June 2024: Ames Science Directorate’s Top Stars

The NASA Ames Science Directorate would like to recognize the outstanding contributions of Amy Gresser, Mary Beth Wilhelm, Taylor Bell, and Liane Guild. Their dedication to the NASA mission showcases the talent, teamwork, and forward-thinking necessary to explore not only our world but also beyond.

First, we have Amy Gresser, the Space Biology Portfolio Manager for the Space Biosciences Division. Amy’s exemplary leadership in managing the space biology portfolio, ensuring workforce and science protection through budget planning, and cultivating a culture of excellence have made a significant impact.

Next, we have Mary Beth Wilhelm, a planetary scientist and astrobiologist within the Space Science & Astrobiology Division. Mary Beth’s exceptional leadership in team projects, innovative thinking demonstrated in her recent proposal selection, and collaborative nature have been vital to the division’s success.

Dr. Taylor Bell is a planetary scientist also part of the Space Science & Astrobiology Division. Taylor’s groundbreaking research on a popular hot Jupiter target using observations from the James Webb Space Telescope was published in the prestigious journal Nature Astronomy, showcasing his exciting results and contributions to the field.

Lastly, Dr. Liane Guild, an ecosystems scientist in the Earth Science Division, has represented NASA on the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force and presented her CyanoSCape project at HQ Focus Area team meetings. She also attended a Surface Biology and Geology meeting and led the Interagency Agreement with the Naval Postgraduate School (CIRPAS) to validate data from the PACE-PAX mission using Ames’ 4STAR-B airborne instrument.