[SPA] SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER, Volume XXVIII, Issue 49

[Newsletter Editor]

AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION
SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER
Volume XXVIII, Issue 49
Sep.28,2021

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Table of Contents

1. Webinar on Heliophysics Decadal Survey for Early Career Researchers

2. NSF Plasma Physics Webinar on October 1st

3. Upcoming SHIELD Webinar: Fri October 8th, 2021 2:00 PM EST -  Enabling Scientific Discovery

4. NSF ECosystem for Leading Innovation in Plasma Science and Engineering (ECLIPSE) 

5. SESSION: TDM@ ESWW2021: Current Status, Issues and Space Weather Applications of the Global Neutron Monitor Network

6. Topical Collection: “Applications of Statistical Methods and Machine Learning in the Space Sciences” in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences – section Astrostatistics

7. The Different Spatio-temporal Scales of the Solar Magnetism

8. JOB OPENING: Space Physics Group, Princeton University Department of Astrophysical Sciences

9. JOB OPENING: Assistant Research Scientist, UC Berkeley Space Sciences Lab.

10. JOB OPENING: Space Weather/Data Science Post-doctoral Research Associate

11. JOB OPENING: Postdoctoral Position at High Altitude Observatory, Lockheed Martin Solar & Astrophysics Laboratory

12. JOB OPENING: Postdoctoral Research Position in Magnetospheric Physics at Rice University

13. PhD Position Jupiter's Magnetosphere

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


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Webinar on Heliophysics Decadal Survey for Early Career Researchers

From: Tuija Pulkkinen (tuija at umich.edu)

WEBINAR SERIES FOR EARLY-CAREER RESEARCHERS: Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics

The upcoming Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics (Heliophysics) will generate recommendations to advance and expand solar and space physics frontiers in the current decade, guiding federal investments by describing the highest priority science goals. Input and participation from the research community-particularly from graduate students, postdocs, and early tenure-track professionals–is critical for the success of this effort.

Please join the National Academies for a two-part webinar series designed for early-career researchers to learn how you can get involved in the decadal survey process on September 30 and October 18 at 2pm ET.

An upcoming call for white papers will ask the research community to share their thoughts with the committee on science goals, research strategies, and the state of the profession, including concerns about diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion. During the webinars, previous decadal contributors will share their insights on writing influential white papers.

Learn more and register to attend at http://sspdecadal.eventbrite.com.


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NSF Plasma Physics Webinar on October 1st

From: Vyacheslav (Slava) Lukin (vlukin at nsf.gov)

NSF Plasma Physics Program Semi-Annual Webinar

When: Oct 1, 2021 03:00 PM – 4:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) 

Agenda:
1) NSF and plasma physics program news and updates
2) New and recurring funding opportunities
3) Extensive Q&A

Register in advance for this webinar:
https://nsf.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_1b5xjOJcTR-VIrU-XQZLMg

Or an H.323/SIP room system:
    H.323: 161.199.138.10 (US West) or 161.199.136.10 (US East)
    Meeting ID: 160 372 6379
    Passcode: 941672
    SIP: 1603726379 at sip.zoomgov.com
    Passcode: 941672

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.


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Upcoming SHIELD Webinar: Fri October 8th, 2021 2:00 PM EST -  Enabling Scientific Discovery

From: SHIELD Drive Science Center (shieldoutreach at bu.edu)

Upcoming SHIELD Webinar: Fri October 8th, 2021 2:00 PM EST

Enabling Scientific Discovery

Speaker: Andrea I. Razzaghi

Andrea will share her journey from African American girl growing up in Washington, DC to senior NASA leader immersed in science, technology, and engineering. She will talk about the interplay between science and engineering in making the unknown known. Andrea will share exhilarating highlights from past missions where she played a significant role in enabling scientific discovery and will provide of preview of some exciting missions to come.

Friday, October 8
2 PM EST

Register Here: https://bostonu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0vdemvrTMjGt0ECcz2tI1Prb36DWq7eou_


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NSF ECosystem for Leading Innovation in Plasma Science and Engineering (ECLIPSE) 

From: Vyacheslav (Slava) Lukin (vlukin at nsf.gov)

Recognizing that plasma science is a transdisciplinary field where fundamental studies in many disciplines, including plasma physics, plasma chemistry, materials science, and space science, come together to advance knowledge for discovery and technological innovation, the US National Science Foundation (NSF) has launched the new program ECosystem for Leading Innovation in Plasma Science and Engineering (ECLIPSE). This program capitalizes on opportunities for fundamental plasma science investigations to address problems of societal and technological need within the scope of science and engineering supported by NSF. ECLIPSE was stimulated by the recommendations of the Physics 2020 Decadal Assessment of Plasma Science, “Plasma Science: Enabling Technology, Sustainability, Security, and Exploration” (https://www.na-tionalacademies.org/our-work/a-decadal-assessment-of-plasma-science). The ECLIPSE program was created to foster an inclusive community of scientists and engineers and spans multiple NSF Directorates in the pursuit of translational research at the interface of fundamental plasma science and technological innovation.

Proposals submitted for consideration by the ECLIPSE program should satisfy the following criteria:
(1) clearly articulate the fundamental scientific and/or engineering challenge in plasma science and engineering that may be relevant to more than one NSF program; and
(2) provide a substantive discussion of how a resolution of the stated scientific and/or engineering challenge will address specific societal and/or technological needs identified as priorities by the research communities, policymakers and/or other stakeholders. Depending on the nature of the proposal, the latter may be described as the Intellectual Merit or the Broader Impact of the proposed activity. 

The program also encourages inclusion of specific efforts to increase diversity of the ECLIPSE community and to broaden participation of under-represented groups in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) as Broader Impacts of proposed work.

Proposals should be submitted to one of the participating core programs as described in the ECLIPSE program description: https://beta.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/ecosystem-leading-innovation-plasma-sci-ence-and-engineering-eclipse.

NSF Contacts:
Directorate for Geosciences
• Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences: Dr. Mangala Sharma, msharma at nsf.gov.
Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences
• Physics: Dr. Jose Lopez, joslopez at nsf.gov, and Dr. Vyacheslav (Slava) Lukin, vlukin at nsf.gov
Directorate for Engineering
• Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems: Dr. Raymond Adomaitis, radomait at nsf.gov.
• Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems: Dr. Rosa Lukaszew, rlukasze at nsf.gov.
• Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation: Dr. Jordan Berg, jberg at nsf.gov, and Dr. Thomas Kuech, tkuech at nsf.gov.


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SESSION: TDM@ ESWW2021: Current Status, Issues and Space Weather Applications of the Global Neutron Monitor Network

From: Alexander Mishev, Athanasios Papaioannou, Danislav Sapundjiev  (atpapaio at astro.noa.gr)

For the last ~ 65 years, the global neutron monitor (NM) network provides continuous records of cosmic ray (CR) variations. Over the years NMs have been extensively used as the main multi-instrument tool for the analysis of a specific class of events in which solar ions are accelerated to quasi and relativistic energies, leading to sudden increases of CR intensity registered at these ground-based detectors, entitled as: ground level enhancements (GLEs). Nowadays, the majority of the existing NMs provide their data to the neutron monitor database (NMDB), which offers real time and historical data as well as information on NM records. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the applications of the global NM network for space-weather purposes, including the establishment of alerts for GLEs, aircrew doses prediction and monitoring services. The session is devoted to recent works related to all aspects of space weather. Special focus will be given to modeling aiming at the nowcasting of aircrew dose exposure, specifically during GLEs. The usage and comparison of the global NM network measurements and outputs within satellite-born instruments, as well as, other ground based ones, which provide complementary information to NM data and can be used to unfold open issues as e.g. spectra evolution during GLEs are relevant to this session.

Current open issues, projects for expansion are also in the focus of this session. Reports of future projects and services related to space weather and applications of the existing NM network are also welcome.

Please fill in the Questionnaire at:  https://forms.gle/h9Zt9x1p1mxyXgn9A
and provide your feedback !


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Topical Collection: “Applications of Statistical Methods and Machine Learning in the Space Sciences” in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences – section Astrostatistics

From: Bala Poduval, Karly Pitman, Olga Vekhoglyadova (bala.poduval at unh.edu)

Statistical methods have been part of scientific data analysis in the space sciences for decades and machine learning (ML) is becoming an inevitable tool in the analysis of huge volumes of spacecraft data. Data science (DS) and ML are revolutionizing the way scientific problems in the space sciences are conceptualized and addressed, and have shown to be greatly successful in modeling and data analysis. In the wake of the immense volume of data acquired by the numerous spacecraft missions, methods such as time series analysis, segmentation, Bayesian methods, probabilistic inference and surrogate models, to mention a few, are critical for future scientific findings and discoveries. Though ML and deep neural networks are powerful tools for data mining and pattern recognition, and to make predictions, the interpretability and explainability of the models built on these techniques have not been explored adequately until recently.

Since statistical methods form an integral part of ML techniques, a review of these methods as applied to space sciences is timely and a virtual conference, “Applications of Statistical Methods and Machine Learning in the Space Sciences”, was held during 17-21 May 2021 (http://spacescience.org/workshops/mlconference2021.php) that brought together experts to leverage the advancements in statistics, data science, methods of artificial intelligence (AI) such as machine learning and deep learning, and information theory to improve the analytic models and their predictive capabilities making use of the enormous data in the space sciences. The multidisciplinary conference was open to students and researchers from the space sciences (solar physics, magnetospheric studies and aeronomy, planetary sciences and exoplanets and galaxies) who implement methods of advanced statistics and AI in their research, from computer science and AI, statistics and data science, and from industry. In addition to keynote lectures and contributed talks/posters, there were discussion sessions designated to handle different topics on each each day with emphasis on the interpretability and explainability of the ML models.

The topical collection “Applications of Statistical Methods and Machine Learning in the Space Sciences” (https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/25408/applications-of-statistical-methods-and-machine-learning-in-the-space-sciences) will consist of works presented at the virtual conference. In addition to this, invite contributions from the broader scientific community in the form of original research articles, reviews/mini-reviews, brief reports and commentaries on the present scenario and scope of statistical methods and ML in the space sciences and relevant to the topics covered in the virtual conference. Abstracts are due by 1st October 2021 and the manuscripts by 17th December 2021.

We look forward to receiving your manuscripts,
Bala Poduval, Karly Pitman, Olga Verkhoglyadova (Topic Editors)


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The Different Spatio-temporal Scales of the Solar Magnetism

From: Umberto Villante (ssc at aquila.infn.it)

The International School of Space Science of the Consorzio Interuniversitario per la Fisica Spaziale organizes a Course on “The different spatio-temporal scales of the solar magnetism”, to be held in L’Aquila, Italy, 11-15 April, 2022 directed by Prof. F. Zuccarello (Università di Catania, Italy) and Prof. L.Bellot Rubio (Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucía, IAA-CSIC, Spain). 
The School is aimed at providing an in-depth overview of the magnetic phenomena occurring in our star, as well as at presenting some of the most recent tools that can allow to directly tackle the analysis of the problems that are still present in the comprehension of solar magnetic phenomena, through hands-on sessions.
The main topics that will be examined are: the global magnetic field of the Sun and the solar cycle; the small-scale magnetic field: emergence and evolution; the global and local dynamo; the sunspots: processes of formation and evolution and the fine-structure of umbrae and penumbrae; magnetic field instabilities, eruptive events and their impact on Space Weather. 
Applications are due before November 21, 2021.
For more information visit http://www.cifs-isss.org/ or send an e-mail to ssc at aquila.infn.it


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JOB OPENING: Space Physics Group, Princeton University Department of Astrophysical Sciences

From: Dan White (spacephysics at princeton.edu)

JOB OPPORTUNITY: Postdoctoral Research Fellow and/or Senior Research Positions in Space Physics at Princeton University

The Space Physics Group (see https://spacephysics.princeton.edu/) in the Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University, anticipates offering one or more postdoctoral or more senior research positions in the observational study of Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs) and Energetic Neutral Atoms (ENAs).

The Space Physics Group researches many aspects of space physics (aka Heliophysics), with a strong emphasis on experimental and observational space plasma physics. The Group currently leads NASA's Parker Solar Probe (PSP) Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun (ISOIS) energetic particle instrument suite.  The Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) mission and the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) mission, which will launch in 2025 to explore the details of particle acceleration and the Sun's interaction with the local interstellar medium.

The successful candidate(s) will play a significant role in the analysis and publication of SEP observations from ISOIS and ENA observations from IBEX and must have both significant prior experiences analyzing at least one of these type(s) of particle data, as well as the proven ability to lead and participate in the rapid development and publication of numerous excellent research articles. A Ph.D. is required in physics, astrophysics, space science, or a closely related field.

Interested persons must apply online at https://puwebp.princeton.edu/AcadHire/apply/application.xhtml?listingId=22241, Selecting Space Physics as the position you are interested in.

For further inquiries, contact spacephysics at princeton.edu


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JOB OPENING: Assistant Research Scientist, UC Berkeley Space Sciences Lab.

From: Andrew Poppe (poppe at berkeley.edu)

The Space Sciences Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley seeks applications for a full-time (100%) Assistant Research Scientist with an expected start date between October 1, 2021 and January 15, 2022. The Assistant Research Scientist will work in the Planetary and Astrobiology group at SSL, focusing on the investigation of space plasma interactions with planetary bodies, specifically moons and other small bodies throughout the solar system. Research is to be conducted via numerical modeling, data analysis of spacecraft observations, or a combination thereof. Other duties include presentation and publication of results, and the submission of extramural grant funding proposals.

For more information about the position, including required qualifications, application materials, and deadlines, go to https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF03132.

The position will remain open until filled. For questions, please email Dr. Andrew Poppe at poppe at berkeley.edu. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. 


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JOB OPENING: Space Weather/Data Science Post-doctoral Research Associate

From: Elizabeth MacDonald (eliz.macdonald at gmail.com)

The New Mexico Consortium (www.newmexicoconsortium.org) has an immediate opening for a space weather / data science post-doctoral research associate for the award-winning Aurorasaurus citizen science project (www.aurorasaurus.org). Duties will include analysis of space weather data (specifically related to the prediction of aurora during storm and substorm times), and associated crowd-sourced observations of aurora. The post-doc’s objective will be to further develop a nowcast model of the aurora that incorporates ground-truth human observations. A secondary objective will be using citizen science observations to further understanding of the newly recognized STEVE phenomenon (relevant references can be found at http://bit.ly/MacDonaldGoogleScholar). Robust programming experience, initiative, and a strong history of publications are required. Experience and enthusiasm with mobile technologies, social media and web design are appreciated. A Ph.D. is preferred but exceptional candidates at other levels will be considered. We are committed to increasing equity in STEM fields and share a vision that public participation helps drive innovation and diversity in science, society, and education.

This is a one year, full-time project with an option for a one year extension contingent on performance. Applications will be reviewed as soon as received and the position will be open until filled. The position is located at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD, though team members are located in WA and NM; remote work will be considered. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Drs. Liz MacDonald (e.a.macdonald at nasa.gov) or Matthew Heavner (matt.heavner at gmail.com) with any questions.

New Mexico Consortium is an independent nonprofit Equal Opportunity Employer, M/F/Vet/Dis, E-verify employer. Please apply using our online application or by mail to NMC, 4200 W. Jemez Road, #301, Los Alamos, NM 87544. Include a resume, cover letter, code sample, and 3 reference contacts. Aurorasaurus is an interdisciplinary innovative project funded by NSF and NASA. We collaborate with multidisciplinary groups such as the Assimilative Mapping of Geospace Observations (AMGeO) project to improve public nowcasting of aurora with social media and volunteer contributions.


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JOB OPENING: Postdoctoral Position at High Altitude Observatory, Lockheed Martin Solar & Astrophysics Laboratory

From: Georgios Chintzoglou (gchintzo at lmsal.com)

A postdoctoral position (Postdoctoral Fellow I) is available within the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) High Altitude Observatory (HAO) in Boulder, CO. The position is initially for 1 year and has the possibility for extension subject to funding availability. The work location will be at LMSAL in Palo Alto, CA. Work will be conducted within a joint HAO/LMSAL research project and includes pre-defined research topics and deliverables. The work will be directed by LMSAL and HAO scientists.

The Postdoctoral Fellow will conduct analysis of Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)/Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI)/Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) observations of evolving flare productive active regions, specifically emerging active regions that host collisional polarity inversion lines during their evolution, using a combination of analysis techniques on observational data complemented by a comparison of numerical simulations with observations.

Successful candidates must hold a Ph.D. or Sc.D. degree in solar physics or space physics and related fields or must be able to complete such a degree and finish all thesis revisions and defense before starting the appointment. The applicant is expected to have good knowledge of solar physics, specifically of the physics of the solar corona and transient events, and should be skilled in computer languages, such as IDL (SolarSoft) & Python. The applicant should have the ability to work independently and collaboratively and possess strong written and oral communication skills.

The starting date is flexible and will start as soon as possible after November 1st, 2021.  

Applications received by November 1st will receive first priority. Submit a resume, cover letter, a 2-page maximum research statement, and 3 letters of reference following the instructions posted in the application website:  https://bit.ly/3AHmNXy.


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JOB OPENING: Postdoctoral Research Position in Magnetospheric Physics at Rice University

From: Frank Toffoletto (toffo at rice.edu)

Postdoctoral Research Position in Magnetospheric Physics at Rice University
The magnetospheric modeling group at Rice University invites applications for a postdoctoral research associate to join our efforts on understanding the fundamental physics of the inner magnetosphere, the plasma sheet, the ring current and magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling. The successful applicant will interface with ongoing research programs that concentrate on theoretical and numerical modeling of global-scale plasmas and magnetic and electric fields in Earth's magnetosphere.

Candidates should supply a curriculum vitae, a brief statement of research interests, and names of three references should be sent to Professor Frank Toffoletto. More information about the position, as well as a link for application, can be found at:

https://emdz.fa.us2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1001/job/460/?utm_medium=jobshare

Initial appointment is anticipated for one year, with renewal likely for a second year, contingent on performance and availability of research funds. In the case of an exceptional applicant with substantial relevant post-doctoral experience, it may be possible to make the appointment at the level of research scientist, which is a regular-staff position, not limited to a fixed duration but subject to available research funds. The position will remain open until it is filled. 

Rice University is an affirmative-action/equal-opportunity employer. 


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PhD Position Jupiter's Magnetosphere

From: Norbert Krupp (krupp at mps.mpg.de)

Jupiter’s magnetosphere and the space plasma environment of the Galilean moons

The European Space Agency (ESA) is currently preparing to launch the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE), its first mission to explore the Jovian system. JUICE aims to characterize the conditions that may have led to the emergence of habitable environments among the Jovian icy satellites. Its primary target will be Ganymede, the solar system’s largest moon and the only one known to generate its own magnetic field. Ganymede is believed to contain an ocean of liquid water below its icy surface, making it a prime target for astrobiological investigations. JUICE will orbit Ganymede in the final year of its mission (the first one to attempt this at a planetary moon other than Earth’s), allowing us to study its surface, atmosphere, subsurface and mini-magnetosphere in unprecedented detail. Two more Jovian moons that are believed to host subsurface oceans (Europa and Callisto) will also be explored in-situ by JUICE with numerous targeted flybys before the Ganymede orbit phase. During that period, JUICE will also perform an extensive survey of Jupiter’s magnetosphere, the environment within which the aforementioned moons orbit, as well as study the planet, its atmosphere, rings and neutral tori. JUICE will achieve its goals through observations by 11 science instruments that will characterize the interplay of the different physical processes that take place among the various components of the complex jovian system and impact the way we understand its moons and their potential oceans.

Call for applications: IMPRS PhD Positions in Solar System Science
in MPS Goettingen, Germany / Deadline 1 November 2021
https://www.mps.mpg.de/phd/applynow


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