
Professional Service
Member of the NASA Advisory Committee, 2022-2023.
Co-chair of the first independent review of the NASA's Hubble Fellowship Program, 2022.
Rita is an ardent champion and advocate of Inclusion, Diversity, Accessibility, Equity, and Justice. For her achievements in supporting and advocating for under-privileged communities, she has received the NASA DEIA Medal and the Robert H Goddard award in 2022.
Awards
Selected Awards:
Honorary Fellowship of the RAS, 2023
NASA Extraordinary Achievement Medal, 2020
Commander of the Republic of Italy, 2021 (highest civilian honor in Italy)
NSF CAREER, 2014
NASA LTSA, 2000
Clare Boothe Luce Professorship, 2000
NRC Research Fellowship, 1995-1997
Other Professional Information
38th on list of “Top Italian Scientists” [107 out of 455; 09 May 2020]
Among World’s Top 2% of Scientists (top 3% in subfield of Astronomy & Astrophysics). (cf. Ioannidis JPA, Boyack KW, Baas J (2020)[1]
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[1] https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3000918&type=printable
Special Experience
Rita is a certified Yoga Teacher with specialization in Yoga for Cancer. She is trained in Applied Behavior Analysis and its applications to non-human animals. Rita speaks Italian, French, Latin/Greek, and a bit of Spanish.