[SPA] SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER, Volume XXVII, Issue 70

[Newsletter Editor]

AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION
SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER
Volume XXVII, Issue 70
Nov.22,2020

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Table of Contents

1. Producing Digital Object Identifiers for NASA Heliophysics Datasets

2. Nominations Requested for the Committee on Solar and Space Physics of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

3. Pre-decadal Survey Mission Concept Studies

4. The 2020 Baron Marcel Nicolet Medal for Space Weather and Space Climate

5. The 2020 Alexander Chizhevsky Medal for Space Weather and Space Climate

6. MEETING: 2nd Machine Learning in Heliophysics Conference

7. CALL FOR PAPERS: Special Issue "Interplanetary Medium Variability as Observed in the New Era of Spacecraft Missions"

8. JOB OPENING: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, Space Scientist, GS-1330-13/14

9. JOB OPENING: Ionosphere Scientist - Sensor Developer at The Aerospace Corporation

10. JOB OPENING: Associate Research Physicist (Postdoctoral Position) at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

11. JOB OPENING: NCAR HAO & ASP Postdoc Positions, Application Deadline December 21, 2020

12. JOB OPENING: Postdoctoral Researcher in Computational Plasma Physics

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


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Producing Digital Object Identifiers for NASA Heliophysics Datasets

From: D Aaron Roberts, James Weygand, and Todd King (aaron.roberts at nasa.gov)

As a new member of the DataCite organization (https://datacite.org), NASA Heliophysics (HP) can now “mint” Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) for numerical datasets that will allow authors to cite data products just as they now refer to papers.  This is becoming a requirement of many journals, as it assures that the specific data used in a publication are findable and accessible.  The DOI provides a permanent identifier (PID) for the data, remaining unchanged even if the data are moved to another archive.  The “creators” (authors) of the data must link the DOI to a “landing page” that provides details about the data and methods for accessing them.  NASA HP is providing an easy means to assign DOIs to datasets using the HP Digital Resource Registry (HDRR) by providing landing pages for datasets based on their “SPASE” resource descriptions. As an example, any users of NASA’s OMNI dataset can now use https://doi.org/10.48322/1shr-ht18 for the hourly dataset, and other DOIs for other sets, discoverable by a search with the Heliophysics Data Portal (HDP; https://heliophysicsdata.gsfc.nasa.gov; look for “omni” in the “observatory” entry at the left).  More details for DOI initiation for resources in the HDP can be found at https://hpde.gsfc.nasa.gov/DOI_Initiative_October_2020.pdf.  For further information, and especially to start the process of registering DOIs, contact jweygand at igpp.ucla.edu or at epss.ucla.edu.  We plan to work with Project Scientists and mission team members to make this process as easy as possible.


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Nominations Requested for the Committee on Solar and Space Physics of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

From: Abigail Sheffer (asheffer at nas.edu)

The Committee on Solar and Space Physics (CSSP) provides an independent, authoritative forum for identifying and discussing issues in solar and space physics with the research community, the federal government, and the interested public.  The committee supports scientific progress in solar and space physics (heliophysics) by providing advice to the federal government on the implementation of decadal survey recommendations. 

The CSSP seeking nominations for 2-4 new committee members, including a co-chair. Suggestions with expertise in solar physics or heliospheric physics are particularly helpful. Additional relevant expertise includes, but is not limited to, the following:  Scientific expertise and leadership in geospace physics, space weather, knowledge of the research programs of NASA and NSF, knowledge of the operational programs and needs of NOAA and the DoD for the forecast of space weather events, and expertise in space systems engineering and technology. 

To submit a nomination for yourself or others, please go to: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/5992795/Committee-on-Solar-and-Space-Physics

For more information on the CSSP, please see: https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/committee-on-solar-and-space-physics

If you have questions about the CSSP or the nomination process, please contact Abigail Sheffer at asheffer at nas.edu. Nominations are requested by December 9, 2020.


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Pre-decadal Survey Mission Concept Studies

From: Jared Leisner (jared.s.leisner at nasa.gov)

NASA intends to support a limited number of mission concept studies for development ahead of the next decadal survey. A draft solicitation will be released in the near future, followed by a final solicitation with a proposal deadline in March/April 2021. These studies are anticipated to last ~6 months, and will result in a science white paper and a mission concept white paper submitted by the community to the Decadal Survey Committee. 

Due to the constrained timeline, the current public health situation, and other considerations, NASA strongly encourages the use of mission design capabilities within the community and beyond the NASA system. For reasons of community representation and diversity of ideas, NASA strongly encourages institutions with design capabilities to explore partnerships with interested community members.

Mission concepts for study should be able to address focused science objectives relevant to the Heliophysics Division’s two strategic mission programs. For Solar Terrestrial Probes, a mission concept should address the weakest links in the chain of understanding in order to fundamentally advance the entire heliophysics field. For Living With a Star, a mission concept should provide understanding of specific aspects of the interconnected space environment that impacts life and society, including pre-application space weather, life and habitability (on and beyond Earth), and space environment impacts on robotic and human exploration.

NASA strongly encourages innovative, compelling science investigations that significantly advance and expand the frontiers of the field of heliophysics. Mission concepts for study are not expected to be constrained to a particular cost range, but should not have core science achievable within a MIDEX budget.

Any questions about NASA-supported mission concept studies should be directed to Jared Leisner (jared.s.leisner at nasa.gov).


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The 2020 Baron Marcel Nicolet Medal for Space Weather and Space Climate

From: Jean Lilensten and B. T. Tsurutani (jean.lilensten at univ-grenoble-alpes.fr)

The winner of the 2020 Baron Marcel Nicolet Medal  is Dr. Madhulika Guhathakurta working at NASA in the US (The recipient must have demonstrated a unique ability to bind the space weather community in a spirit of peace and friendship, to educate within the space weather community, to go also beyond the space weather research community and address larger audiences)

Dr. Madhulika Guhathakurta (Lika) has contributed significantly to all the three criteria for the Baron Marcel Nicolet Medal. Lika was one of the founders of the International Living With a Star Program (ILWS), which is the foremost program to unite the space weather communities across the world. The LWS program remains the cornerstone of NASA’s space-weather science efforts. Furthermore, she was the US Space Weather Point-Of-Contact for the United Nation’s Committee on Peaceful Use of Outer Space (COPUOS) program, and was instrumental in getting space weather included as a permanent COPUOS agenda item.

Lika was a prime mover in getting COSPAR/ILWS to develop a space weather Roadmap. Echoes of it can easily be found in space-weather legislation currently making the rounds in the United States.

Lika has made pioneering contributions to space-weather education. She is the driving force behind the Heliophysics Summer School, which focuses on the physics of space weather events from the Sun to the Earth.  The school has educated hundreds of students and science teachers over the past 16 years, and has developed a much-needed curriculum in space-weather science in the form of a series of Heliophysics textbooks. Lika has also supported early-career space-weather scientists through the Jack Eddy postdoctoral program that matches fellows with experienced scientist mentors, with the goal of training the next generation of space-weather scientists.


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The 2020 Alexander Chizhevsky Medal for Space Weather and Space Climate

From: Jean Lilensten and B. T. Tsurutani (jean.lilensten at univ-grenoble-alpes.fr)

The winner of the 2020 Chizhevsky Medal is Dr. Mateja Dumbović, from Croatia (This prize is awarded to a young researcher for outstanding achievements in space weather with an innovative approach). 

Dr. Dumbović has been highly productive, both in terms of her research and as a member of the space weather community. Her research has covered a range of solar/heliospheric topics that are critical to the study of space weather, often bridging the gap between observations and modelling. During her PhD work she was involved in the EU FP7 COMESEP project. She implemented statistical models for the geoeffectiveness of CMEs, which eventually became one of the COMESEP advanced warning tools. She also developed a model for the Forbush decreases seen within in situ CME observations. This tool allows one to infer many properties about an observed CME. This approach is also highly innovative as it provides a manner to identify CMEs when the traditional measurements, such as magnetic field, may not be available. Other researchers have followed her work to infer CMEs during the pre-satellite age at Earth and for current-day Mars. Finally, she has been highly involved in development of the Drag Based Model and the corresponding ensemble version, some of the most user-friendly, readily-available tools for CME arrival time forecasting. She has authored 31 papers (9 first author), which have a combined 580 citations. 

While the scope of her research is impressive, her contributions to the community may even overshadow it. She frequently referees papers, having 42 reviews officially recognized by Publons and has been identified as an “exceptional reviewer” by many notable journals. She has co-convened several sessions, including one at ESWW in 2017. Since 2012 she has been a member of either the local or scientific organizing meeting for 15 different international meetings or workshops. She has also been involved in the mentoring of several Master and PhD students over the past few years. She has also been highly involved in public outreach. Finally, her resume contains a long list of invited seminars and scientific collaborations showing how connected she is to the space weather community and their enthusiastic support of her work.


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MEETING: 2nd Machine Learning in Heliophysics Conference

From: Enrico Camporeale (enrico.camporeale at noaa.gov) on the behalf of the SOC

The 2nd edition of Machine Learning in Heliophysics (ML-Helio 21) will be held on  30 August - 3 September, 2021 in Boulder, CO (USA).
The conference spans all aspects of heliophysics, including studies in solar physics, interplanetary medium, planetary science, the magnetosphere, ionosphere, and space weather. Relevant methods include machine and deep learning, system identification, information theory, combination of physics-based and data-driven modeling, and Bayesian analysis.

The 1st edition was held in Amsterdam in 2019, gathering about 170 scientists  from more than 30 countries. A brief report that summarizes the topics and discussions can be found here:  https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JA027502.

The organizing committee is working under the assumption that an in-person meeting will be possible at that time. Yet, we are planning for an hybrid setting, thus allowing participants to also attend remotely. Of course, plans will be revisited in the upcoming months.

For updated information, please check the conference website: https://ml-helio.github.io/

For any questions or suggestions please contact enrico.camporeale at noaa.gov.


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CALL FOR PAPERS: Special Issue "Interplanetary Medium Variability as Observed in the New Era of Spacecraft Missions"

From: Tommaso Alberti, Lina Hadid, Valeria Mangano, Beatriz Sanchez-Cano (tommaso.alberti at inaf.it)

Dear Colleagues,

we kindly invite you to contribute to the Research Topic 

Interplanetary Medium Variability as Observed in the New Era of Spacecraft Missions

that has been launched jointly on Frontiers in Physics and Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences.

Please note the following deadlines: 
Abstract submission: 31 January 2021
Manuscript submission: 31 May 2021

Website link: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/17364/interplanetary-medium-variability-as-observed-in-the-new-era-of-spacecraft-missions#overview.

About this Research Topic 

Since at least two decades, an increasing number of heliospheric and planetary space missions have been launched (e.g. Helios, Ulysses, Wind, ACE, MAVEN, Akatsuki/Venus Orbiter, Rosetta, Cassini, MEX, VEX) collecting a huge amount of data to characterize the interplanetary medium variability through the Heliosphere. Nowadays, the recently launched space missions (e.g. BepiColombo, Parker Solar Probe, Solar Orbiter) provide more accurate in situ measurements through high-resolution instruments for monitoring the evolution of solar wind parameters and for providing new insights into the physics of various plasma processes related to the Sun and the interplanetary medium.

The new era of spacecraft missions offers a unique opportunity to perform combined multi-point observations of the interplanetary medium variability, on one hand, to study different processes in the solar wind (and their radial evolution as at different Heliospheric distances), such as turbulence properties, small scales structures, instabilities, waves, and dust. On the other hand, it helps to characterize large scales structures and coupling between the solar wind plasma and the different planetary environments. These observations are important for testing pre-existing theoretical models and for advancing numerical simulations to investigate various aspects of both known and unknown physical processes, moving from past accomplishments to future challenges.

This Research Topic will address the interplanetary medium variability as observed in the new era of spacecraft missions. This Research Topic aims to collect Original Research, Brief Research Reports, Perspectives, Reviews, Data Reports as well Hypothesis and Theory manuscripts on new observational findings and their theoretical counterparts coming from both single- and multi-spacecraft investigations that will help in advancing our understanding of the interplanetary medium:
    • Investigating scaling-law behaviors, turbulence, intermittency, large-scale/inertial/kinetic physics;
    • Particle acceleration, shocks, waves, and dust;
    • Wave-particle interactions, solar and in situ magnetic structures, propagation and acceleration of energetic particles;
    • Solar wind - planetary coupling dynamics, localized processes (e.g., reconnection and instabilities, planetary boundaries formation and induced phenomena), cross-scale interactions and multiscale physics. 

Article types, fees, and institutional agreements

    • The current Article Processing Charge to submit type A articles (long articles) to Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences is 1150 USD. Shorter articles such as Mini-Reviews or Perspectives (type B articles) have a fee of 700 USD. More information on fees and the various article types can be found at the following addresses: fees and article types.
    • At Frontiers we want to make sure that every good research has the chance to be published. For this reason, authors who encounter financial barriers can apply for fee support.

We look forward to receiving your contribution and please do not hesitate to contact us if needed!

The Topic Editors
Tommaso Alberti, Lina Hadid, Valeria Mangano, Beatriz Sánchez-Cano


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JOB OPENING: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, Space Scientist, GS-1330-13/14

From: Michele Cash (michele.cash at noaa.gov)

This position is for an Ionospheric Modeler/Project Manager at SWPC.  The incumbent will lead the development of all ionospheric products and modeling efforts at SWPC and directly interface with EMC on the WAM-IPE model system.

The announcements will open on Monday, November 16, 2020 and close on Monday, November 30, 2020. 

For the General Public:
Job Announcement # (DE): NWS-NCEP-2021-0005
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/584173900

For Current Federal Employees and Individuals with Status:
Job Announcement # (MAP): NWS-NCEP-2021-0004
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/584173600

For questions about the position, contact Dr. Michele Cash (michele.cash at noaa.gov)


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JOB OPENING: Ionosphere Scientist - Sensor Developer at The Aerospace Corporation

From: Endawoke Yizengaw (endawoke.yizengaw at aero.org)

Join our team as we help shape the future of space exploration and applications. We are seeking a creative and motivated researcher with ionosphere and related expertise. This role involves conducting fundamental and applied space science research to solve hard problems related to effects of the space environment on space system design and operation. The position focuses on magnetosphere-ionosphere-thermosphere coupling research, radio-frequency propagation through the ionosphere, and the development of innovative magnetometers and GNSS-based sensors. The role also includes reporting on scientific and application results through direct interactions with customers and corporate leadership, participation in scientific conferences, and through peer-reviewed publications.

Apply at: https://aero.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/External/job/El-Segundo/Ionosphere-Scientist--Sensor-Developer_R000307  


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JOB OPENING: Associate Research Physicist (Postdoctoral Position) at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

From: Eun-Hwa Kim (ehkim at pppl.gov)

The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) seeks a highly motivated and organized, post doc level Associate Research Physicist. The candidate will be actively involved with ongoing research projects for the DOE, NASA, and the NSF. The projects will revolve around theory and modeling on space plasma waves in various frequency ranges that include ultra-low frequency waves and high frequency electron waves in the Earth’s and planetary magnetospheres.

The Associate Research Physicist will be expected to perform postdoctoral fellow's duties, including publication of original research, attending conferences and workshops and support of PPPL research projects. 

Must have fluency in modern programming (FORTRAN, Matlab, Python, IDL, etc.) and a strong background in plasma waves is highly desired.

Candidates should provide a curriculum vitae (including detailed education, awards, publications, research experiences), cover letter, and three references (including names and contact information). 

The successful applicant will work primarily with Dr. Eun-Hwa Kim (ehkim at pppl.gov). The appointment is for approximately one year, with a possible renewal based on successful applicant performance and funding resources

For more information and details on how to apply, visit the full posting:
https://pppl-princeton.icims.com/jobs/11097/associate-research-physicist/job


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JOB OPENING: NCAR HAO & ASP Postdoc Positions, Application Deadline December 21, 2020

From: Matthias Rempel (rempel at ucar.edu)

HAO offers two-year postdoctoral fellowships to early career Ph.D. scientists interested in theoretical, experimental and observational studies of the Sun and Earth’s upper atmosphere. The HAO postdoc program is closely coordinated with the postdoc program of NCAR’s Advanced Study Program (ASP) and HAO postdocs will receive the same salary and benefits as ASP postdocs.

Successful applicants will pursue research, in collaboration with members of the HAO scientific staff, on a wide range of topics, including study of the Earth’s ionosphere, thermosphere, and magnetosphere; observations and simulations of coronal mass ejections; spectropolarimetric observations and interpretation using HAO instrumentation and data inversion tools; probing solar magnetism through observations and modeling; and instrument development. Postdoctoral fellows are appointed for a maximum of two years beginning typically in October 2021; some flexibility is possible on the specific times of arrival and departure, but fellowships must begin no later than 1/31/2022.

See https://www2.hao.ucar.edu/partnerships/visitor-program/postdoctoral-fellows for further detail, or contact Caitlyn Quinn Erdesz (cquinn at ucar.edu) or Matthias Rempel (rempel at ucar.edu) for further information.

The application deadline is December 21, 2020.

HAO Fellowships will be granted on the basis of proven scientific ability and relevance to HAO research programs. Applications are accepted through NCAR’s Advanced Study Program (https://www.asp.ucar.edu). Applicants who specify HAO as a host laboratory will automatically be considered for both HAO and ASP fellowships, and offers will be made no later than April 2021. See the ASP website for complete application details: https://www.asp.ucar.edu/postdocs/prospective-applicants. 


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JOB OPENING: Postdoctoral Researcher in Computational Plasma Physics

From: Maria Elena Innocenti (mariaelena.innocenti at rub.de)

The Institute for Theoretical Physics I of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Bochum, Germany) invites applications from candidates (m/f/d) with interest in multi-scale plasma processes (magnetic reconnection, turbulence, instabilities) in the heliospheric environment, and in innovative numerical methods for the simulation of plasmas.

The ideal candidate (m/f/d)should be very familiar with at least three of the following items:

 1. plasma physics, space physics
 2. numerical methods for plasma simulations: kinetic (preferentially PIC) or MHD
 3. computer programming in Python, C and/or C++
 4. High Performance Computing, parallel programming
 5. solar, magnetospheric and/or solar wind data analysis (simulation and/ or observations)

The candidate (m/f/d) is expected to work well in an international environment and to participate in the teaching activities of the group.

For more information, please contact Maria Elena Innocenti at mariaelena.innocenti at rub.de and refer to: https://www.stellenwerk-bochum.de/en/jobboerse/best-nr-357817-postdoctoral-researcher-mfd-3-years-3983-hw-201113-422395

To apply, please send a CV, list of publication and statement of research interest (~ 1 page) to mariaelena.innocenti at rub.de

Travel expenses for interviews cannot be refunded.

At Ruhr-Universität Bochum, we wish to promote careers of women in areas in which they are underrepresented, and we would therefore like to encourage female candidates to send us their applications. Applications from suitable candidates with severe disabilities and other applicants with equal legal status are likewise most welcome.

Requirements
A Ph.D. in space physics or similar discipline is required

Ad data
Type of employment: Full time
Period of employment: three years
Compensation: E13 in the German salary scale
Application deadline: Thursday, 3rd of December 2020 - 11:59PM
Application mail: mariaelena.innocenti at rub.de


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