Michael Kurylo, Senior Research Scientist

GEST Research Group:

GSFC Code:

613.3

Mailing Address:

Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Branch
NASA GSFC, Code 613.3
Building 22, Room 160
Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA

Phone:

(301) 286-2751

Fax:

(301) 286-0574

Email:

Michael.J.Kurylo@nasa.gov

URL:

none

Research Interests:

Gas phase kinetics and photochemistry with an emphasis on determining the atmospheric lifetimes of ozone- and climate-related trace gases; the use of laboratory measurements together with in situ and remote sensing observations to study atmospheric chemical processes; the applications of ground-based, airborne, and balloon-borne measurements for satellite validation and as a unique complement to space-based measurements for studying global change.

Biography:

Dr. Michael Kurylo received a B.S. in chemistry from Boston College in 1966 and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the Catholic University of America in 1969. He was subsequently awarded an NRC postdoctoral fellowship at the National Bureau of Standards, NBS (now the National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST) where his research focused on the study of elementary gas phase chemical reactions. Following this appointment, Dr. Kurylo served in consecutive one-year temporary and two-year term positions at NBS, leading the Physical Chemistry Division's laboratory studies program sponsored by the Department of Transportation's Climatic Impact Assessment Program. He was subsequently offered a civil service position at NBS/NIST where he headed a laboratory research group in atmospheric kinetics and photochemistry until 2003. Dr. Kurylo was awarded the Department of Commerce Bronze and Silver medals in 1983 and 1991 respectively for his accomplishments in this area. In 1987, he accepted a detailed assignment at NASA Headquarters as manager of NASA's Congressionally-mandated Upper Atmosphere Research Program where he developed, promoted, and implemented an extramural research program in stratospheric and upper tropospheric composition and directed its advanced planning at a national and international level. From 1987 - 2003 he served in this assignment while still managing a vigorous laboratory research program at NIST and transferred permanently to NASA in 2004. As a NASA program manager, Dr. Kurylo served as Program Scientist for numerous airborne campaigns focused on stratospheric ozone depletion, chemistry-climate coupling, and satellite validation. He also served as Program Scientist for several satellite missions. For his NASA accomplishments, Dr. Kurylo was awarded the NASA Exceptional Service Medal and more than a dozen NASA Group Achievement Awards. His role in national and international scientific coordination has been acknowledged via the NASA Headquarters Cooperative External Achievement Award, the NOAA Environmental Hero Award, and the Catholic University of America Alumni Achievement Award in the Field of Science. Dr. Kurylo has served as a reviewer, contributing author, or lead author for every WMO/UNEP international ozone assessment over the past two decades. He has chaired the WMO/UNEP Meeting of Ozone Research Managers of the Parties to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer in 1992, 2002, and 2005 and has been requested to serve in this same capacity in 2008. He is an elected member of the International Ozone Commission and of the Scientific Steering Group of the SPARC Project of the World Climate Research Program, and co-chair of the international Steering Committee of the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change. Following his retirement from NASA in January 2008, Dr. Kurylo joined GEST where he will be engaged in several of the national and international global change activities.