[SPA] SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER, Volume XXIX, Issue 68

[Newsletter Editor]

AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION
SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER
Volume XXIX, Issue 68
Nov.17,2022

***********************************************************************

Table of Contents

1. SPA Section Events and Town Halls

2. CALL TO ACTION: Ongoing Congressional Matters related to NASA Heliophysics Funding

3. Special Issue in Polar Science

4. JOB OPENING: Tenure-track Faculty Position Planetary Science at CU-Boulder

5. JOB OPENING: Post-doctoral Position in Space Physics at the University of Minnesota

6. JOB OPENING: Postdoctoral Researcher in the Solar-Heliospheric Physics Research Group at the University of California Berkeley’s Space Sciences Laboratory (UCB/SSL)  

7. JOB OPENING: Postdoctoral Position in Space Physics (MMS), University of Murcia, Spain

8. JOB OPENING: Postdoc Positions at Queen Mary University of London

9. PhD Position at the University of Oulu

***********************************************************************

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


1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1

SPA Section Events and Town Halls

From: Geoffrey Reeves (geoff at reevesresearch.org)

The SPA leadership team would like to draw your attention to various SPA-related events at the Fall Meeting in Chicago. All of the times listed are Central Standard Time. Please check the schedule though to make sure they are correct and haven't changed. The SPA events are ticketed (as required by AGU), must be booked in advance, and are in person only. We underestimated the enthusiasm for the Student Early Career event which is, unfortunately, at room capacity. 

This year we were not able to schedule the traditional NASA/NSF Agency Night without conflicting with other events or scheduling a virtual-only meeting. There are, however, a number of town halls organized by the agencies themselves which are listed below. If there is a desire to do so then SPA will investigate hosting a virtual Agency Night at some time in the year that isn't as busy as AGU time.

Hope to see you in Chicago!

* Named Lectures

Monday Dec 12, 11:00-12:30 AM: Eugene Parker Lecture 

Monday Dec 12, 2:45-4:15 PM: Marcel Nicolet Lecture

Monday Dec 12, 4:45-6:15 PM: William Hanson & SPA Award Winners Lectures


* SPA Events

Monday Dec 12, 6:30-8:00 PM: SPA Student and Early Career Mixer (sold out)

Tuesday Dec 13, 6:30-8:00 PM: SPA Section Gathering/Reception & Awards


* SPA-related Town Halls

Monday Dec 12, 6:30-7:30 PM: NASA LWS Town Hall

Monday Dec 12, 6:30-7:30 PM: Space Weather Advisory Group (SWAG) Town Hall

Tuesday Dec 13, 12:45-1:45 PM: NASA Decadal Survey Town Hall

Wednesday Dec 14, 12:45-1:45: NSF Geosciences Town Hall

Wednesday Dec 14, 6:30-7:30: NASA SMD Open Source Science Initiative

Thursday Dec 15, 12:45-1:45 AM: NASA GDC Community Town Hall

* Other

Wednesday Dec 14, 6:00-8:00 PM	Honors Ceremony


2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2

CALL TO ACTION: Ongoing Congressional Matters related to NASA Heliophysics Funding

From: Ian Cohen (Ian.Cohen at jhuapl.edu)

A recurring message that the SPA Advocacy Committee hears from Congressional staffers is that the members of the Appropriations Committees and Subcommittees are cognizant of what they hear from their colleagues in the House and Senate, including those members who are not directly involved in the Appropriations process. It would therefore considerably help if the members of the Appropriations Committees and CJS Appropriations Subcommittee were to hear (even informally) about the importance of Heliophysics from other members of Congress.

This is where you come in! Please consider taking ten minutes to CALL your (current) members of Congress, both the Representative(s) from the district in which you live or work (or both!) and the Senators from your State, regardless of their political party.  You can find contact information through the “Find your member by address” box under “How to Contact your Member” at  https://www.congress.gov/members. Your message need not be lengthy or go into specific details, but it should stress (i) the importance of Heliophysics research for your district, state, and the Nation, and (ii) the need for robust continued funding to continue this important work.

Overall, the key message to be delivered is twofold: (1) Support the Senate CJS $828.4M mark for NASA Heliophysics in FY23, and (2) Advocate to OMB for the $1.1B FY24 request that will enable NASA Heliophysics to continue its important mission. If you are more comfortable solely addressing the more immediate need of item (1) for now, that is fine.

Your messaging can include information on the kind of work you do, others who are, and examples of the value of this work to the members of your district / state. You can talk about the importance of Heliophysics in understanding, predicting, and mitigating the effects of space weather; the impact on education at all levels in your community; and the exciting results that have emerged from your work or from that of others within the pertinent jurisdiction. But above all, MAKE IT PERSONAL. We are not providing a “script” for such calls so that these personal touches come through.

To be effective in this federal funding cycle, you should plan on sending your e-mail SOON (i.e., BEFORE AGU)!  We strongly encourage you to participate in this effort – please make your voice heard!

Additional details for the community on the status of the FY23 and FY24 NASA Heliophysics budgets can be found at https://tinyurl.com/SPAHelioBudgetDetails.


3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3

Special Issue in Polar Science

From: Anand Singh (aks at ncpor.res.in)

The special issue "Research Advances from Larsemann Hills, Antarctica: International Cooperation and Future Prospects" aims to compile new findings based on the research conducted in and around Larsemann Hills, including Vestfold and Reinbolt Hills. 

New research or review articles in the field of atmospheric sciences, biology, earth sciences, glaciology, engineering and technology, etc. are invited.

The submission of manuscripts is now open until 31 Mar 2023. 

https://www.journals.elsevier.com/polar-science/forthcoming-special-issues/research-advances-from-larsemann-hills-antarctica-international-cooperation-and-future-prospects


4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4

JOB OPENING: Tenure-track Faculty Position Planetary Science at CU-Boulder

From: Fran Bagenal (bagenal at colorado.edu)

The Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado invites
applications for a tenure-track faculty position to start in August 2023 in the general field of
planetary science. The opening is targeted at the level of Assistant Professor, but
experienced candidates with appropriate credentials will be considered for an Associate
Professor appointment. Depending on the background and teaching interest, the successful
candidate would also be affiliated with the appropriate academic department at CU
(Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Physics,
Geological Sciences, or Aerospace Engineering Sciences), and will be expected to teach at
the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Areas of interest include: Research approaches from remote sensing, to instrument
development, to space missions, to laboratory studies and to theory, addressing research
targets both within our solar system and exoplanets, and applying fields such as
atmospheric science, planetary geology, astrobiology, geophysics, space environments,
dynamics, etc.

The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to building a culturally diverse community
of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to contributing to an inclusive campus environment.
We are an Equal Opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Evaluation of applications starts November 28, 2022 . Position will remain open until filled.

For further information about LASP see https://lasp.colorado.edu/home/

Full job posting at https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/?jobId=43550


5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5

JOB OPENING: Post-doctoral Position in Space Physics at the University of Minnesota

From: Bob Lysak (lysak001 at umn.edu)

We are seeking a post-doctoral associate specializing the theory and modeling of space plasmas at the University of Minnesota. This position in support of our NASA project, “Theory and Modeling of Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupling and Auroral Particle Acceleration at Earth and Jupiter.”   This project investigates the theory of auroral particle acceleration in the magnetospheres of Earth and Jupiter, in particular the role of kinetic Alfvén waves in coupling the magnetosphere and ionosphere.  The main goal of the proposed research is to understand the physical processes leading to auroral particle acceleration at the Earth and Jupiter.  We are addressing this goal through the combination of different numerical codes focusing on the propagation of Alfven waves and their role in the acceleration of auroral particles.

Successful applicants must hold a Ph.D. in Physics, Astrophysics or a related field with experience in the numerical modeling of plasmas in planetary environments.  The successful applicant should have excellent theoretical and numerical skills, as well as some understanding of the types of data returned by space missions studying auroral processes.
For more information and to apply online, go to https://hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/352475.  Direct any other questions to Bob Lysak (lysak001 at umn.edu). The application deadline is January 15, 2023, or until position filled.


6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6

JOB OPENING: Postdoctoral Researcher in the Solar-Heliospheric Physics Research Group at the University of California Berkeley’s Space Sciences Laboratory (UCB/SSL)  

From: Christina Lee (clee at ssl.berkeley.edu)

The Solar and Heliospheric Physics Research Group at the UC Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory is seeking a candidate to fill one full-time (100%) Postdoctoral position under the general supervision of Dr. Christina Lee. The successful candidate will collaborate with Dr. Lee and the project team members to investigate the role of magnetic connectivity to interplanetary shocks (e.g., driven by coronal mass ejections, CMEs) in determining the large longitudinal extents of solar energetic particle (SEPs) events observed from multiple vantage points throughout the inner heliosphere. A combination of analysis of existing in-situ data sets and remote observations and data-driven modeling will be used to carry out the investigation.

The ideal candidate will have skills and/or experience with

- multi-spacecraft data analysis of quiescent solar wind, CME, SIR, and SEP event intervals from in-situ observations (e.g., ACE, GOES, STEREO-A, ACE, PSP, Solar Orbiter, BepiColombo, MAVEN, etc.) 

- remote sensing data analysis of multiwavelength solar disk and coronagraph data

- 3D MHD simulations of solar wind and CME propagation using coupled solar corona-solar wind models (e.g., Wang-Sheeley-Arge (WSA) + ENLIL, EUFORIA, Gamera, etc.) 

- modeling transport of solar energetic particles

- programming and utilizing software tools in IDL, Matlab, or Python

For more information about the position, including required qualifications, application materials, and deadlines, go to https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF03705.

The position will remain open until filled. For questions, please email Dr. Christina Lee at clee (at) ssl.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.


7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7

JOB OPENING: Postdoctoral Position in Space Physics (MMS), University of Murcia, Spain

From: Sergio Toledo-Redondo (sergio.toledo at um.es)

The Department of Electromagnetism and Electronics at the University of Murcia, Spain, opens a call for applications for a Postdoctoral contract, financed by the Ministry of Science, in the frame of the R+D project: The Oxygen Plasma Cloak in the near-Earth space environment.
Application deadline

Until filled. Applications received before 31st December 2022 will receive full consideration. The appointment is expected to begin during the first semester of 2023.

Project description	

The successful candidate will perform original research in the frame of the MMS mission. Magnetic reconnection is a  universal process that converts magnetic energy into kinetic energy. It is of particular interest in space plasmas, where it drives large-scale phenomena such as coronal mass ejections or magnetospheric storms.  The project is centered in studying the effect of the multiple ion populations present in the magnetosphere and that participate in magnetic reconnection. The successful candidate will analyze in-situ data of the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission to advance our understanding of the role of ionospheric populations in regulating the solar wind – magnetosphere coupling. The candidate is expected to collaborate with scientists at various international institutions, and attend international conferences.

What we offer

• Work at the University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain. Murcia is the seventh city of Spain in terms of population (~400 000 habitants), well known for its mild climate and its ~3000 hours of Sun per year on average. It is a vibrant University city located ~50 km from the Mediterranean sea.
• Initial contract until 31st November 2024. Salary is 36,966 Eur gross/year.
• Medical expenses of the successful candidate and family residing in Spain are covered by the National Health system.
• Attendance to conferences and hardware are covered by the project.

What we look for

• Strong academic record with experience in plasma physics or related field.
• Previous experience in data analysis of the MMS mission will be an asset.

Eligibility

• PhD in a field relevant to the project (e.g. physics, astronomy, mathematics, computer science).

Application procedure and information about the position

Send an email to sergio.toledo at um.es with subject ‘Postdoc MMS 2023’, including a motivation letter, CV, publication list, and two reference contacts.

Any questions about the position can be sent to sergio.toledo at um.es


8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8

JOB OPENING: Postdoc Positions at Queen Mary University of London

From: Christopher Chen (christopher.chen at qmul.ac.uk)

We are advertising up to two postdoc positions to work in Dr Christopher Chen’s UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship (FLF) team on the research programme “Exploring New Regions of Space: Fundamentals and Impacts of Astrophysical Plasma Turbulence”. The project involves spacecraft data analysis, lab plasma experiments, theory & simulation, and space weather research, so applicants with expertise in any of these areas (and interest in getting involved in the others) are encouraged. The research aims are to understand turbulence as a fundamental process in space/lab/astrophysics, the role it plays in controlling the dynamics of these systems, and modelling its effects in space weather. The FLF offers extensive dedicated career support for all team members.

The Space & Astrophysical Plasmas group at QMUL has a strong track record, going back to the pioneering work of Vincenzo Ferraro in the 1950s, and is part of the Astronomy Unit, which also hosts other leading research groups in Cosmology & Relativity and Extrasolar Planets & Planet Formation, with its members taking key roles in major international projects. The Astronomy Unit is part of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, within the School of Physical and Chemical Sciences. In the UK’s most recent national research assessment (2021 REF), 98% of the Department's research was rated internationally excellent and world leading (3*/4*). The School runs comprehensive undergraduate and masters taught programmes in Physics and Astrophysics, maintains a successful PhD research training programme, and undertakes an extensive range of outreach activities.

For more information about these positions and to apply, please see: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/jobs/vacancies/items/7718.html

The deadline for applications is 18th December 2022.

For informal enquiries please contact Dr Christopher Chen (christopher.chen at qmul.ac.uk).


9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9

PhD Position at the University of Oulu

From: Heikki Vanhamäki (heikki.vanhamaki at oulu.fi)

The Space Physics and Astronomy (SPA) research unit at the University of Oulu, Finland, is seeking candidates to a PhD project “Global Joule heating and its effects on the near-Earth space environment”. It is a part of the I4WORLD doctoral programme and can be found under the theme “Clean Water, Biodiversity and Environment” in the announcement at Saima: https://rekry.saima.fi/certiahome/open_job_view.html?did=5600&lang=en&id=000014103&jc=1

The Ionospheric Physics group of SPA carries out research related to space weather effects on the coupled magnetosphere-ionosphere-thermosphere system utilizing data from advanced measurements such as the international EISCAT incoherent scatter radars and satellite missions (e.g. ESA’s Swarm) at low-Earth orbits. In the PhD project, the observations will be used together with numerical simulations to study global Joule heating in collaboration with Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI).

The full-time PhD position will be filled for the duration of four years and includes a 6-month secondment at FMI. More information about the University of Oulu and the I4WORLD doctoral programme can be found at https://www.oulu.fi/en/news/i4world-looking-25-doctoral-researchers

Applications, together with all relevant documents, should be submitted using the electronic application system (Saima, link above) by January 31, 2023. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered

For further information, please contact Dr Heikki Vanhamäki, heikki.vanhamaki(at)oulu.fi


***** SUBSCRIPTION AND ANNOUNCEMENT REQUESTS *****

The AGU Space Physics and Aeronomy (SPA) Section Newsletter is issued approximately weekly. Back issues are available at:
http://lists.igpp.ucla.edu/pipermail/spa/

To request announcements for distribution by the newsletter, please use the online submission form at:
http://goo.gl/forms/qjcm4dDr4g

To subscribe to the newsletter, please go to the web page at:
http://lists.igpp.ucla.edu/mailman/listinfo/spa
(Do not use this web page to post announcements.)

NOTE: Due to the large number of SPA-related sessions at major conferences, the SPA Newsletter can no longer accept announcement requests for individual sessions at AGU, AOGS, COSPAR, EGU, or IAGA Meetings. Titles and web links (if available) of these sessions will be distributed in a special issue of the Newsletter before the abstract deadline.

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

AGU SPA Web Site: https://connect.agu.org/spa/home

SPA Leadership Team E-mail: spa.leadership.team at gmail.com

*************** END OF NEWSLETTER ****************