Dimitar Sasselov

Dimitar Sasselov

Professor of Astronomy at Harvard University; Founding Director of the Harvard Origins of Life Initiative; initial Chair of the Copernicus SSAB

Dimitar Sasselov is the Phillips Professor of Astronomy at Harvard University and the founding director of the Harvard Origins of Life Initiative. He also co-founded and directed the Simons Collaboration on the Origins of Life in 2013 (Simons Foundation). In 1988, Dimitar Sasselov earned a PhD in Physics from Sofia University (Bulgaria), followed by a PhD in Astronomy from University of Toronto. In 1999, Sasselov became an Alfred P. Sloan Fellow, and he has received numerous awards, including two NASA Achievement awards for the Kepler mission. In 2010- 2013 he served on the Global Agenda Council on Space Security (World Economic Forum). His book “The Life of Super-Earths” (Basic Books, 2012) describes the renewed search for life on other planets. Copernicus SSAB chair Dr. Sasselov commented: “I am honored and excited to lead our Copernicus Strategic & Scientific Advisory Board as Copernicus develops and deploys humanity’s next-generation space exploration paradigm for the Solar System and beyond.”

Richard Stein commented: “It is an honor to serve on the Board of the visionary Copernicus Space Corporation. I look forward to working with Avi, Frank and Pete on the important mission and strategic plans of Copernicus.”