[SPA] SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER, Volume XXIV, Issue 63

[Newsletter Editor]

AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION
SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER
Volume XXIV, Issue 63
Nov.20,2017

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Table of Contents

1. Arecibo: Statement on NSF Record of Decision

2. Planetary Sciences and SPA Career Night Mixer

3. MEETING: AGU Chapman Conference: Particle Dynamics in the Earth’s Radiation Belts, Cascais, Portugal, 4-9 March 2018 -- Housing and Registration Deadline: 29 November 2017

4. IAU Ph.D. Prize Candidates Sought; Deadline December 15, 2017

5. JOB OPENING: Program Director Opportunity at NSF: Magnetospheric Physics

6. JOB OPENING: Faculty Position in Solar-Terrestrial Physics, New Jersey Institute of Technology

7. JOB OPENINGS: Two Postdoctoral Positions in Space Physics Modeling at the University of Michigan

8. JOB OPENING: Postdoctoral Position at the JPL, California Institute of Technology 

9. JOB OPENING: Postdoctoral Researcher Position at Boston University

10. JOB OPENING: New Positions at ECHAIN, University of New Brunswick -- Deadline November 30, 2018

11. Announcing Solar Radio Science Highlights in October

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Announcement Submission Website: http://goo.gl/forms/qjcm4dDr4g


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Arecibo: Statement on NSF Record of Decision

From: Michael Wiltberger (mwiltber at nsf.gov)

On November 15, 2017, the National Science Foundation (NSF) signed its Record of Decision for the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. This important step concludes the agency’s decision-making process with respect to the general path forward for facility operations in a budget-constrained environment, and provides the basis for a future decision regarding a new collaborator.

NSF issued its Record of Decision following authorization from the National Science Board on November 9, 2017. That followed an extensive environmental impact analysis and broad input from the public and the scientific community, including the National Academies 6th Decadal Survey released in 2010, the NSF Division of Astronomical Sciences Portfolio Review Committee Report released in 2012, and the NSF Geospace Sciences Portfolio Review Committee Report released in 2016.

The decision formalizes the selection of NSF’s preferred alternative: to collaborate with interested parties to maintain science-focused operations at the Observatory with reduced agency funding. This plan will allow important research to continue while accommodating the agency's budgetary constraints and its core mission to support cutting-edge science and education.

NSF remains deeply concerned about the impacts from recent hurricanes on Arecibo Observatory staff, the facility, and all citizens of Puerto Rico. The Record of Decision arrives at a challenging time, but is necessary for the agency to secure a future for the Observatory, as it will allow negotiations to begin with potential collaborators who may take over management and operations as NSF funding is reduced.


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Planetary Sciences and SPA Career Night Mixer

From: Nicholas Gross, Michelle Nichols (gross at bu.edu)

The AGU SPA Education and Public Outreach Committee, in partnership with the Planetary Science Education Committee, will again host a student-scientist mixer just prior to AGU Fall Meeting on Sunday, December 10 from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm.

This is an opportunity for students to speak with amazing scientists at different stages in their career, working in different disciplines, and in different work settings.

During the first hour, we will have the mixer proper, with drinks and appetizers. The second hour will transition over to a panel that will take career questions from the students.

Date: December 10, 2017
Location: Hilton New Orleans Riverside - Third Floor, Windsor Room
Student Mixer: 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm 
Scientist Panel Discussions: 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Cost: FREE!. Light refreshments will be available. One drink ticket per person will be provided while supplies last. Cash bar will also be available (beer, wine, soda)

Please join us for this fun event at the start of AGU! 
RSVP here: http://bit.ly/AGUmixer2017
RSVP requested but not required.

If you have questions, contact Nick Gross - SPA (gross at bu.edu), Michelle Nichols - SPA (mnichols at adlerplanetarium.org), or Sheri Klug Boonstra - Planetary (sklug at asu.edu)


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MEETING: AGU Chapman Conference: Particle Dynamics in the Earth’s Radiation Belts, Cascais, Portugal, 4-9 March 2018 -- Housing and Registration Deadline: 29 November 2017

From: Seth Claudepierre (seth at aero.org)

Dear Colleagues,

The Housing and Registration Deadline is fast approaching (29 Nov 2017) for the AGU Chapman Conference: Particle Dynamics in the Earth’s Radiation Belts. If you submitted an abstract, you should have already received your notification email from AGU. If not, please contact Seth Claudepierre (seth at aero.org).

For housing, please follow the instructions here:
https://chapman.agu.org/particle-dynamics/book-my-meeting/accommodations/

For registration, please go here:
https://chapman.agu.org/particle-dynamics/registration/

Meeting website:
http://chapman.agu.org/particle-dynamics/

We anticipate that some student travel support will be available (registration waiver and partial housing). Details will be posted at the conference website when they are finalized.

Sincerely,
The Conference Conveners
Seth Claudepierre, Chris Colpitts, Joe Fennell, Xinlin Li, Jean-Francois Ripoll, Sasha Ukhorskiy 


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IAU Ph.D. Prize Candidates Sought; Deadline December 15, 2017

From: Sarah Gibson (sgibson at ucar.edu)

The IAU Ph.D. Prize recognizes outstanding scientific achievement in astrophysics around the world. The Steering Committee of IAU Division E, Sun and Heliosphere, has the opportunity to award a prize to the candidate it feels has carried out the most remarkable work in the previous year in the field of solar and heliospheric physics. Ph.D. Theses must have been defended between the 16 December 2016 and 15 December 2017 to be eligible for the 2018 IAU Ph.D. Prize.

Candidates are required to submit by December 15, 2017 an abstract of their thesis that is suitable for public consumption, a 1500-word thesis summary, three letters of recommendation (including one from the PhD advisor), and a CV.

The IAU Ph.D. Prize is open to candidates from any country, regardless of whether the country has an IAU National Membership. Additionally, a separate prize is available to be awarded to applicants from developing countries (defined as those not in the OECD).

Additional information on the application procedure for the IAU Ph.D. Prize, including a submission link, can be found at
 https://www.iau.org/science/grants_prizes/phd_prize/

The announcement of the winners of this year's IAU Ph.D. Prize may be found at https://www. iau.org/news/announcements/detail/ann17024/


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JOB OPENING: Program Director Opportunity at NSF: Magnetospheric Physics

From: Michael Wiltberger (mwiltber at nsf.gov)

My assignment to the Geospace Section Head position leaves the position of Program Director for Magnetospheric Physics Program in the Geospace Section, Division of Atmopsheric and Geospace Sciences, Directorate for Geosciences at the National Science Foundation (NSF).  We are looking for an experienced magnetosphere scientist with a flair for scientific leadership and an interest in community service, who is excited about the opportunity to work with us to maintain an excellent magnetospheric research program and shape the investment in magnetosphere science at NSF. In return, the position offers a unique chance to experience the inner workings of federal research programs and to influence the future development of Geospace science at NSF. 

NSF Program Directors bear the primary responsibility for carrying out the Foundation’s overall mission to support innovative and merit-evaluated activities in fundamental research and education that contribute to the nation’s technological strength, security and welfare. To fulfill these responsibilities in the Geospace Section requires a broad understanding of the science needs and opportunities in the Geospace Sciences; a commitment to high standards; receptivity to a breadth of new ideas; and good judgment. In this process, you will get unique opportunities to influence, and help lead, the direction of research and infrastructure investments in Geospace sciences. In turn, the experiences this provides, and the knowledge gained in the process, will contribute to your professional development and to your understanding of best practices at NSF and the community it serves.

Appointment to this position may be on a career civil service appointment or rotator position.  Rotator positions can be either Intergovernmental Personnel Assignment (IPA) or Visiting Scientist, Engineer, and Educator (VSEE) assignments. For more information regarding rotator assignments and eligibility, visit our website at https://www.nsf.gov/careers/rotator/ .   Applicants interested in the rotator position can find more information at https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/484516500.  Applicants interested in the career civil service position can find more information at   https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/484515800

Initial consideration for applications will begin on December 29, 2017.  Ideal start dates for applicants will be in February 2018.

For questions or further information please feel free to contact Michael Wiltberger (mwiltber at nsf.gov) or Search Committee Chair (JMERIWET at nsf.gov) 


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JOB OPENING: Faculty Position in Solar-Terrestrial Physics, New Jersey Institute of Technology

From: Andrew J. Gerrard (gerrard at njit.edu)

A tenure-track faculty position is available within the Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research (CSTR) and the Physics Department at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT).  This position is for a “Terrestrial/Upper Atmosphere/Geospace Physicist”, though all applications will be considered.  Appointment will be made at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor of Physics, and is anticipated to start in Fall 2018.  

The CSTR is an international leader in ground- and space-based solar and terrestrial physics, with central interests in understanding the effects of the Sun on the geospace environment.  CSTR operates the Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO) and Owens Valley Solar Array (OVSA) in CA, the Jeffer Observatory at Jenny Jump State Forest in NJ, and the Automated Geophysical Observatories (AGOs) distributed across the Antarctic ice shelf.  The Center also manages a large number of geospace instruments at South Pole, McMurdo, and Palmer Stations, Fabry-Perot interferometers in South America, and various other instruments across the United States.  CSTR is also a PI organization in the NASA Van Allen Probes mission, the hosts the Polar Engineering Development Center, and houses the Space Weather Research Laboratory (SWRL), which conducts scientific research in the area of space weather with the mission to understand and forecast the magnetic activity of the Sun and its potential influence on Earth.  Such instrumentation and data resources enable frontier scientific studies spanning from the Sun’s surface, into the Sun’s extended atmosphere, and onwards into Earth’s atmosphere.  At present there are 21 tenure track/tenured faculty in the NJIT Physics Department – including 5 members which comprise CSTR (Bin, Cao, Gerrard, Gary, Wang).  CSTR also has 3 Distinguished Research Professors (Fleishman, Goode, Lanzerotti), 10+ Research Professors, 11+ Research Engineers, 2 Administrative Assistants, and a number of post-doctoral fellows and Ph.D. graduate students. For a full overview of NJIT's program in solar and terrestrial physics, please visit http://centers.njit.edu/cstr/.

Applicants for the position are required to have a Ph.D. in Physics or closely related discipline, as well as relevant scientific and leadership experience.  Full consideration will be given to all applications received before December 31, 2017. Applications should be submitted online at jobs.njit.edu (as Faculty, Tenure-Track Assistant or Associate Professor of Physics).  Please include a resume, a brief statement of your interest in collaborations as part of CSTR, your research goals, and the names of three to five references. Applications will be kept confidential to the fullest extent possible.  NJIT is a public research university and is an equal opportunity, affirmative-action employer.


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JOB OPENINGS: Two Postdoctoral Positions in Space Physics Modeling at the University of Michigan

From: Mike Liemohn, Gabor Toth, Dan Welling, and Chip Manchester (liemohn at umich.edu)

The Center for Space Environment Modeling within the Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering at the University of Michigan is expecting to hire two postdoctoral researchers in the near future.  The range of areas covered by these positions include solar magnetic flux emergence, CME initiation and propagation between the solar wind and Earth's magnetosphere, ionospheric outflow and its fate in the magnetosphere, impacts of precipitation on the ionosphere-thermosphere system including conductance feedback on geospace dynamics, and the development of geomagnetically induced currents. Most of this work will be directed towards the understanding of extreme space weather events. Because of the numerical focus, preferred applicants should have intimate familiarity with modeling techniques and should have expertise utilizing models to conduct research. Prior experience with model development is useful but not required. Applicants must have a Ph.D. degree in Space Physics or a relevant discipline, or be expecting one before their negotiated start date.  We are seeking applicants at the postdoctoral level with an appointment for two years.  Questions about the positions can be directed to Michael Liemohn, liemohn at umich.edu, Gabor Toth, gtoth at umich.edu, Daniel Welling, dwelling at umich.edu, or Chip Manchester, chipm at umich.edu. All four will be at the Fall AGU Meeting in New Orleans in December 2017.

To apply, please submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three or more references at the U-M Careers website posting for this position (job ID 150312): http://careers.umich.edu/job_detail/150312/research_fellow

The nominal deadline for applications is January 26, but review of applications will start immediately and the search will remain open until both positions are filled.

The University of Michigan has a storied legacy of commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). The Michigan Engineering component of the University’s comprehensive, five-year, DEI strategic plan — along with updates on our programs and resources dedicated to ensuring a welcoming, fair and inclusive environment — can be found at http://www.engin.umich.edu/college/about/diversity. The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.  Women and minorities are highly encouraged to apply.


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JOB OPENING: Postdoctoral Position at the JPL, California Institute of Technology 

From: Olga Verkhoglyadova (Olga.Verkhoglyadova at jpl.nasa.gov)

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology invites applications for a postdoctoral research position in JPL's Ionospheric and Atmospheric Remote Sensing group. The goal of the research project is to improve our understanding of dynamic driving of the Earth’s ionosphere-thermosphere system by the magnetosphere at different scales. This project is a component of a broader effort to study the global electrodynamics of ionospheric disturbances. The successful candidate will carry out satellite data analysis, estimation of dynamic drivers for the ionosphere-thermosphere system and model assessment. 

Candidates should have a recent PhD in physics, plasma physics, space physics or related field. A strong background in space physics (especially in ionospheric or magnetospheric physics) and programming skills are required. Preference will be given to a candidate with a background in satellite data analysis of electromagnetic waves and particle fluxes, and digital signal processing. 

Candidates who have received their PhD within the past five years since the date of their application are eligible. Postdoctoral positions are awarded for a minimum of one-year period and may be renewed up to a maximum duration of three years. Please, refer to  https://postdocs-jpl.icims.com/jobs/8990/impacts-of-dynamic-driving-on-the-ionosphere-thermosphere-system-at-different-scales/job?mode=view for additional information and the application procedure.


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JOB OPENING: Postdoctoral Researcher Position at Boston University

From: Brian Walsh (bwalsh at bu.edu)

The Center for Space Physics (CSP) at Boston University invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher position in the area of cubesat and instrument development and solar wind-magnetosphere coupling. We are looking for a postdoctoral scholar to be involved in mission development and scientific analysis with the CuPID Cubesat Observatory. The 6U cubesat is scheduled to launch in 2019 and will carry a soft X-ray telescope and microdosimeter suite with a science objective to study large-scale properties of magnetic reconnection. There’s additional opportunity for involvement in the ESA-Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Solar Wind Magnetosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) mission. The SMILE mission is currently being developed with a scheduled launch date of 2021. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in space physics, as well as some spaceflight or ground-based hardware experience.

Conditions: 
The position is available immediately with a negotiable start date. The duration is two years with the potential for renewal. Salary will follow the Boston University standard for post-doctoral scholars and it will scale with the applicant’s experience.

How to Apply: 
Applicants must submit the following materials by email to Brian Walsh bwalsh at bu.edu by December 1:
1. A cover letter describing background, qualifications, and experience relevant to the position
2. A full curriculum vitae (CV) - detailing education, awards, publications, research experience, etc.
3. Contact information for three professional references

Boston University is an equal opportunity employer.


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JOB OPENING: New Positions at ECHAIN, University of New Brunswick -- Deadline November 30, 2018

From: P.T.Jayachandran (jaya at unb.ca)

The Expanded Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Network (ECHAIN) at the University of New Brunswick is seeking to hire individuals for FOUR newly announced positions. The deadline for applications is November 30, 2018. Please see links for full descriptions, criteria and application procedures. http://www.unb.ca/hr/careers/support-staff.php

ECHAIN HF Radio Systems Engineer
The Expanded Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Network (ECHAIN) is seeking a High-Frequency Radio Systems (HFRS) Engineer to enhance our project team and development of our growing network of GPS Ionospheric TEC and Scintillation Monitors and Ionosondes (HF Radars) in the Canadian Arctic. This position will be focused on Research and Development of HFRS, maintenance of Ionosondes, and develop and maintain scientific and control software, and provide a wide variety of Engineering and technical support to our research team, students, and the wider scientific community. The position will be the primary contact with our external partners in the ongoing development of HFRS.
http://www.unb.ca/hr/_resources/php/print-support-staff-posting.php?theid=YZ2hpw==

Senior Programming Scientist
The Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Model (CHAIM) Senior Programming Scientist is responsible for the development and ongoing management of software associated with three phases of CHAIM. This role involves porting existing code from the IDL programing language to Matlab, developing automated data retrieval and processing algorithms, developing and maintaining an ftp database, and automating a highly parallelized data assimilation framework. In addition, the CHAIM Senior Programming Scientist will be responsible for user support to our industrial partners and the larger international scientific community.
http://www.unb.ca/hr/_resources/php/print-support-staff-posting.php?theid=YZ2grA==

ECHAIN HF Radar Technician
shall integrate within the pre-existing ECHAIN Research Team, work as Administrator of the HF Radar remote sensing network, and co-supervisor of the project personnel. The responsibilities are varied and require a high level of independent action and initiative. The level of accountability is unusually high due to the compressed timelines, identified milestones, interdependent complex deliverables and of course independent travel to very remote locations in the Canadian High Arctic as part of this position. The incumbent should possess a wide knowledge of scientific equipment and techniques including; digital and analog electronics; computer languages and software; HF systems; remote sensing techniques; mechanical process; diagnosing system loads; and server load balancing.
http://www.unb.ca/hr/_resources/php/print-support-staff-posting.php?theid=YZ2hpA==

ECHAIN Senior System Analyst
responsible for development and ongoing management of data integration of the High Frequency (HF) Radar remote sensing research program into the existing ECHAIN databases ensuring continuous availability to our industrial and government partners and other members within the international scientific community.  The position will be the primary contact with our external partners accessing this data. The responsibilities are varied and require a high level of independent action and initiative. The incumbent shall integrate within the pre-existing ECHAIN Research Team, spearhead the development and integration of innovative data management software for the HF Radar remote sensing network, and mentorship of the project personnel. This position will provide operational support that seamlessly links into existing ECHAIN resources, develops and maintains scientific data software, and provides a wide variety of support to external partner research teams, ECHAIN science team, students, and the wider international scientific community.
http://www.unb.ca/hr/_resources/php/print-support-staff-posting.php?theid=YZ2grQ==


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Announcing Solar Radio Science Highlights in October

From: Eduard Kontar (eduard at astro.gla.ac.uk)

Flare SOL2012-07-06: on the origin of the circular polarization reversal between 17 GHz and 34 GHz  by Altyntsev et al.*
http://cesra.net/?p=1578

Observations of a radio-quiet solar preflare  by A. Benz et al.*
http://cesra.net/?p=1562

Predicting Flares and Solar Energetic Particle Events: The FORSPEF Tool  by A. Anastasiadis et al.*
http://cesra.net/?p=1551

Exploring the potential of microwave diagnostics in SEP forecasting  by P. Zucca et al.*
http://cesra.net/?p=1540

CESRA publishes Highlights of Solar Radio Physics aka CESRA Nuggets approximately every two weeks. These short communications are written in the language accessible to a non-expert in the specific area and designed to keep solar and heliophysics communities informed and up-to-date about current research. The highlights can be followed, discussed, commented and shared via https://www.facebook.com/solarcesra/ and https://twitter.com/CESRA_community


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SPA Newsletter Editorial Team: Peter Chi (Editor), Guan Le (Co-Editor), Sharon Uy, Marjorie Sowmendran, Todd King, and Kevin Addison

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