Dr. Thomas González Roberts

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Thomas González Roberts is an Assistant Professor at the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering and the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is the director of Georgia Tech’s Engineering Space Policy Laboratory. Utilizing tools from observational astronomy and computational astrodynamics, Dr. Roberts investigates the behavior of Earth-orbiting satellites and aims to understand how various space actors—from superpowers to start-ups—engage in outer space governance. His research interests encompass international coordination, sustainability, and security in space. Dr. Roberts’ work has notably supported the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation and the National Science Foundation, earning him recognition through various awards such as the MIT Prize for Open Data and the Geneva Centre for Security Policy’s Prize for Innovation in Global Security. He was featured in Forbes Magazine’s 30 Under 30 in Science list. Dr. Roberts holds a Ph.D. and a Master’s degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Astrophysical Sciences from Princeton University.

Research Interests

Awards

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Steven Denning Seed Fund Award Global Engagement

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Center Space Technology Research Co-location Fellowship

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Fellowship

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Forbes 30 Under 30 Science

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Atlanta Global Studies Center Travel Grant

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Travel Grant

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Prize for Innovation in Global Security

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Prize for Open Data

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PhD Research Fellowship

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ThinkSwiss Research Scholarship

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Travel Grant

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Excellent Reviewer Award

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NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

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Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship

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Baumgartner Employee Achievement Award

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Harry S. Truman Scholarship

Requirements for Georgia Institute of Technology

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.5
TOEFL
Listening
Required:19
Reading
Required:19
Writing
Required:19
Speaking
Required:19
Total
Required:100
IELTS
Listening
Required:6.5
Reading
Required:6.5
Writing
Required:5.5
Speaking
Required:6.5
Overall
Required:7.5
Prerequisites
Undergraduate degree in computer science or related field
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Official transcripts
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Statement of Purpose
Specialization Notes

Department of Computer Science: GRE scores are optional for Fall 2026.