Dr. Fengchuan Liu
Dr. Fengchuan Liu
Dr. Fengchuan Liu has been named project manager of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), where he will lead the observatory design and development. He most recently served as acting project manager and was also the deputy project manager from 2015 to 2020. He is currently based in Hilo on Hawaii Island.
“Fengchuan is ideally suited to lead the TMT through its next phases in pursuit of technological innovation and groundbreaking science,” said TMT Executive Director Ed Stone. “His deep understanding of TMT’s technical aspects, coupled with his established relationships with our partner organizations and location in Hawaii, will serve the organization well.”
Over the last six years, Dr. Liu has played an integral role in managing the international partnership’s design and production of TMT’s many parts, systems and instruments that will allow astronomers to see deeper into space and observe cosmic objects with unprecedented sensitivity. In recent months, Dr. Liu has also focused on TMT’s renewed effort to meaningfully connect with the Hawaii community through one-on-one conversations and other outreach.
“We are having respectful conversations with those who support us, those who oppose us, and those who want to know more. These are important conversations needed to build trust and to build relationships,” said Dr. Liu.
Dr. Liu completed his bachelor’s degree in China, and received his master’s and doctorate degrees, both in Physics, from the University of Washington. After conducting post-doc research at the University of California, Santa Barbara, he had a 20-year career at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which is managed by the California Institute of Technology. He has received numerous awards, including the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, and JPL Magellan Award.
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