[GEM] THE GEM MESSENGER, Volume 29, Number 41

[Newsletter Editor]

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     THE GEM MESSENGER
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Volume 29, Number 41
Nov.25,2019

Announcement submission website:
https://forms.gle/FXxfwokFxhUy1KcB9

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Table of Contents

1. Next Generation Software for Data-driven Models of Space Weather with Quantified Uncertainties (SWQU)

2. Mini-GEM Session: "Interhemispheric M-I Coupling" Focus Group

3. Mini-GEM Session: Discussion of the Future of US-Supported Ground Magnetometer Arrays for Space Weather Monitoring and Research

4. Mini-GEM Session: “Magnetic Reconnection in the Age of the Heliophysics System Observatory” Focus Group

5. Mini-GEM Session: "3D Ionospheric Electrodynamics and Its Impact on the Magnetosphere - Ionosphere - Thermosphere (MIT) Coupled System" Focus Group

6. Los Alamos Space Weather Summer School (June 1 - July 31, 2020)

7. JOB OPENING: Postdoctoral Research Scientist in Theoretical/Computational Space Plasma Physics

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1. Next Generation Software for Data-driven Models of Space Weather with Quantified Uncertainties (SWQU)
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From: Michael Wiltberger (mwiltber at nsf.gov)

The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) expect to make a small number of awards for developing next generation software for data-driven models of space weather with quantified uncertainties.  Improvements in predictive modeling capabilities of space weather require an integrative approach to address the complete Sun-to-Earth geospace environment, including disturbances generated by the Sun, the solar wind, and the magnetosphere, ionosphere, thermosphere system. NSF and NASA recognize that there are research needs that can only be met appropriately by teams of researchers. The advantages of pooled insights, complementary expertise, diverse points of view, and shared tasks make a successful research team more than the sum of its parts. A dedicated mode of support for such scientifically-focused multi-investigator projects with an emphasis on early career research support is provided by this activity.

Full solicitation at 

HTML - https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20519/nsf20519.htm

PDF - https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20519/nsf20519.pdf


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2. Mini-GEM Session: "Interhemispheric M-I Coupling" Focus Group
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From: Hyomin Kim, Robert Lysak, Tomoko Matsuo (hmkim at njit.edu)

Dear GEM IHMIC FG,

There will be an IHMIC (Interhemispheric Approach to understand M-I Coupling) session at the 2019 mini-GEM workshop on Sunday, December 8 at Holiday Inn San Francisco-Golden Gateway (1500 Van Ness Avenue, Tel. 415-441-4000). We will hold one session at 12:00-1:30pm in Room 5 (Washington). 

Please email your presentation title to the session leader, Hyomin Kim (hmkim at njit.edu) as soon as possible. 

Also please note that interhemispheric asymmetries are now receiving more attention: one example is that one of the focused science topics in the current NASA LWS proposal solicitation specifically addresses interhemispheric asymmetries in the magnetosphere-ionosphere-thermosphere system.  We'd like to encourage your participation in our FG activities to promote our science topics. 

For the miniGEM workshop details, visit https://gemworkshop.org/

For the IHMIC FG details, visit https://gem.epss.ucla.edu/mediawiki/index.php/FG:_Interhemispheric_Approaches_to_Understand_M-I_Coupling_(IHMIC)

Looking forward to seeing you at mini GEM. 

Best regards,
Hyomin Kim, Robert Lysak, Tomoko Matsuo


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3. Mini-GEM Session: Discussion of the Future of US-Supported Ground Magnetometer Arrays for Space Weather Monitoring and Research
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From: Michael Hartinger, Mark Engebretson (mdhartin at vt.edu)

We invite the GEM community to a discussion of the future of ground magnetometer arrays in support of space weather monitoring and research, with focus on magnetometers supported by US agencies. The discussion will take place at the 2019 miniGEM workshop (https://gemworkshop.org/) on Dec 8 at 12-1330 PM in the Oregon room.

The session will include presentations by Howard Singer on uses of ground magnetometer data in space weather prediction and Jennifer Gannon on characterization of GICs using utility-grade magnetometers.  We’ll also have open discussion of several other aspects of US-supported magnetometer arrays, including (1) current operations/status/performance, (2) future proposals/projects and transition towards distributed array-style operations, and (3) production and dissemination of high-level data products that support scientific investigations, spacecraft missions, modeling efforts, and space weather forecasts. Please see this wiki page for more information: https://tinyurl.com/yhxy2dnt


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4. Mini-GEM Session: “Magnetic Reconnection in the Age of the Heliophysics System Observatory” Focus Group
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From: Rick Wilder, Shan Wang, Anton Artemyev, Michael Shay (frederick.wilder at lasp.colorado.edu)

Fall Mini-GEM Announcement: “Magnetic Reconnection in the Age of the Heliophysics System Observatory”

From: Rick Wilder, Shan Wang, Anton Artemyev, Mike Shay

We are pleased to announce the fall Mini-GEM sessions the focus group, “Magnetic Reconnection in the Age of the Heliophysics System Observatory.” We invite you to attend the new sessions and present your latest findings on the topic. The main goal of this focus group is to use the significant volume of data available regarding magnetic reconnection and compare with global and local models of the physics. Our over-arching questions include the following:

1) What is the relation between magnetic reconnection and turbulence?
2) How does reconnection evolve beyond 2-D laminar models: waves, parallel electric fields, dissipation?
3) How is the energy associated with magnetic reconnection dissipated?
4) How does the local physics of magnetic reconnection depend on, and determine the global plasma and magnetic field configurations?

We will be hosting two sessions:

Session 1:
Sunday, December 8, 12:00 – 13:30, Local physics of magnetic reconnection, turbulence, and dissipation, and the relation between them.

Session 2:
Sunday, December 8, 13:45 – 15:15, global dependence on and consequences of magnetic reconnection.

Please note – we will only be doing presentations for 45 minutes, with the second half of the session being an open discussion of potential challenge topics or events.

Please send your presentations to the focus group organizers.

Best,

Rick, Shan, Anton, Mike


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5. Mini-GEM Session: "3D Ionospheric Electrodynamics and Its Impact on the Magnetosphere - Ionosphere - Thermosphere (MIT) Coupled System" Focus Group
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From: Dogacan Ozturk (dogacan.s.ozturk at jpl.nasa.gov)

Dear GEM scientists,

We would like to invite you to participate in the mini-GEM focus group session titled 3D Ionospheric Electrodynamics and Its Impact on the Magnetosphere - Ionosphere - Thermosphere (MIT) Coupled System. The IEMIT FG aims to address: 1) where, when, and how magnetospheric energy contributes to the IT system and 2) how the IT system feeds back to the magnetosphere via modelling and observational approaches.

The annual Mini-GEM workshop will take place on Sunday, December 8th, 2019 at the Holiday Inn San Francisco-Golden Gateway at 1500 Van Ness Ave. in San Francisco, California. There are three IE-MIT sessions scheduled between noon to 5 pm. Similar to the Mini-GEM 2018, the third session will be a joint session with the Modeling Methods and Validation Focus Group.

Please send the title of your talk to Hyunju Connor (hkconnor at alaska.edu) and Dogacan Su Ozturk (dogacan.s.ozturk at jpl.nasa.gov). We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Thank you very much,
p.p. Dogacan Ozturk
Hyunju Connor, Binzheng Zhang, Gang Lu, Haje Korth


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6. Los Alamos Space Weather Summer School (June 1 - July 31, 2020)
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From: Mike Henderson (mghenderson at lanl.gov)

The Los Alamos Space Weather Summer School is accepting applications for its 2020 session to be held (June 1 - July 31, 2020). Sponsored by the Center for Space and Earth Sciences at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), this summer school brings together top space science graduate students and LANL space scientists to work on challenging space weather research. Students receive a prestigious Vela Fellowship (worth $10,000 to cover travel and living expenses), technical training, and opportunities for professional development.

Lectures:
The lectures will be composed of three main themes.  The first part will be an overview of basic space physics concepts geared towards understanding how the magnetosphere works and how it is driven. The second part will use modeling tools to explore the same concepts in a more quantitative way, exposing the strengths and weaknesses of available models. The final part of the lectures will bring these concepts together to explore how new space missions could be devised to help resolve longstanding scientific questions. Lectures will be coordinated with "labs" to get more hands-on experience. Space data analysis and modeling will be the main themes of the labs.

Research projects:
The unique aspect of the Los Alamos Space Weather Summer School is its emphasis on scientific research projects. Students team up with LANL mentors to work on unresolved scientific problems in space physics. LANL is engaged in a wide variety of space-physics activities and offers a host of exciting research projects (see webpage for a list of current and past projects.) Students are also encouraged to propose their own ideas, which might include topics from their PhD thesis. In the past, many of the Summer School projects have led to presentations at major international conferences and, in some cases, to publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Students:
Open to U.S. and foreign graduate students currently enrolled in PhD programs in space physics, planetary science, aerospace engineering, or related fields.

See website at http://swx-school.lanl.gov for more details.


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7. JOB OPENING: Postdoctoral Research Scientist in Theoretical/Computational Space Plasma Physics
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From: Seth Dorfman (sethd at SpaceScience.org)

The Space Science Institute (SSI) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Scientist to be based in Los Angeles, CA. The selected candidate will take a leading role in research on ultra low frequency (ULF) waves and associated ion distributions in the Earth's ion foreshock.

The goal of the project is to elucidate the physical processes responsible for the properties and dynamics of ULF waves in the Earth's ion foreshock.  The postdoctoral scientist will focus on analysis of existing runs from the Vlasiator global-hybrid simulation code and computation of the ULF wave growth rates using LEOPARD, a new arbitrary distribution function solver.  The selected candidate will work with SSI Research Scientist Dr. Seth Dorfman, who will be responsible for the observational aspects of the project.  Results will aid our broader understanding of waves generated by energetic particles in ways applicable to present and future space missions.

For more information on the physics, see our paper related to the proposed work: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/2017GL072692

Knowledge/Education: A Ph.D. in space plasma physics or related fields is required prior to the start date of the position.  Applicants should demonstrate the potential to publish research results in peer-reviewed high-quality journals, good communication skills, and the ability to work independently.  No prior experience with Vlasiator or LEOPARD is expected, but applicants should demonstrate computer skills that show they will be able to learn these tools quickly.  Experience with computational data analysis and plasma physics theory is considered an advantage.

This is a full-time position with benefits.  In addition to competitive salary and benefits, there will be a budget for to the candidate to visit Finland and interact with Prof. Minna Palmroth and the Vlasiator team (essential for learning Vlasiator data analysis).

The appointment is expected to start in April 2020, although exact start date is flexible.  Interviews will be conducted at the 2019 AGU meeting or via Zoom; therefore please submit your CV to begin the application process by November 30, 2019 to ensure full consideration.

Contact Dr. Seth Dorfman (https://www.spacescience.org/bio.php?emp=SDORFMAN) with questions.

For more information and details on how to apply, visit the full posting:
http://spacescience.org/opportunities.php


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