[SPA] SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER, Volume XXVII, Issue 41

[Newsletter Editor]

AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION
SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER
Volume XXVII, Issue 41
Jul.13,2020

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Editor's Note: The 2020 AGU Fall Meeting is accepting abstracts until July 29. Lists of SPA sessions will be distributed through special issues later this week.

Table of Contents

1. Soliciting Proposals for Incoherent Scatter Radar 2021 World Days 

2. CALL FOR PAPERS: Topical Issue "Geomagnetic Storms and Substorm: a Geomagnetically Induced Current perspective", Deadline 31 October 2020 -- Final Call

3. SESSION: VGEM Special Session "Decadal Future and Beyond!"

4. SESSION: VGEM Focus Group "Interhemispheric Approaches to Understand M-I Coupling (IHMIC)" Sessions

5. JOB OPENING: Postdoc Researcher in Computational Plasma Physics, New Mexico Consortium, NM

6. JOB OPENING: Postdoc at KU Leuven (Belgium) on the application of ML methods to space and astrophysics within the European Commission project AIDA

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


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Soliciting Proposals for Incoherent Scatter Radar 2021 World Days 

From: Andrew Kavanagh, Emma Spanswick (andkav at bas.ac.uk)

We would like to solicit proposals for Incoherent Scatter Radar world day operations for 2021

Submission Deadline: Friday 31 July 2020

This is an opportunity to direct the global network of radars towards a single scientific objective for time scales of a few days.

Guidelines for applying for a World Day are attached as is a template for the application.

Obviously an in-person meeting was not feasible this year. Consequently the process for selecting World Days will be slightly different this year.
All proposals will be circulated to radar operators and an on-line discussion (including all proposers) will be held after the submission deadline.

We are working on the assumption that operations next year will be relatively normal. This is, of course, highly subject to change and we will adapt as circumstances dictate.

If you have benefitted from World Day operations in the past we would be very pleased to hear from you with details.  It is good to assess how effective these experiments are, and useful for the radar operators when reporting to their funding bodies. 


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CALL FOR PAPERS: Topical Issue "Geomagnetic Storms and Substorm: a Geomagnetically Induced Current perspective", Deadline 31 October 2020 -- Final Call

From: Mirko Piersanti (mirko.piersanti at roma2.infn.it)

The Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate (JSWSC) opens a Topical Issue on "Geomagnetic Storms and Substorm: a Geomagnetically Induced Current perspective" to appear in 2020/2021.

This Topical Issue intends to collect contributions on Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GICs) during high solar activity (e.g. geomagnetic storms, sub-storms and storm sudden commencements). It aims to: increase the global knowledge about the magnetosphere-ionosphere processes, driven by space weather events, responsible for creating GICs; understand the role played by ionospheric turbulence and ground conductivity in amplifying GICs; improve the forecasting of GICs.

This Topical Issue arises from the 16th European Space Weather Week held in Liège, Belgium, in November 2019, primarily from the Session 1 entitled “Geomagnetic Storms: a Geomagnetically Induced Current perspective”. However, it is not reserved for papers presented during this session and is open for all submissions within the scope.

During geomagnetic storms and substorms, the principal magnetospheric currents and the connected ionospheric currents intensify causing rapid changes of the ground geomagnetic field. These variations penetrate into the conductive subsurface generating an electric field which drives Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GICs) in large technological infrastructure. The latter can disrupt the optimal operation of power grids as well as damaging oil/gas pipelines. The aims of this topical issue are to highlight the significant improvements in the global knowledge on the following important open questions about GICs: (1) what are the magnetosphere-ionosphere processes driven by space weather events responsible for driving extreme GICs, (2) what are the roles played by ionospheric turbulence, ground conductivity and the features of the affected power networks in amplifying GICs, and (3) what are the main parameters/proxies/indices that could be used to forecast the build-up of intense GICs? This topical issue invites manuscripts about recent progress and current understanding of the physical processes of GICs, their associated impact on technologies as well as the innovative use of mathematical methods that could provide new perspectives on GIC related research and possible mitigation methods (e.g., transformer and network design, or optimisation of cathodic protection for pipelines).

Manuscripts must be submitted via the JSWSC online submission tool. Guidelines for submission of papers are found on the JSWSC web site under the tab "Instruction for Authors"

Deadline: 31 October 2021.

All manuscripts will be peer reviewed according to the quality standards of international scientific journals. The type of contributions must fit the style of JSWSC. All manuscripts should contain enough new insight, present the results against a properly referenced background of existing work, and present adequate evidence that supports the conclusions. Accepted papers are published in electronic format only, and are freely available to everyone via the JSWSC website. JSWSC offers the possibility to include electronic material, such as animations, movies, codes and data.

Topical Editor in Chief (T-EiC):
Mirko Piersanti (mirko.piersanti at roma2.infn.it), INFN – University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy

Topical Editors:
Ciaran D. Beggan (ciar at bgs.ac.uk), British Geological Survey, Edinburgh, UK
Andrew Dimmok (andrew.dimmock at irfu.se), Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Uppsala, Sweden
Roberta Tozzi (roberta.tozzi at ingv.it), Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia – Rome, Italy

For questions regarding this Topical Issue, please, contact the T-EiC. For questions concerning the submission process, the Editorial Office (jswsc at edpsciences.org) should be contacted.

On behalf of the TI Editorial Board,
Mirko Piersanti 


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SESSION: VGEM Special Session "Decadal Future and Beyond!"

From: Yihua Zheng (Yihua.zheng at nasa.gov)

We invite your participation in a special session “Decadal Future and Beyond!” that we are organizing at the Virtual GEM 2020 Workshop on Wed 22 Jul at 5-7pm EDT. As the community prepares for the next Solar and Space Physics Decadal Survey and strategic planning that goes beyond the next decade, it’s a good time to start a discussion on current understanding of Geospace, remaining gaps and challenges, as well as needs for future investigations. More information about this session will be posted on the GEM Wiki (https://gem.epss.ucla.edu/mediawiki/index.php/2020_Virtual-GEM_Workshop).
The session zoom and slack links will be posted on the new VGEM website (coming in a few days). 

Please contact us with any comments or suggestions you have on topics to discuss or other ideas about this brainstorming session and its implementation:

Allison Jaynes (allison-n-jaynes at uiowa.edu),
Matina Gkioulidou (Matina.Gkioulidou at jhuapl.edu),
Alex Glocer (alex.glocer-1 at nasa.gov),
Brian Walsh (bwalsh at bu.edu),
Yihua Zheng (yihua.zheng at nasa.gov)


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SESSION: VGEM Focus Group "Interhemispheric Approaches to Understand M-I Coupling (IHMIC)" Sessions

From: Hyomin Kim (NJIT), Robert Lysak (UMN), Tomoko Matsuo (CU Boulder), Dan Welling (UTA) (hmkim at njit.edu)

We invite you to participate in our VGEM focus group session, “Interhemispheric Approaches to Understand M-I Coupling (IHMIC)”.  Two sessions will be held 01:00-02:30 pm and 03:00-04:30 pm EDT on Thursday July 23 to discuss observations and modeling work focusing on interhemispheric conjugacy/asymmetry in geomagnetic fields and its effect on M-I coupling. 

The detailed session description can be found on the following website:
https://gem.epss.ucla.edu/mediawiki/index.php/FG:_Interhemispheric_Approaches_to_Understand_M-I_Coupling_(IHMIC)

If you are interested in giving a talk, please send your presentation title to Hyomin Kim (hmkim at njit.edu). 

We are looking forward to your participation at VGEM!


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JOB OPENING: Postdoc Researcher in Computational Plasma Physics, New Mexico Consortium, NM

From: Xiangrong Fu (sfu at newmexicoconsortium.org)

The New Mexico Consortium has an opening for a Postdoctoral Research position in Computational Plasma Physics. Researcher will take a leading role on a project funded by DOE. The goal of the project is to model nonlinear Alfven wave experiments on Large Plasma Device (LAPD) at UCLA to better understand the fundamental physics of parametric instabilities in low-beta plasmas.  Results will be applicable to both laboratory and space plasmas. Duties include developing and running a hybrid simulation code (kinetic ions and fluid electrons) with geometry, boundary conditions, and parameters applicable to LAPD. The researcher will also have the opportunity to travel to UCLA and interact with scientists from the LAPD team.

We are looking for a researcher with a Ph.D. in plasma physics or a related field. Experience with plasma simulation code development and high performance computing are required. Applicants should also demonstrate the potential to publish research results in peer-reviewed high-quality journals, good communication skills, and the ability to work independently. Experiences with nonlinear Alfven waves, hybrid simulation codes, and modelling of laboratory experiments are not required, but are considered advantages.

This is a one-year position with competitive salary and benefits. A possible second year extension is contingent on performance and continued availability of funds. The appointment is expected to start on October 1st, 2020, although the exact start date is flexible. The application deadline is August 1st, 2020. The position is located at Los Alamos, New Mexico. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Dr. Xiangrong Fu (sfu at newmexicoconsortium.org) with any questions.

Please apply using our online application form (follow the link below) or by mail to NMC, 4200 W. Jemez Road, #301, Los Alamos, NM 87544. Please include a resume, a cover letter, and a research statement and arrange for 3 letters of recommendation. New Mexico Consortium is an independent nonprofit Equal Opportunity Employer, M/F/Vet/Dis, E-verify employer.

For more information and details on how to apply, view the full posting at:
https://newmexicoconsortium.org/careers/


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JOB OPENING: Postdoc at KU Leuven (Belgium) on the application of ML methods to space and astrophysics within the European Commission project AIDA

From: Giovanni Lapenta (giovanni.lapenta at kuleuven.be)

The KULeuven Center for Mathematical Plasma Astrophysics is looking for a PostDoctoral candidate with interest in applying Machine Learning (ML) and Data Assimilation techniques to space science. The position will combine the study of simulations (massively parallel kinetic simulation with particle in cell methods, massively parallel fluid simulations of the magnetospheric system) and observations from remote sensing (e.g. SDO, solar dynamic observatory) and in situ (e.g. magnetospheric multiscale mission MMS, Parker solar probe PSP and solar orbiter SolO). The work will take place in collaboration with the Leuven.AI Institute (ai.kuleuven.be) and the AIDA Horizon 2020 project (www.aida-space.eu), a network of leading european and international experts in ML and space science. 

Profile:
At least three, of the following items should be very familiar to the selected candidate, or the candidate should have an interest to learn in a concentrated initial effort:
Machine Learning, Deep Neural Networks, Bayesian Methods,
Data assimilation methods  (Kalman filters),
Solar, Magnetospheric and Solar wind data analysis,
Expertise on computer programming with Python, C, C++ or Fortran,
Knowledge of advanced parallel programing (OpenMP, MPI, CUDA)
Plasma physics, astrophysics or space physics,
Numerical methods for fluid dynamics, MHD and kinetic physics particle in cell (PIC) methods.

Offer:
Starting: Immediately or upon availability of the selected candidate, with target date September 1, 2020. Working remotely will be possible and encouraged until the COVID19 crisis is not history. However, the buildings of KULeuven are now open regularly and it is possible to go to one’s office. 
Duration: 1 year, with possible extensions up to three years, depending on performance evaluation and funding.
Salary: the standard salary for PostDocs at KULeuven is amongst the highest in Europe. More information on the conditions at: https://www.kuleuven.be/english/research/postdoc
Teaching experience: There will be opportunities for teaching experiences, lecturing, supervision of student projects, guiding the candidate to develop an academic curriculum.
Publication: We will focus on developing open source software and peer reviewed papers.
Career perspective: our previous postdocs work now in academia (e.g. KTH in Sweden, CNR in Italy, EPFL in Switzerland, University of Surrey and University of Lancaster in the UK, University of Colorado and LANL in USA, University of Wuhan, China) and industry (e.g. Ubisoft Berlin, Flemish Supercomputer Centre, Royal Observatory of Belgium, Samsung, Cardiatis Belgium).

For more information on the position, please, contact Giovanni Lapenta at: coordinator.aida at kuleuven.be 
To apply please go to: https://www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jobsite/jobs/55750890


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

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