Marcia Rieke Honored With Gruber Cosmology Prize for Contributions to James Webb Space Telescope

Marcia Rieke, regents professor of astronomy at the University of Arizona Steward Observatory, has been awarded the 2024 Gruber Cosmology Prize from the Gruber Foundation. She was recognized for her research regarding infrared astronomy, specifically her contributions to developing instruments with the James Webb Space Telescope that can explore the earliest galaxies in the universe.

At the Steward Observatory, Dr. Rieke holds the Dr. Elizabeth Roemer Endowed Chair. She began her career with the University of Arizona as a postdoctoral fellow in 1976 and has remained with the university ever since.

In addition to her position with the University of Arizona, Dr. Rieke has conducted extensive experience with both the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Most recently, she served as the principal investigator for the JWST’s Near Infrared Camera, overseeing its development and delivery through its launch in 2021. She previously served as the deputy principal investigator for the HST’s Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer.

The Gruber Cosmology Prize is not the first time Dr. Rieke has been recognized for her contributions to understanding infrared astronomy. In 2023, she received the Distinguished Public Service Medal from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. She is also an elected fellow of the American Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Sciences, and the American Astronomical Society.

Dr. Rieke holds a bachelor’s degree and Ph.D. in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.