[SPA] SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER, Volume XXII, Issue 58

[Newsletter Editor]

AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION
SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER
Volume XXII, Issue 58
October 18, 2015

Editor: Peter Chi
Co-Editor: Guan Le
Distribution Support: Sharon Uy, Todd King, Kevin Addison
Email: editor at igpp.ucla.edu       

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Table of Contents

1. Nominations for AAS/SPD Hale and Harvey Prizes: Second Call
2. A New Forecasting Magnetosphere Model Available Online
3. MEETING: 2nd Announcement "Science for Space Weather" ILWS 2016 workshop, January 24 - 29 in Goa, India Preceded by an "Introduction to Space Weather School" on Sunday, January 24, 2016 at the Same Location
4. Assistant or Associate Professor in Experimental Space Physics and Spacecraft Engineering at Virginia Tech
5. JOB OPENING: Postdoctoral Fellow Position in Space Plasma Physics at West Virginia University
6. NOAA Climate and Global Change Postdoctoral Fellowships, Application Deadline: 8 January 2016

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Nominations for AAS/SPD Hale and Harvey Prizes: Second Call

From: Mark Linton (mark.linton at nrl.navy.mil)

Nominations are sought for the 2016 American Astronomical Society Solar Physics Division (AAS/SPD) George Ellery Hale Prize. This prize is awarded to a scientist for outstanding contributions over an extended period of time to the field of solar astronomy. This award is open to any living scientist who meets the professional experience requirements, without regard to country of residence or citizenship. Please see http://spd.aas.org/navbar_prizes.html and http://spd.aas.org/spd_bylaws_200311.html#PRIZES for the detailed eligibility criteria and a list of previous awardees.

Nominations are also sought for the 2016 AAS/SPD early career Karen Harvey Prize. This award is open to anyone who meets the age and professional experience requirements, without regard to country of residence, citizenship, or membership in the SPD. Please see http://spd.aas.org/navbar_prizes.html for the detailed eligibility criteria and a list of previous awardees.

The early career Karen Harvey Prize has age restrictions on eligibility. The eligible candidate must meet at least one of the following criteria for the 2016 Harvey Prize:

1) Must be less than age 36 at the end of calendar year 2016; and/or

2) Must have had their PhD (or equivalent degree) conferred no more than 10 years prior to the end of calendar year 2016; that is the degree award date is on or after January 1, 2006.

A letter of nomination with supporting letters of endorsement (at least two of which must be from members of the Society), curriculum vitae, and bibliography should be submitted to the Hale and Harvey Prize Committee, which will be responsible for the selection.

Deadline for receipt of letters and supporting documents for either (Hale or Harvey) prize nomination is November 15, 2015. Submissions should be sent to Mark Linton at haleprize.harveyprize at nrl.navy.mil .


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A New Forecasting Magnetosphere Model Available Online

From:  Nikolai Tsyganenko (n.tsyganenko at spbu.ru, nikolai.tsyganenko at gmail.com)

A new data-based model of the Earth's magnetospheric magnetic field is now available online, driven solely by solar wind/IMF parameters and oriented towards space weather forecasting purposes. The model is based on space magnetometer data of Geotail, Polar, Cluster, and Themis satellites, covering almost two decades from 1995 through 2013. Its input parameters include interplanetary indices, derived from optimal coupling functions by Newell et al. (JGRA, v.112, doi:10.1029/2006JA012015, 2007) and Boynton et al. (JGRA, v.116, doi:10.1029/2010JA015505, 2011). A detailed description of the model can be found in a recent publication: Tsyganenko, N. A., and V. A. Andreeva, JGRA, v.120, doi:10.1002/2015JA021641, 2015. The fortran source codes, a set of OMNI-based yearly files with the model's driving parameters for the period 1995-2015, an abstract, a concise description of the new model, and accompanying data format can be accessed at 

http://geo.phys.spbu.ru/~tsyganenko/modeling.html.


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MEETING: 2nd Announcement "Science for Space Weather" ILWS 2016 workshop, January 24 - 29 in Goa, India Preceded by an "Introduction to Space Weather School" on Sunday, January 24, 2016 at the Same Location

From: Robert Wimmer-Schweingruber (wimmer at physik.uni-kiel.de)

Understanding and being able to forecast space weather is an increasingly important aspect of our modern technology-reliant society. This workshop will treat all aspects of space weather, ranging from the solar origin of transient events to their propagation through the heliosphere and effects on Earth and planetary bodies, from particle energization to forecasting particle environment and its effects on technological and biological systems, as well as solar-cycle effects and coupling of space weather to atmospheric response. Metrics to assess predictions will also be discussed.

The workshop is structured along the lines of the COSPAR space weather pathways and will include invited and contributed talks, posters, as well as panel discussions and tutorials. The "Introduction to Space Weather: Concepts and Tools” School will be held the full day on Sunday on 24 January 2016 and will be followed by interactive programs and demo sessions throughout the week of the workshop. Both will take place at the Resort Rio, Goa, India (http://www.resortrio.com/).

See http://www.cessi.in/ssw/index.html for more details about the workshop and 
http://www.cessi.in/ssw/school_information.html for more details about the school.

Important dates:
Hotel reservation deadline: November 06, 2015
Reduced rate (US$ 350) registration deadline: November 06, 2015
Abstract submission deadline: November 20, 2015
On site registration at on-site rate (500 US$): 23 – 29 January, 2016

Some limited funding will be available for students from developing countries is available. Please check the workshop web site for eligibility and indicate your need in the registration form so we will can get back to you.


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Assistant or Associate Professor in Experimental Space Physics and Spacecraft Engineering at Virginia Tech

From: Mike Ruohoniemi (mikeruo at vt.edu)

The Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering of Virginia Tech invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in Experimental Space Physics and Spacecraft Engineering. The position is anticipated to be filled at the rank of assistant professor; however associate professor level appointments may be considered for outstanding candidates. A Ph.D. degree in aerospace engineering, space physics, or a closely related field is required.

The successful applicant will contribute to the University’s Center for Space Science and Engineering Research (Space at VT, http://www.space.vt.edu) and demonstrate enthusiasm for collaborative and interdisciplinary research. Candidates should demonstrate a strong commitment to undergraduate instruction, specialized graduate education, sponsored research, and scholarly work. The AOE Department is comprised of 25 faculty members, with approximately 150 full-time graduate students and 550 undergraduate students.

Candidates for this position should have research expertise in the broad areas of Space Physics and Spacecraft Engineering. Areas of particular interest include: Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Physics, Space Weather, and Remote Sensing. Expertise in complementary areas such as spacecraft-environmental interactions, power generation and storage, and thermal modeling and control of space systems will be highly desirable. Candidates are expected to contribute to teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate level, and may participate in the Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Program in Remote Sensing (http://rsigep.frec.vt.edu). In addition to Space at VT, the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science (http://www.ictas.vt.edu) and the Hume Center for National Security and Technology (http://www.hume.vt.edu) provide opportunities for collaboration. Excellent research facilities are available through Space at VT and Virginia Tech Advanced Research Computing (http://www.arc.vt.edu). 

Virginia Tech is a recipient of the National Science Foundation ADVANCE Institutional Transformation Award to increase the participation of women in academic science and engineering careers. Virginia Tech is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. The AOE Department strongly supports the Virginia Tech Principles of Community. Information about the AOE Department is available at www.aoe.vt.edu.

Applicants must provide a cover letter, contact information for three professional references, a candidate statement discussing teaching, research, and professional goals, and a current CV. Those wishing further information about the search process may contact Dr. Jonathan Black, Faculty Search Committee Chair, Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, 215 Randolph Hall, 460 Old Turner Street, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 or at jonathan.black at vt.edu. Review of applications will begin December 1, 2015 and continue until the position is filled.

Applicants are required to apply online at https://listings.jobs.vt.edu/login and should use posting number TR0150101.

Virginia Tech, founded in 1872 as a land-grant institution, is currently ranked as a Top 25 Public University by US News & World Report and a Top 25 Public Research University by the National Science Foundation. Through a combination of its three missions of learning, discovery, and engagement, Virginia Tech continually strives to accomplish the charge of its motto: Ut Prosim (That I May Serve). As the Commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech serves a diverse population of 30,000+ students and 8000+ faculty and staff from over 100 countries, and is engaged in research around the world. Invent the Future at Virginia Tech.


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

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 work on a research project that includes both data analysis 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 FORTRAN and/or C. Preference will be given to applicants who possess previous research experience in inner magnetospheric physics (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 http://hr.research.wvu.edu and click on the “View Jobs” 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 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 October 26, 2015 and continue until the position is filled. Start date before spring 2016 is desirable.
 
WVURC is an AA/EOE/Minorities/Females/Vet/Disability/E-verify compliant employer.


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NOAA Climate and Global Change Postdoctoral Fellowships, Application Deadline: 8 January 2016

From: Susanne Demaree (sdemaree at ucar.edu)

The UCAR Visiting Scientist Programs announces the 2016 recruitment for NOAA Climate and Global Change Postdoctoral Fellowships (C&GC). The fellowship program has an outstanding reputation of attracting the best and the brightest PhDs in the sciences relevant to the NOAA Climate and Global Change Program. Appointed fellows are hosted by a mentoring scientist at U.S. universities and research institutions to work in an area of mutual interest.

NOAA Climate and Global Change Postdoctoral Fellows focus on observing understanding, modeling, and predicting climate variability and change on seasonal and longer time scales. This includes the documentation and analysis of past, current, or possible future climate variability and change and the study of the underlying physical, chemical, and biological processes.

Applications are due 8 January. Appointments will be announced in March 2016.

Preference is given to those who have held a PhD for no more than three years. Awardees must change institutions and identify a host, who must be at a U.S. institution. A clearly articulated research proposal is particularly important. A steering committee, broadly representing the areas covered by this program, selects the fellows. The selection criteria used by the steering committee in making the awards is available at www.vsp.ucar.edu/cgc.

Advanced contact with a potential host is required. Interested host scientists are required to submit a brief letter of intent to host the fellow and a curriculum vita. Hosts are expected to mentor the fellow and cover office, computing, laboratory, and field research needs of the fellow as appropriate.

C&GC fellows are UCAR employees and receive a fixed annual salary plus UCAR’s benefits (health and dental insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, TIAA/CREF retirement fund, and life insurance). Allowances are provided for relocation and scientific travel during the appointment. Some funds may be available to support the cost of publications. 

For additional information on this program and instructions on how to apply, please visit: www.vsp.ucar.edu/cgc. For further information, call (303) 497-1605 or e-mail vspapply@ ucar.edu.

The NOAA Climate Program Office sponsors this program. The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research is an EO/AAE who encourages and values diversity in the workplace.


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