[GEM] THE GEM MESSENGER, Volume 28, Number 21

Mon May 28 17:34:22 PDT 2018

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     THE GEM MESSENGER
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Volume 28, Number 21
May.28,2018

Announcement submission website: http://aten.igpp.ucla.edu/gem/messenger_form/

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Table of Contents

1. A New GEM Focus Group Session Announcement: “Interhemispheric Approaches to Understand M-I Coupling (IHMIC)”

2. GEM Workshop 2018: “Quantitative Assessment of Radiation Belt Modeling” Focus Group -- Call for Participation

3. JOB OPENING: Postdoctoral Fellow Position in Space Plasma Physics at West Virginia University

4. JOB OPENINGS: 2 Postdoctoral and 2 PhD Student Positions in Space Physics Group at the Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Finland

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1. A New GEM Focus Group Session Announcement: “Interhemispheric Approaches to Understand M-I Coupling (IHMIC)”
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From: Hyomin Kim, Robert Lysak, Tomoko Matsuo (hmkim at njit.edu)

We invite you to participate in our new GEM focus group session, “Interhemispheric Approaches to Understand M-I Coupling (IHMIC)”. The main goal of this focus group proposal is to understand the interhemispheric symmetry/asymmetry in geomagnetic fields and its effects on M-I coupling. Observational and modeling studies have shown the interhemispheric differences which are manifested in various signatures, e.g., large-scale current systems, auroral forms, waves, ion upflow, outflow, particle precipitation, high-latitude convection and thermospheric winds.  

The focus group addresses questions as to how to incorporate interhemispheric differences and their effects on M-I coupling in observations and modeling/simulations. The overarching science questions that this focus group will be addressing are:

1)  In what aspect does the asymmetry in geomagnetic fields play a role in M-I coupling?
2)  How are the interhemispheric differences related to solar wind and geomagnetic activities?
3)  What are interhemispheric differences in storm and substorm signatures, wave activity and particle precipitation? What controls these differences?
4)  How do interhemispheric differences in ionospheric conductivity affect solar wind coupling to the magnetosphere, ionosphere and thermosphere? 
5)  What are effects of the neutral wind dynamo in the application of Ohm's law to ionosphere-magnetosphere coupling?  Does the neutral wind dynamo contribute to the interhemispheric asymmetry in M-I coupling? 

There will be two sessions on Friday (June 22). Please note that the afternoon session is a joint session with the focus group “3D Ionospheric Electrodynamics and its impact on MIT coupling (IEMIT)”. 

Friday 10:30-12:00 IHMIC FG session

Friday 1:30-3:00 IEMIT-IHMIC Joint FG Session

This year, we are encouraging more discussion and discouraging AGU-style presentations, limiting each talk to 3-4 slides focused on results and outstanding questions. If you are interested in presenting interhemispheric studies, please use this signup form:
https://goo.gl/forms/YFCcZi1Qxi74fRi93

Please also note that there will be GEM-CEDAR joint sessions on Saturday (June 23). The second session from 10:30 to 12:00 will cover “Interhemispheric Processes/Symmetries/Asymmetries”.

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2. GEM Workshop 2018: “Quantitative Assessment of Radiation Belt Modeling” Focus Group -- Call for Participation
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From: Weichao Tu, Wen Li, Jay Albert, and Steve Morley (wetu at mail.wvu.edu)

The Quantitative Assessment of Radiation Belt Modeling (QARBM) focus group will be ending this year and plan to have three final sessions at the upcoming GEM workshop. 

Session 1 (Wed, 03:30-05:00 PM): “RB enhancement”. This session will focus on quantitative assessment of the relative contributions of the acceleration, transport, and loss processes to radiation belt enhancements, including both the traditional and newly discovered physics. We will start with an invited “scene-setting” talk given by Dr. Mary Hudson, followed by short and workshop-style presentations and group discussions. 

Session 2 (Thu, 10:30 AM-12:00 PM): “RB dropout”. This session will focus on quantitative assessment of the relative contributions of the acceleration, transport, and loss processes to radiation belt dropouts, including both the traditional and newly discovered physics. The format will be the same as Session 1, including an “scene-setting” talk (invited speaker TBD), short and workshop-style presentations, and group discussions.

Session 3 (Thu, 03:30-05:00 PM): “Wrap-up and Future overlook”. We will first summarize the results from our RB Challenges, and then continue with panel and group discussions on the remaining open questions and future directions of radiation belt studies. Our panelists include Drs. Jacob Bortnik (confirmed), Allison Jaynes (confirmed), Wen Li (confirmed), Geoff Reeves (confirmed), Drew Turner (confirmed), and Sasha Ukhorskiy (TBD). 

Since all the sessions will be organized in discussion-based workshop mode, we invite submissions of short and informal presentations to Session 1 and Session 2 (with 3-4 slides and no intro or conclusions needed). Please send your talk title and the relevant session number to Weichao Tu (wetu at mail.wvu.edu) by Mon, June 11th, 2018. To reserve sufficient time for discussions, the talks will be scheduled based on relevance and the submission time. For the summary of RB Challenges, if you have published (or have in prep or presented at conferences) on our Challenge events, please send us the info as well. We strongly encourage you to participate in our fun group discussions in all three sessions. Thanks in advance for your contributions!

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3. JOB OPENING: Postdoctoral Fellow Position in Space Plasma Physics at West Virginia University
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From: Weichao Tu (wetu at mail.wvu.edu)

The West Virginia University Research Corporation (WVURC) seeks to hire a Postdoctoral Fellow –Space Plasma Physics in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at West Virginia University. This position supports the research in inner magnetospheric physics by Prof. Tu’s group, with a particular emphasis on studying and modeling the dynamics of the Van Allen radiation belts. Incumbent will have the opportunity to work on research projects involving data analysis, theory development, and numerical modeling.

Requirements: (1) A PhD in physics, space physics, plasma physics, or a related discipline; (2) previous research experience in space plasma physics; (3) expertise in scientific programming, preferably in C and/or FORTRAN. Preference will be given to applicants who possess previous research experience in inner magnetospheric physics and particle simulations (for example, radiation belts, wave-particle interactions).

Competitive salary and benefits package offered. For a complete job description and to apply for this position, please visit https://wvu.taleo.net/careersection/wvu_research/jobdetail.ftl?job=08827&tz=GMT-04%3A00 and click on the “Apply Online” link. 

Qualified applicants should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references as part of the application process. For questions or additional information, contact Prof. Weichao Tu at wetu at mail.wvu.edu.  Please refer to http://tuweichao.wixsite.com/home and physics.wvu.edu for additional information about the research in our group and other plasma physics research in the department. Review of applications will begin June 11, 2018 and continue until the position is filled. Start date in Fall 2018 is desirable.

WVURC is an AA/EOE/Minorities/Females/Vet/Disability/E-verify compliant employer.

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4. JOB OPENINGS: 2 Postdoctoral and 2 PhD Student Positions in Space Physics Group at the Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Finland
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From: Minna Palmroth, Emilia Kilpua (minna.palmroth at helsinki.fi)

The Space Physics Group at the Department of Physics is a leading European space physics group specialised both in observations and modelling of space plasmas. For example, we develop the novel global hybrid-Vlasov simulation Vlasiator and have a strong focus on solar eruptions. Our current research areas include magnetospheric dynamics as driven by solar wind, as well as reconnection, shocks and particle acceleration.

We are now opening two postdoctoral positions, and two doctoral student positions. The specifics of the positions are given below.

- Postdoctoral researcher with a strong plasma physics modelling background, having expertise in algorithm development. Modelling expertise in the following areas are considered an advantage: Kinetic plasma physics, Landau fluid theory, wave-particle interactions.

- Postdoctoral researcher with strong space plasma observational background, having expertise in magnetospheric dynamics. Observational expertise in the following areas are considered an advantage: Particle precipitation, radiation belt physics, wave-particle interactions.

- The doctoral students are regarded as strong candidates when they a have a solid expertise in space plasma physics either in the solar or in the magnetospheric context.

Other useful skills for all applicants include: Python, C/C++, supercomputer environments, experimental data analysis techniques. Previous knowledge of cubesat projects is also considered an advantage.

We offer a position in a dynamic and international research group, with a possibility to network and to develop as a researcher. The positions are available immediately. The positions are open until they are filled.

For more information, please visit:
http://blogs.helsinki.fi/spacephysics/
https://www.helsinki.fi/sustainable-space

For specifics about the position, contact Professor Minna Palmroth (minna.palmroth ‘at’ helsinki.fi) and Associate Professor Emilia Kilpua (emilia.kilpua ‘at’ helsinki.fi). Interested candidates should send their informal application, CV, list of publications, and a maximum of three names to act as references to the above addresses.

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