▁the ▁next ▁generation ▁of ▁human ▁expl oration ▁systems , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁the ▁research , ▁robot ic ▁and ▁future ▁capabilities ▁development ▁activities ▁that ▁support ▁them . ▁ ▁She ▁was ▁also ▁engaged ▁in ▁initi ating ▁the ▁development ▁of ▁commercial ▁human ▁space fl ight ▁capabilities ▁to ▁low ▁earth ▁orbit . ▁ ▁From ▁ 2 0 1 1 ▁to ▁ 2 0 1 4 , ▁Les hin ▁served ▁as ▁de an ▁of ▁the ▁School ▁of ▁Science ▁and ▁Professor ▁of ▁Earth ▁& ▁Environment al ▁Science ▁at ▁R ens sel a er ▁Poly techn ic ▁Institute , ▁where ▁she ▁led ▁the ▁scientific ▁academic ▁and ▁research ▁enter prise . ▁Les hin ' s ▁scientific ▁expert ise ▁is ▁in ▁cosm och em istry , ▁and ▁she ▁is ▁primarily ▁interested ▁in ▁de ci ph ering ▁the ▁record ▁of ▁water ▁on ▁objects ▁in ▁the ▁Sol ar ▁System . ▁ ▁In ▁February ▁ 2 0 1 3 ▁President ▁Ob ama ▁appointed ▁her ▁to ▁the ▁advis ory ▁board ▁of ▁the ▁Smith son ian ▁National ▁Air ▁and ▁Space ▁Museum , ▁and ▁she ▁was ▁appointed ▁by ▁former ▁secretary ▁of ▁Transport ation ▁Ray ▁La H ood ▁to ▁the ▁advis ory ▁board ▁of ▁the ▁US ▁Mer chant ▁Marine ▁Academy . ▁ ▁She ▁serves ▁on ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁National ▁Research ▁Council ' s ▁Committee ▁on ▁Ast ro bi ology ▁and ▁Planet ary ▁Science , ▁and ▁as ▁chair ▁of ▁the ▁advis ory ▁board ▁for ▁the ▁Th riv ing ▁Earth ▁Exchange ▁of ▁the ▁American ▁Ge oph ys ical ▁Union . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 4 , ▁Les hin ▁was