Dr. Leisawitz is Associate Chief of the Exoplanets and Stellar Astrophysics Laboratory in the Astrophysics Division at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. He specializes in wide-field spatio-spectral interferometry and far-infrared space interferometry. His primary research interests are infrared astrophysics and, more specifically, star and planetary system formation. He served as NASA Study Scientist for the Origins Space Telescope, Mission Scientist for the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), and Deputy Project Scientist for the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) under Project Scientist and mentor Dr. John Mather. For 17 years, until May 2024, he served as Chief of Goddard's Science Proposal Support Office. Leisawitz was Principal Investigator for “Wide-field Imaging Interferometry,” a Co-Investigator on the “Balloon Experimental Twin Telescope for Infrared Interferometry (BETTII),” and member of a three-person External Advisory Panel for the “Far Infrared Space Interferometer Critical Assessment (FISICA),” a European Commission FP7 research program. In 2004-05, he served as Principal Investigator and science team lead for the Space Infrared Interferometric Telescope (SPIRIT) mission concept study. Leisawitz mentors several early- to mid-career scientists and engineers, and previously mentored numerous students ranging from high school to early career. Dr. Leisawitz was twice tapped for detail assignments to the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters, most recently to serve as Acting Assistant Director for Policy and Planning in FY10.
David T Leisawitz
(RSCH AST, STLR GALCTIC&XTRGLTC ASTR)
| Email: | david.t.leisawitz@nasa.gov |
| Phone: | 301.286.0807 |
| Org Code: | 665 |
| Address: |
NASA/GSFC Mail Code 665 Greenbelt, MD 20771 |
| Employer: |
Brief Bio
Research Interests
Star and planetary system formation; infrared astrophysics; wide-field spatio-spectral interferometry; far-IR space interferometry.
Astrophysics: Technology & MissionsCurrent Projects
Activities and roles:
Planetary Disk Formation
- Associate Chief, Exoplanets and Stellar Astrophysics Laboratory
- Research astrophysicist, far-infrared interferometry
- Co-I, Artemis-enabled Stellar Imager
Special Experience
• Chief, Science Proposal Support Office, 2007-24
• NASA Study Scientist, Origins Space Telescope mission concept study
• Member, NASA Science and Technical Information Board of Advisors
• Mission Scientist, Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE)
• Co-I, Balloon Experimental Twin Telescope for Infrared Interferometry (BETTII)
• External Advisory Panel member, Far-IR Space Interferometer Critical Assessment, EC FPY Project
• Science Director's Women and Minorities Forum committee member
• Principal Investigator, Wide-field Imaging Interferometry
• Lead Study Scientist, Space Infrared Interferometric Telescope (SPIRIT)
• Deputy Project Scientist, Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE)
Positions/Employment
Professional Experience
NASA - Goddard Space Flight Center
1991 - Present
2007 – present: Chief, Science Proposal Support Office, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
2010 – 2011: Acting Assistant Director for Policy and Planning, Astrophysics Division, NASA Headquarters
2005 – 2006: Spitzer Space Telescope Program Scientist and Astrophysics Division Liaison to the Science Mission Directorate Public Affairs Officer, NASA Headquarters
1993 – 2005: Astrophysicist, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
1991 – 1993: Research Faculty, Astronomy Department, Penn State University
1988 – 1991: Postdoctoral research associate, Infrared Astrophysics Branch, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
1985 – 1988: National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow, Infrared Astrophysics Branch, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Education
M.A., Astronomy, The University of Texas at Austin, 1981
B.S., Cum Laude, Physics, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1979
Professional Societies
American Astronomical Society
1982 - Present
International Astronomical Union
1983 - Present
American Association for the Advancement of Science
2016 - Present
Professional Service
Former co-lead, Far-Infrared Science Interest Group
NASA proposal peer review
AAAS Kavli Science Journalism award nominee screening
Awards
Robert H. Goddard Award, Exceptional Achievement for New Opportunities Captured, Astrophysics Decadal Survey Planning Team, 2024
NASA Group Contributions Award, Science Proposal Support Office team, 2024
Special Act Awards, Science Proposal Support Office team, 2014 (2), 2015, 2018 (2), 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Robert H. Goddard Award, Exceptional Achievement for Science, Origins Space Telescope Mission Concept Study Team, 2021
Robert H. Goddard Award, Exceptional Achievement for Leadership, 2021
NASA Group Achievement Award, Astrophysics Large Mission Study Team, 2019
Robert H. Goddard Award, Exceptional Achievement for Quality and Process Improvement, 2016
Robert H. Goddard Award, Exceptional Achievement for Mentoring, BETTII team, 2014
NASA Group Achievement Award, WISE Project Science Team, 2011
NASA Group Achievement Award, Science Proposal Support Office, 2009
Co-op Mentor of the Year Award, McMaster University, 2009
Special Act Award, individual, 2006
Selected Publications
Refereed
2024. "Considerations for a next-generation Great Observatory class space-based interferometer for far-infrared astronomy." Optical and Infrared Interferometry and Imaging IX 68 63 [10.1117/12.3019681] [Proceedings]
2023. "The science case for a far-infrared interferometer in the era of JWST and ALMA." Infrared Remote Sensing and Instrumentation XXXI [10.1117/12.2682235] [Proceedings]
2018. "The Origins Space Telescope." Nature Astronomy 2 (8): 596-599 [10.1038/s41550-018-0540-y] [Journal Article/Letter]
2016. "The Space High Angular Resolution Probe for the Infrared (SHARP-IR)." Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2016: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave [10.1117/12.2231790] [Proceedings]
2016. "The Far-Infrared Surveyor Mission study: paper I, the genesis." Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2016: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave [10.1117/12.2240456] [Proceedings]
2015. "Far-Infrared Double-Fourier Interferometers and their Spectral Sensitivity." Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific 127 (956): 1045-1060 [10.1086/683176] [Journal Article/Letter]
2015. "THE MOST LUMINOUS GALAXIES DISCOVERED BY WISE." The Astrophysical Journal 805 (2): 90 [10.1088/0004-637x/805/2/90] [Journal Article/Letter]
2014. "Building an interferometer at the edge of space: pointing and phase control system for BETTII." Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2014: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave [10.1117/12.2055016] [Proceedings]
2014. "The Balloon Experimental Twin Telescope for Infrared Interferometry (BETTII): An Experiment for High Angular Resolution in the Far-Infrared." PASP 126 660 [10.1086/677402] [Journal Article/Letter]
2014. "A Classification Scheme for Young Stellar Objects Using the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer AllWISE Catalog: Revealing Low-density Star Formation in the Outer Galaxy." ApJ 791 131 [10.1088/0004-637X/791/2/131] [Journal Article/Letter]
2013. "THE WIRED SURVEY. IV. NEW DUST DISKS FROM THE McCOOK & SION WHITE DWARF CATALOG." The Astrophysical Journal 770 (1): 21 [10.1088/0004-637x/770/1/21] [Journal Article/Letter]
2012. "THE WIRED SURVEY. III. AN INFRARED EXCESS AROUND THE ECLIPSING POST-COMMON ENVELOPE BINARY SDSS J030308.35+005443.7." The Astrophysical Journal 759 (1): 37 [10.1088/0004-637x/759/1/37] [Journal Article/Letter]
2012. "Design and status of the Balloon Experimental Twin Telescope for infrared interferometry (BETTII): an interferometer at the edge of space." Optical and Infrared Interferometry III [10.1117/12.926376] [Proceedings]
2012. "Demonstration of the wide-field imaging interferometer testbed using a calibrated hyperspectral image projector." Optical and Infrared Interferometry III [10.1117/12.926221] [Proceedings]
2012. "The path to far-IR interferometry in space: recent developments, plans, and prospects." Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2012: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave [10.1117/12.926806] [Proceedings]
2012. "ORIGIN OF 12 μm EMISSION ACROSS GALAXY POPULATIONS FROM WISE AND SDSS SURVEYS." The Astrophysical Journal 748 (2): 80 [10.1088/0004-637x/748/2/80] [Journal Article/Letter]
2012. "Explanatory Supplement to the WISE All-Sky Data Release Products." Explanatory Supplement to the WISE All-Sky Data Release Products [Other]
2012. "Developing wide-field spatio-spectral interferometry for far-infrared space applications." Optical and Infrared Interferometry III Proceedings of the SPIE 8445 [Full Text] [10.1117/12.926812] [Journal Article/Letter]
2012. "Wide-field imaging interferometry spatial-spectral image synthesis algorithms." Optical and Infrared Interferometry III Proceedings of the SPIE 8445 [Full Text] [10.1117/12.926920] [Journal Article/Letter]
2012. "Tracking near-infrared fringes on BETTII: a balloon-borne, 8m-baseline interferometer." Optical and Infrared Interferometry III Proceedings of the SPIE 8445 [Full Text] [10.1117/12.925593] [Journal Article/Letter]
2011. "THE WIRED SURVEY. II. INFRARED EXCESSES IN THE SDSS DR7 WHITE DWARF CATALOG." The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series 197 (2): 38 [10.1088/0067-0049/197/2/38] [Journal Article/Letter]
2011. "PRELIMINARY RESULTS FROM NEOWISE: AN ENHANCEMENT TO THE WIDE-FIELD INFRARED SURVEY EXPLORER FOR SOLAR SYSTEM SCIENCE." The Astrophysical Journal 731 (1): 53 [10.1088/0004-637x/731/1/53] [Journal Article/Letter]
2011. "The WIRED Survey I A Bright IR Excess due to Dust Around the Heavily Polluted White Dwarf Galex J1931568+011745." The Astrophysical Journal 729 4 [Full Text] [10.1088/0004-637X/729/1/4] [Journal Article/Letter]
2010. "THE FIRST ULTRA-COOL BROWN DWARF DISCOVERED BY THE WIDE-FIELD INFRARED SURVEY EXPLORER." The Astrophysical Journal 726 (1): 30 [10.1088/0004-637x/726/1/30] [Journal Article/Letter]
2010. "THE WIDE-FIELD INFRARED SURVEY EXPLORER (WISE): MISSION DESCRIPTION AND INITIAL ON-ORBIT PERFORMANCE." The Astronomical Journal 140 (6): 1868-1881 [10.1088/0004-6256/140/6/1868] [Journal Article/Letter]
2010. "Recent progress in wide-field imaging interferometry." Optical and Infrared Interferometry II [10.1117/12.857108] [Proceedings]
2010. "Recent progress in wide-field imaging interferometry." Optical and Infrared Interferometry II Edited by Danchi, William C; Delplancke, Françoise; Rajagopal, Jayadev K Proceedings of the SPIE 7734 73 [Full Text] [10.1117/12.857108] [Journal Article/Letter]
2010. "The Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE): Mission Description and Initial On-orbit Performance." The Astronomical Journal 140 1868 [Full Text] [10.1088/0004-6256/140/6/1868] [Journal Article/Letter]
2008. "The wide-field imaging interferometry testbed (WIIT): recent progress and results." Optical and Infrared Interferometry Edited by Schöller, Markus; Danchi, William C; Delplancke, Françoise Proceedings of the SPIE 7013 85 [Full Text] [10.1117/12.787402] [Journal Article/Letter]
2008. "Wide-field imaging interferometry testbed (WIIT): image construction algorithms." Optical and Infrared Interferometry Edited by Schöller, Markus; Danchi, William C; Delplancke, Françoise Proceedings of the SPIE 7013 47 [Full Text] [10.1117/12.789833] [Journal Article/Letter]
2007. "System engineering the Space Infrared Interferometric Telescope (SPIRIT)." UV/Optical/IR Space Telescopes: Innovative Technologies and Concepts III [10.1117/12.735143] [Proceedings]
2007. "The Space Infrared Interferometric Telescope (SPIRIT): optical system design considerations." UV/Optical/IR Space Telescopes: Innovative Technologies and Concepts III [10.1117/12.738562] [Proceedings]
2007. "Mechanical design of the Space Infrared Interferometric Telescope (SPIRIT)." UV/Optical/IR Space Telescopes: Innovative Technologies and Concepts III [10.1117/12.735924] [Proceedings]
2007. "Cryogenic far-infrared detectors for the Space Infrared Interferometric Telescope (SPIRIT)." UV/Optical/IR Space Telescopes: Innovative Technologies and Concepts III [10.1117/12.734751] [Proceedings]
2007. "The wide-field imaging interferometry testbed: enabling techniques for high angular resolution astronomy." UV/Optical/IR Space Telescopes: Innovative Technologies and Concepts III [10.1117/12.734437] [Proceedings]
2007. "High-fidelity cryothermal test of a subscale large space telescope." Cryogenic Optical Systems and Instruments XII [10.1117/12.734203] [Proceedings]
2007. "The Mathematics of Double‐Fourier Interferometers." The Astrophysical Journal 657 (2): 1178-1200 [10.1086/510878] [Journal Article/Letter]
2007. "The wide-field imaging interferometry testbed: enabling techniques for high angular resolution astronomy." UV/Optical/IR Space Telescopes: Innovative Technologies and Concepts III 6687 66870F [Full Text] [10.1117/12.734437] [Journal Article/Letter]
2007. "The space infrared interferometric telescope (SPIRIT): High-resolution imaging and spectroscopy in the far-infrared." Advances in Space Research 40 (5): 689-703 [Full Text] [10.1016/j.asr.2007.05.081] [Journal Article/Letter]
2006. "The Space Infrared Interferometric Telescope (SPIRIT): mission study results." Space Telescopes and Instrumentation I: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter [10.1117/12.669820] [Proceedings]
2006. "SPHERES tethered formation flight testbed: advancements in enabling NASA's SPECS mission." Advances in Stellar Interferometry [10.1117/12.670489] [Proceedings]
2006. "Optical modeling of the wide-field imaging interferometry testbed." Advances in Stellar Interferometry [10.1117/12.672281] [Proceedings]
2006. "The wide-field imaging interferometry testbed: recent results." Advances in Stellar Interferometry [10.1117/12.672110] [Proceedings]
2006. "Subscale cryo-thermal tests of a large 4-K space telescope." Millimeter and Submillimeter Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy III [10.1117/12.672831] [Proceedings]
2006. "Far-Infrared/Submillimeter Astronomical Interferometry with Spaceborne Tether Formations." Astrophysics and Space Science 302 (1-4): 225-239 [10.1007/s10509-006-9038-7] [Journal Article/Letter]
2006. "A far-infrared/submillimeter kilometer-baseline interferometer in space." New Astronomy Reviews 50 (1-3): 228-234 [10.1016/j.newar.2005.11.030] [Journal Article/Letter]
2006. "The wide-field imaging interferometry testbed: recent results." Advances in Stellar Interferometry 6268 100 [Full Text] [10.1117/12.672110] [Journal Article/Letter]
2004. "A SPECS update: engineering and technology requirements for a space-based far-IR imaging interferometer." New Frontiers in Stellar Interferometry [10.1117/12.552104] [Proceedings]
2004. "A SPECS update: engineering and technology requirements for a space-based far-IR imaging interferometer." New Frontiers in Stellar Interferometry [10.1117/12.552104] [Proceedings]
2004. "The science case and mission concept for the Single Aperture Far-Infrared (SAFIR) Observatory." Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Space Telescopes [10.1117/12.551335] [Proceedings]
2004. "SPECS: the kilometer-baseline far-IR interferometer in NASA's space science roadmap." Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Space Telescopes [10.1117/12.552150] [Proceedings]
2004. "NASA’s far-IR/submillimeter roadmap missions: SAFIR and SPECS." Advances in Space Research 34 (3): 631-636 [10.1016/j.asr.2003.06.023] [Journal Article/Letter]
2004. "The wide-field imaging interferometry testbed: II. Characterization and calibration." New Frontiers in Stellar Interferometry, Proceedings of SPIE Volume 5491 Edited by Wesley A Traub Bellingham, WA: The International Society for Optical Engineering, 2004, p1790 5491 1790 [Full Text] [Journal Article/Letter]
2004. "A SPECS update: engineering and technology requirements for a space-based far-IR imaging interferometer." New Frontiers in Stellar Interferometry, Proceedings of SPIE Volume 5491 Edited by Wesley A Traub Bellingham, WA: The International Society for Optical Engineering, 2004, p212 5491 212 [Full Text] [Journal Article/Letter]
2004. "The wide-field imaging interferometry testbed: I. progress, results and future plans." New Frontiers in Stellar Interferometry, Proceedings of SPIE Volume 5491 Edited by Wesley A Traub Bellingham, WA: The International Society for Optical Engineering, 2004, p920 5491 920 [Full Text] [Journal Article/Letter]
2004. "Mission Concept for the Single Aperture Far-Infrared (SAFIR) Observatory." Astrophysics and Space Science 294 177 [Full Text] [10.1007/s10509-004-5377-4] [Journal Article/Letter]
2003. "Wide-field imaging interferometry testbed II: implementation, performance, and plans." Interferometry in Space [10.1117/12.460705] [Proceedings]
2003. "Wide-field imaging interferometry testbed 3: metrology subsystem." Interferometry in Space [10.1117/12.460948] [Proceedings]
2003. "Wide-field imaging interferometry testbed I: purpose, testbed design, data, and synthesis algorithms." Interferometry in Space 4852 255-267 [10.1117/12.460704] [Proceedings]
2002. "Infrared Light Curves of Mira Variable Stars from [ITAL]COBE[/ITAL] DIRBE Data." The Astronomical Journal 123 (2): 948-964 [10.1086/338647] [Journal Article/Letter]
2000. "Scientific motivation and technology requirements for the SPIRIT and SPECS far-infrared/submillimeter space interferometers." UV, Optical, and IR Space Telescopes and Instruments 4013 36-46 [Proceedings]
1999. "The Submillimeter Probe of the Evolution of Cosmic Structure (SPECS)." Astrophysics and Space Science 269/270 563-567 [10.1023/a:1017091617901] [Journal Article/Letter]
1998. "The Submillimeter Frontier: A Space Science Imperative." ArXiv Astrophysics e-prints [Report]
1998. "The COBE Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment Search for the Cosmic Infrared Background. III. Separation of Galactic Emission from the Infrared Sky Brightness." The Astrophysical Journal 508 (1): 74-105 [10.1086/306381] [Journal Article/Letter]
1998. "The COBE Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment Search for the Cosmic Infrared Background. IV. Cosmological Implications." The Astrophysical Journal 508 (1): 106-122 [10.1086/306382] [Journal Article/Letter]
1997. "Comparison of the COBE FIRAS and DIRBE Calibrations." The Astrophysical Journal 490 482-487 [Journal Article/Letter]
1996. "COBE/DIRBE Observations of the Orion Constellation from the Near- to Far-Infrared." ApJL 456 566 [10.1086/176680] [Journal Article/Letter]
1995. "Far-Infrared Spectral Observations of the Galaxy by COBE." ApJL 451 188 [10.1086/176210] [Journal Article/Letter]
1994. "Multi-wavelength study of NGC 281 A." Astronomy & Astrophysics 288 282-292 [Journal Article/Letter]
1994. "Breadboard phase of the XMM optical monitor." Instrumentation in Astronomy VIII 2198 1238-1248 [Proceedings]
1993. "Optical/UV monitor telescope on the x-ray multimirror observatory." Space Astronomical Telescopes and Instruments II 1945 152-163 [Proceedings]
1992. "Infrared emission from X-ray and optically emitting regions in the Cygnus Loop supernova remnant." ApJL 400 562 [10.1086/172019] [Journal Article/Letter]
1991. "A model for the infrared emission from an OB star cluster environment." The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series 77 451 [10.1086/191613] [Journal Article/Letter]
1991. "A 21 centimeter line survey of a region around four outer galaxy open clusters." The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series 75 835 [10.1086/191550] [Journal Article/Letter]
1991. "What happens when the massive stars form?." memsai 62 903-908 [Journal Article/Letter]
1990. "A CO survey of regions around 34 open clusters. II - Physical properties of cataloged molecular clouds." ApJL 359 319 [10.1086/169067] [Journal Article/Letter]
1989. "A CO survey of regions around 34 open clusters." The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series 70 731 [10.1086/191357] [Journal Article/Letter]
1988. "On the redistribution of OB star luminosity and the warming of nearby molecular clouds." ApJL 332 954 [10.1086/166704] [Journal Article/Letter]