Timothy Killeen (academic)


Timothy Laurence Killeen is a geophysicist space scientist, professor, and administrator. He took office as the President of the University of Illinois in 2015. He received a BSc in Physics in 1972 and a Ph.D. in Atomic and Molecular Physics from University College in London in 1975, earning his doctorate at the age of 23. He has been the Principal Investigator for many research projects for NASA, NSF, and the U.S. Air Force. Dr. Killeen has authored more than 150 publications in peer-reviewed journals, along with 300 other publications and papers. He has served on various White House committees and task forces and is a past Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics.

NSF and NCAR

For many years, Dr. Killeen led a group of research scientists and engineers working in the field of aeronomy. Dr. Killeen has chaired many National Science Foundation Committees, including the NSF Coupling, Energetics and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions Advisory Committee. He was Director of the National Center for Atmospheric Research from 2000 to 2008. After leaving NCAR in 2008, he became the NSF Assistant Director for Geosciences.

NASA

Dr. Killeen was also involved in many NASA projects, including the design, development and building of the TIMED Doppler Interferometer instrument for the TIMED spacecraft. He has also worked on the development of the Fabry-Perot Interferometer for various spacecraft, including the Dynamics Explorer Spacecraft.

Awards and honors

Dr. Killeen's awards include the 1985 NASA Achievement Award, Dynamics Explorer Spacecraft, and an Excellence in Research Award from the University of Michigan, College of Engineering in 1993 and an Excellence in Teaching Award from the University of Michigan, College of Engineering in 2000. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2007, and was named a Fellow of the American Meteorological Society in 2005, and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2015.

Professional Affiliations

Dr. Killeen is a Past President of the American Geophysical Union, of which he is currently a member. Other memberships include: American Meteorological Society, American Association for the Advancement of Science, National Academy of Engineering, and New York Academy of Sciences.