Michelle Thaller

Dr. Michelle Thaller is an astronomer, research scientist, and science communicator known for her ability to translate complex astrophysics concepts into accessible narratives for global audiences. Thaller spent 27 years at NASA, culminating in her role as assistant director for science communication at the Goddard Space Flight Center. She earned her doctorate in astrophysics, conducting research on binary star evolution before transitioning into science communication. Thaller attended Harvard University, majoring in astrophysics and working on precision measurement of binary stars. At Georgia State University, she researched colliding winds in close massive binary systems.

Thaller’s career in science communication began at the intersection of research and public engagement. After a postdoctoral fellowship at the California Institute of Technology, she joined NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena as a staff scientist at the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center. There, she served as the public outreach lead for the Spitzer Space Telescope, facilitating the dissemination of scientific data and visualizations to broader audiences. She began in the infrared astronomy group’s public outreach program and soon focused her career on communicating astrophysics. Thaller later transitioned to NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center as a science communicator and research astronomer, eventually becoming deputy director of science communication. In this role, she represented all of NASA’s science themes, including Earth science and climate, the sun and space weather, solar system exploration, cosmology, and the deep universe.

Thaller’s media presence has made her a recognizable figure in astronomy and science communication. She appears on the History Channel show "The Universe" and the Science Channel series "How the Universe Works," "Strip the Cosmos," and "The Planets and Beyond." Thaller authored and hosted the PRX/Sky & Telescope "Orbital Path" podcast series and contributed to NASA Spitzer Space Telescope’s video podcast series "IRrelevant Astronomy." She also hosted the release of NASA’s first images from the James Webb Space Telescope, bringing her expertise to a global audience. Thaller is the author of the book "111 Places You Must Visit in the Universe."

As a public speaker, Thaller has addressed audiences on six continents, lectured at the Royal Society of New Zealand, and delivered the Christmas Lecture at the University of Notre Dame. She speaks worldwide about the importance of science literacy, curiosity, and creativity, encouraging audiences to explore the universe. Thaller emphasizes the human side of astronomy in her science communication and has spoken openly about overcoming self-doubt in her academic journey, sharing her experiences to connect with students and professionals. Following her retirement from NASA, Thaller became an adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, continuing her work in astronomy education and public engagement.