IPAC News

New Leadership for the NEO Surveyor Project at IPAC

IPAC News • May 22nd, 2025

Dr. Sean Carey has been appointed Task Lead and Dr. Joe Masiero has been appointed Science Lead of the Near-Earth Object Surveyor (NEOS) project at IPAC. Their new appointments were announced on April 22, and April 28, 2025, respectively. Both appointments are effective May 1, 2025.

The Joy of Doing Nothing: IPAC Pioneer Roc Cutri Retires

IPAC News • May 5th, 2025

Mari Castillo Keeps Moving Even After Retirement

IPAC News • April 8th, 2025

A long-time member of the IPAC Finance Team, and an admin member in several projects at JPL before that, Mari Castillo is retiring. We asked Mari about her favorite memories during her career and to offer some advice to all of us at IPAC.

A Rocket Launch Double Feature

IPAC News • February 25th, 2025

Lunar Trailblazer and SPHEREx are two NASA satellites scheduled for back-to-back launches the week of February 24!

Intricate Layers of Interstellar Dust, Gas Mapped in Cassiopeia A light echoes

IPAC News • January 14th, 2025

Jacob Jencsen, a staff scientist at IPAC, led a a study that reveals intricate layers of interstellar dust and gas around the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant. Jencsen's team presented their findings in a press conference at the 245th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in National Harbor,...

People of IPAC: New Leaders, New Roles, New Staff

IPAC News • December 14th, 2024

There were many changes in the IPAC team in 2024. We filled 20 positions with people who either joined IPAC afresh or with existing staff who transitioned to new roles. There were also leadership changes with David Ciardi appointed the Deputy Director of NExScI, Jessie Christansen named the...

NASA Funds Open-Source Software Underpinning Scientific Innovation

IPAC News • October 24th, 2024

NASA has awarded $15.6 million in grant funding to 15 projects supporting the maintenance of open-source tools, frameworks, and libraries used by the NASA science community, for the benefit of all. IPAC Software Developer Brigitta Sipőcz led a proposal titled "Enhancement of Infrastructure and...

Changes in NExScI Leadership

IPAC News • June 6th, 2024

Dr. David Ciardi, an IPAC senior science staff member and NExScI’s Chief Scientist, has been appointed Deputy Director of the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute (NExScI). His new appointment was announced on May 3, 2024, effective immediately.

IPAC Executive Director George Helou Stepping Down at the End of 2024

IPAC News • May 3rd, 2024

It’s the end of an era for IPAC, and the start of a new one. After more than four decades of dedicated service to IPAC, 25 years of which he was serving as IPAC Executive Director, George Helou announced he is stepping down from the role at the end of the year.

IPAC Names Tracy Chen the New Task Lead of Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) Science Data System

IPAC News • February 15th, 2024

Dr. Tracy Chen, a member of IPAC since 2009, was appointed the new Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) Science Data System Lead, starting on January 2nd, 2024.