Jason Williams
Project Scientist
Dr. Jason Williams is a world-leader in the development of space-based quantum sensors and the study of fundamental science using quantum technologies in space. His research specializes in applications of space-enabled quantum sensors for fundamental physics, precision metrology with light-pulse atom interferometers (AI) and optical atomic clocks, and experimental quantum simulation of few-body and many-body physics with ultracold atoms. Dr. Williams received his Ph.D. from the Pennsylvania State University developing quantum simulators with ultracold Fermi gases and held a NIST NRC Postdoctoral RA in the group of Professor Jun Ye at JILA, NIST, and the University of Colorado developing high-precision optical lattice clocks.
Roles
- JPL Principal for quantum precision sensors based on ultracold gasses in space
- Cold Atom Lab Project Scientist
- Cold Atom Lab Principal Investigator for Atom Interferometry
Awards
- 2025 NASA Agency Honor Award, Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal (ESAM) For exceptional achievements and innovation with the Cold Atom Laboratory (CAL), advancing research and technology, and driving progress in exploration.
- 2024 NASA Honor Award, Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal (ESAM) For exceptional scientific achievements enabling and performing the first pathfinding experiments in quantum sensing of inertial forces with atom interferometry in space.
- 2020 AIAA Space Science Team Award For developing and delivering the highly innovative Cold Atom Laboratory to the ISS and for seminal scientific achievements.
- 2019 NASA Honor Award, Early Career Public Achievement Medal (ECPAM) For exceptional scientific achievements enabling and performing the first pathfinding experiments in quantum sensing of inertial forces with atom interferometry in space.
- 2016 Lew Allen Award for Excellence For innovative research in ultra-cold atoms, atom interferometry, and fundamental physics
- Voyager Awards (2017, 2018, 2020, and 2024)
- JPL Team Awards (7 total)
- NASA Group Achievement Awards (2 total)