ASU professor Tim Steimle retires after fulfilling career of nearly four decades

May 20, 2021

Professor Timothy Steimle has enjoyed a productive career at Arizona State University's School of Molecular Sciences. His research uses ultra-high resolution laser spectroscopy to obtain high accuracy measurements of the most fundamental properties of molecular systems, specifically dipole moment and magnetic g-factors with the goal of determining precise geometric and electronic structures of molecular models for metal-based catalysts.

Now, Steimle is looking forward to retirement after 36 years at the school. Steimle began working at ASU in 1985, the same year Windows 1.0 was released, the comic strip "Calvin and Hobbes" debuted, Mikhail Gorbachev became leader of the Soviet Union, New Coke was released and Michael Jordan was NBA Rookie of the Year. man's portrait Tim Steimle Download Full Image

If these events are familiar, you may be considering retirement as well. For those considering retirement, Steimle advises, “Talk to HR people early, look into phased retirement, and develop hobbies so retirement isn’t a shock.”

Steimle is following his own advice. He continues to pursue research interests through collaborations at Caltech and Emory University while enjoying other aspects of life. He recently bought a farm in Oregon where he enjoys outdoor activities such as biking and fishing. Steimle also recently completed construction of a pottery studio and is raising Christmas trees.

“When I came to ASU, there were only 41,000 students," Steimle recalls. “The school had a great reputation in material sciences and molecular research. It was an up-and-coming university with a supportive atmosphere and good research facilities and infrastructure. I hope I have made contribution to the visibility of (the School of Molecular Sciences) but now it’s time to give opportunities to the next generation of scientist.”

For those starting their careers, Steimle advises they focus on their passion. “You should think about the end result and the impact you want to have in science and life in general. Stay focused.”

A relative newcomer to ASU compared to Steimle, Assistant Professor Scott Sayers said, “Tim has had an incredibly productive career and established himself as one of the most respected high-resolution spectroscopists in the world. He has been an incredible mentor to me, and I value that I could always count on him for authentic and straightforward advice on a variety of scientific and nonscientific issues. I wish him a happy and relaxing retirement, free from the troubles of aligning laser beams.”

“Tim is a wonderful colleague and friend, and I will sorely miss bumping into him as he always had time for banter and always brightened my day," said longtime colleague and School of Molecular Sciences Professor John Kouvetakis. "Tim is the most enthusiastic and passionate scientist I know. He is an excellent experimentalist who loves the lab, and an inspiring teacher.”

Tim Steimle in his ASU lab.

Tim Steimle mentoring in his lab.

Tim Steimle receives a teaching award.

A young Tim Steimle at work in his lab.

Steimle credits others for their contributions to his career and success, as well as his transition to retirement.

“My mentor, the late John Brown from Oxford University, exemplified kindness and generosity with his time," Steimle said. "Here at ASU, Mort Munk was influential in my career. Ian Gould has been supportive arranging retirement, and the (school's) financial staff, Theresa, Kylie and Sarah, are all very helpful.”

“At ASU Tim developed a series of unique experimental techniques that put him at the forefront of ultra-high-resolution spectroscopy," said Gould, interim director of the school. "His work had broad impact, from the most fundamental studies of molecular property and structure to helping to understand the complex mechanisms of metallic catalysts. Tim was a wonderful colleague and friend to many of us; he was very much a central part of the (School of Molecular Sciences) chemistry community and will be missed. We congratulate him on a scientific life well-lived and wish him a long and happy retirement.”

James Klemaszewski

Science writer, School of Molecular Sciences

480-965-2729 Klem@asu.edu

ASU student-built spacecraft to interact with the public

NASA has selected an Arizona State University-designed spacecraft to fly as an auxiliary payload aboard a rocket launching between 2022 and 2025. It is among 14 small research satellites, called CubeSats, that were chosen for this opportunity through NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative. The ASU CubeSat, named LightCube, is about the size of a toaster and will be deployed to low-Earth orbit (LEO). ...

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ASU student-built spacecraft to interact with the public

May 20, 2021

The ASU CubeSat, named LightCube, is about the size of a toaster and will be deployed to low-Earth orbit (LEO). Its unique feature is that it can be commanded by anyone with an amateur radio license and a ham radio to set off a xenon flash from the spacecraft that will be visible from the ground. An artist's rendition of the spacecraft "LightCube" in orbit. Credit: ASU/NASA Download Full Image

“The public will be able to track the LightCube satellite using an app, then transmit to the satellite with a ham radio. Once the signal has been received, they will see a flash from the satellite in the night sky,” said Principal Investigator Jaime Sanchez de la Vega, of Vega Space Systems, who graduated in 2019 from ASU with a double major in aerospace and electrical engineering from the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering.

The mission is a collaborative project between ASU’s Interplanetary Initiative, the Fulton Schools of Engineering, Vega Space Systems and CETYS Universidad in Mexicali, Mexico.

The hardware for the spacecraft is being developed at ASU’s Interplanetary Initiative lab, with direction from Danny Jacobs, the initiative’s associate director for laboratories. His team will be responsible for the mission’s integration, testing and operations.

The spacecraft will include a UHF antenna led by the CETYS Universidad team, xenon flashtubes, solar panels, an onboard computer, transceiver and a deployable gravity gradient boom that orients the light toward Earth.

An illustration of the LightCube's exterior. Credit: ASU

“This is an education-based mission,” said Jacobs, who is also an assistant professor at ASU’s School of Earth and Space Exploration. “Our goal in building and launching a spacecraft that can be commanded by the public is to inspire everyone to learn about telecommunications, spacecraft design, atmospheric and climate science, and orbital mechanics.”

At the heart of the mission are several student capstone teams, one from CETYS Universidad and four from ASU’s Fulton Schools of Engineering. The first capstone team to be involved in this project was led in 2019 by Sanchez de la Vega. The 2021 ASU capstone teams are responsible for building the spacecraft’s solar panels, battery and power management subsystems.

These teams are advised by Jacobs and Sanchez de la Vega; Associate Professor Michael Goryll, Professor David Allee and graduate student Raymond Barakat from the School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering, one of six Fulton Schools; and graduate student Kyle DeSousa, who is pursuing a master's degree in innovation and venture development at ASU.

LightCube Principal Investigator Jaime Sanchez de la Vega with an early prototype of LightCube and a handheld radio and antenna that can be used to communicate with the spacecraft.

LightCube will launch aboard a planned spaceflight mission led by NASA, another U.S. government agency or commercial organizations with coordination from NASA’s Launch Services Program. After launch, LightCube will deploy into orbit from the International Space Station.

“The CubeSat Launch Initiative enables incredible opportunities for CubeSat developers from diverse institutions including universities, high schools and nonprofit organizations,” said Sam Fonder of the Launch Services Office, in the NASA release about the selection of projects funded for launch. “These innovative partnerships benefit both NASA and the greater science community by helping to bridge gaps in knowledge and, ultimately, accelerate technology.”

The LightCube team is currently developing flight versions of the custom hardware in preparation for a full system integration and test campaign starting later this year. The current plan is to deliver the spacecraft to NASA for launch no earlier than September 2022. To learn more about this mission and keep up to date on the latest development, visit lightcube.space.

The flash of the xenon tubes seen from "A" Mountain (background) from the ISTB4 building on the Tempe campus during a testing of the flash operations. In the foreground, the ham radio antenna used to transmit the signal is visible in relief. Credit: ASU