Prof. Dr. Thomas Hansueli Zurbuchen is a renowned professor, astrophysicist, and head of space programs at ETH Zurich. Known as "Dr. Z" among experts in the field, he held the longest continuous tenure as Science Director at NASA from 2016 to 2022. As NASA's Deputy Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, he was responsible for all aspects related to leadership and science issues in space.

Zurbuchen holds an MS and Ph.D. in Physics/Astrophysics from the University of Bern and worked for two decades as a researcher, teacher, and innovator at the University of Michigan. He also founded the largest entrepreneurship program at American universities - the Michigan Center for Entrepreneurship - and is a member of the International Academy of Astronautics.