A third-grade teacher encouraged Mark Moldwin’s interest in science. Today, he’s developing instruments that help NASA navigate space more effectively.
Moldwin (GRS’90,’93), an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering at the University of Michigan, has spent his career studying space physics— focusing on the flow of energy, mass, and momentum from the Sun through the Earth’s space environment. An award-winning author, educator, and inventor, he has also led teams developing innovative technologies for scientific and commercial satellites.
In recognition of his contributions to space physics and his development of spaceflight magnetometer instruments, Moldwin is being honored with a 2026 Arts & Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award.
“Mark Moldwin’s pioneering work in space physics and satellite technology exemplifies the transformative power of an Arts & Sciences education,” says Stan Sclaroff, dean of Arts & Sciences. “We are thrilled to honor him with the 2026 Arts & Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award.”
Moldwin discovered his interest in space physics as an undergraduate student at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. During his undergraduate years, he had research opportunities to work with faculty studying the aurora borealis, a natural light display in Earth’s Northern Hemisphere.
At Boston University, Moldwin worked under the direction of the late Professor of Physics Jeffrey Hughes and started his studies during the inaugural year of the Center for Space Physics.
After receiving his PhD from the Boston University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Moldwin (GRS’90,’93) completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at Los Alamos National Laboratory and joined the faculty at the Florida Institute of Technology and the University of California, Los Angeles, prior to his current appointment at the University of Michigan.
Moldwin’s research team at the University of Michigan recently developed a magnetometer — a compass-like instrument used to measure the strength, direction, or change of local magnetic fields — that was adopted by NASA.
The success of this instrument led commercial satellite companies to reach out to Moldwin’s team to purchase it. To meet this demand, Moldwin co-founded General Orbit Company last August. General Orbit Company produces compact sensors for satellites that are more energy- and cost-efficient than standard models on the market.
Reflecting back on his career and the advice he would give to those interested in space physics, Moldwin says, “Take time to figure out what you want to do, and then find out how to do it well. The better you are at something, the more people are going to be interested in working with you and provide more opportunities, and things take off.”