معرفی
Benjamin Weiss is the Chair of the Program in Planetary Science and Robert R. Shrock Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He leads research in planetary magnetism and serves as Deputy Principal Investigator on NASA's Psyche mission, while also contributing as a Co-Investigator on the Mars Perseverance rover and Europa Clipper missions.
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences
- MIT Planetary Magnetism Laboratory Director
- NASA Psyche Mission Deputy Principal Investigator
- Mars Perseverance Rover Co-Investigator
- Europa Clipper Mission Co-Investigator
Weiss earned his bachelor's degree in physics from Amherst College before pursuing graduate studies in planetary science and geology at the California Institute of Technology, where he received his master's degree in 2001 and PhD in 2003. His doctoral dissertation on Martian meteorite ALH 84001 provided groundbreaking insights into ancient Martian climate and magnetic fields, demonstrating how meteorites could transfer materials from Mars to Earth without heat sterilization.
As a specialist in magnetometry, Professor Weiss investigates the formation and evolution of planetary bodies through laboratory analysis, spacecraft observations, and fieldwork. His research spans nebular magnetic fields in the early solar system, planetesimal structures and dynamos, lunar magnetism and the early lunar dynamo, Hadean Earth and the origins of Earth's magnetic field, the Martian dynamo and changes in Mars' paleoclimate, and innovations in magnetic microscopy. The MIT Planetary Magnetism Laboratory, which he directs, develops high-sensitivity techniques to image magnetic fields in rock samples from meteorites, the lunar surface, and terrestrial sites.
Analysis of Weiss's recent publications reveals a strong focus on Mars exploration through the Perseverance rover mission, lunar magnetism studies, and research on asteroid Psyche. His work increasingly integrates data from multiple NASA missions while advancing paleomagnetic techniques to understand planetary evolution and habitability throughout the solar system.
Professor Weiss has received numerous prestigious honors including the James B. Macelwane Medal from the American Geophysical Union (2009), election as an AGU Fellow (2009), the Visiting Miller Professor Award from UC Berkeley (2014), and having Asteroid (8069) named 'Benweiss' by the International Astronomical Union (2012). Most recently, he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences (April 29, 2025).
- James B. Macelwane Medal, American Geophysical Union (2009)
- Fellow, American Geophysical Union (2009)
- Visiting Miller Professor Award, UC Berkeley (2014)
- Asteroid (8069) Benweiss named by IAU (2012)
- Elected to National Academy of Sciences (2025)
As an academic leader, Weiss chairs MIT's Program in Planetary Science and mentors numerous graduate students in the Planetary Magnetism Laboratory. His research is supported by multiple NASA grants related to the Psyche mission, Mars exploration, and lunar science investigations. Weiss also contributes to international collaborations including missions with JAXA (Hayabusa 2), ESA (Rosetta), and SpaceIL (Beresheet).
The MIT Planetary Magnetism Laboratory under Weiss's direction develops cutting-edge instrumentation for magnetic analysis, including the Quantum Diamond Microscope. His research team collaborates with scientists across multiple institutions and space agencies to analyze samples from meteorites, lunar missions, and Mars rovers, advancing our understanding of planetary formation and evolution.
