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University of Colorado Boulder Dean of the Institutes Massimo Ruzzene has named Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) associate director for science Frank Eparvier as interim director of the institute effective Jan. 1, 2025.

Frank Eparvier

Eparvier will serve as interim director while the search for a permanent director, underway since April, is completed. The search was initiated following the announcement that current director Dan Baker would transition out of the position when his current appointment ends on December 31, 2024.

“Having worked as a researcher at LASP for more than 25 years, including serving as the associate director of science since July 2022, Frank is well-suited to direct LASP through the transition to a permanent director,” said Massimo Ruzzene, vice chancellor for research and innovation and dean of the institutes. “I have full confidence in Frank’s ability to maintain LASP’s culture of excellence throughout this transition, and I appreciate his willingness to assume this interim role as a service to LASP and the university.”

“Under Dan Baker’s leadership, LASP has grown into a world-class space science research institute,” said Eparvier. “On behalf of our 750 employees, I want to thank him for his years of service and dedication to our institute. I look forward to doing what I can to further our vision of revolutionizing human understanding of the cosmos until LASP’s new director is in place.”

Eparvier earned bachelor of science degrees in physics and mathematics from the University of Wisconsin in 1985 and a PhD from the Department of Astrophysical, Planetary, and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder in 1991. After working as a postdoctoral researcher at LASP for two years, Eparvier spent several years at the NOAA Space Environment Lab, NCAR and the CIRES/NOAA Space Environment Center prior to returning to LASP in 1997 to pursue solar and atmospheric research on NASA and NOAA missions.

Most recently, he has served as the principal investigator on the highly successful Extreme Ultraviolet and X-Ray Irradiance Sensors (EXIS) instrument suite aboard the NOAA GOES constellation of weather satellites. Eparvier has also worked as an instrument and project scientist on the Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment on the NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory; instrument lead on the Extreme Ultraviolet Monitor (EUVM) on the NASA MAVEN mission to Mars; and as an instrument scientist on the Solar EUV Experiment on NASA’s TIMED mission.

“It’s been a great honor to lead this remarkable organization filled with so many talented people,” said Baker. “Frank has served LASP in many key ways, so I have the utmost confidence in his ability to quickly step into this role and continue to shape the institute’s future in the ever-expanding frontiers of the space sciences until the new director is named.”

Search underway

The search for LASP’s new director, which began in April, is nearing completion. Four finalists will be visiting the institute in the coming weeks to tour the facilities, present their vision for the organization’s future to LASP’s 750 employees, and meet with stakeholders across the campus. The university has retained Opus Partners to lead this search.

About the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP)

Founded a decade before NASA, the at the University of Colorado Boulder is on a mission to revolutionize human understanding of the cosmos by developing new technologies and approaches to space science. The institute is at the forefront of solar, planetary and space physics research, climate and space-weather monitoring, and the search for evidence of habitable worlds. LASP is also deeply committed to inspiring and educating the next generation of space explorers.