NASA Ames’ Science Directorate announced a May 2026 award ceremony honoring four individuals whose work has propelled the agency’s scientific goals. The recipients represent a broad spectrum of disciplines, illustrating the interdisciplinary collaboration that underpins NASA’s missions.

Dr. Lora Jovanović of the Bay Area Environmental Research Institute was recognized for her pioneering expansion of the Optical Constants Database. By nearly doubling the experimental data available to researchers, she has supplied essential parameters that help scientists interpret observations from flagship missions such as Cassini, Juno and SPHEREx.

In the Space Biosciences Division, Tammy Moore and Frances Donovan received accolades for their distinct contributions. Moore, a resource analyst, earned praise for skillfully navigating complex budget restructuring while championing the needs of engineering teams. Donovan, a project manager, was commended for devising an innovative workflow that streamlined the FILMSS‑2 task‑management system, boosting administrative efficiency.

The final honoree, Jaden Ta, a deputy project manager in the Earth Science Division, played a key role in the Earth Venture Suborbital FarmFlux program. Ta’s leadership in drafting the project implementation plan and coordinating aircraft deployment logistics was vital to the mission’s success.

Together, these achievements showcase the diverse expertise required to keep NASA at the forefront of both planetary exploration and terrestrial science.