Issue 18-15, April 15, 2018
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- DPS ELECTIONS 2018: CANDIDATE SLATE
- SMALL BODIES ASSESSMENT GROUP (SBAG) EARLY CAREER TRAVEL GRANT
- EUROPEAN PLANETARY SCIENCE CONGRESS 2018 SESSION ON PLANETARY AERONOMY
- EUROPEAN PLANETARY SCIENCE CONGRESS 2018 SESSION ON CASSINI’S LEGACY: ONE YEAR LATER
- SUMMER SCHOOL IN SOFTWARE SYSTEMS FOR ASTRONOMY
- LSST SOLAR SYSTEM SCIENCE COLLABORATION
- SUMMER SCHOOL/WORKSHOP: MICROSATELLITES IN PLANETARY AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH
- JOBS, POSITIONS, OPPORTUNITIES
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DPS ELECTIONS 2018: CANDIDATE SLATE
The DPS Nominating Subcommittee has identified the following candidates
for the 2018 DPS elections for Vice Chair and Committee :
Vice-Chair (1 to be elected):
o Matija Cuk, SETI Institute
o Amanda Hendrix, Planetary Science Institute
Committee (2 to be elected):
o Michael Bland
o Will Grundy, Lowell Observatory
o Lucille Le Corre, Planetary Science Institute
o Krista Soderlund, University of Texas, Austin
Additional candidates, supported by a petition of at least 20 DPS members,
may be nominated by May 15th. Please send any nominations to the
DPS Secretary, Anne Verbiscer, at [email protected].
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SMALL BODIES ASSESSMENT GROUP (SBAG) EARLY CAREER TRAVEL GRANT
We are now accepting applications for early-career travel support to attend
the upcoming SBAG meeting. Please pass the information on to any students,
post-docs or early career scientists/engineers that may be interested in attending
the meeting.
The details are below:
19th Meeting of the NASA Small Bodies Assessment Group
June 13–14, 2018
College Park, MD
Additional logistics information will be released closer to the meeting.
Early career travel support: We are planning to offer limited U.S. travel support
for early career scientists to participate in the SBAG 19 meeting, to be held at
the University of Maryland in College Park, MD on June 13-14, 2018. Interested
undergraduate students, graduate students, postdocs, and other early career scientists
(within 3 years of PhD/MS/BS) should submit a letter and a CV to SBAG Early
Career Secretary Hannah Susorney ([email protected]) by COB (5 pm
Eastern time) April 27th, 2018. Included in the letter, which must not exceed
2 pages, should be a demonstration of financial need and an explanation of how
the applicant’s work relates to the purposes of the SBAG. The letter and CV
should be combined into a single PDF document for submission by e-mail
attachment. Recipients of travel support will be expected to give a short
presentation (~10-15 minutes) of their SBAG-relevant work at the SBAG 19
meeting.
Lightning Talks: We are providing time on the agenda for early-career scientists
and engineers present at the meeting to introduce themselves and their research to
the community. The talks will be 3 minutes each. If you are interested in giving
a lightning talk, please contact the early-career secretary Hannah Susorney
([email protected]). Please encourage students and postdocs that you know
to participate!
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EUROPEAN PLANETARY SCIENCE CONGRESS 2018 SESSION ON PLANETARY AERONOMY
We invite your contributions to a special session on Planetary Aeronomy at
EPSC 2018 in Berlin, Germany (September 16-21, 2018):
https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC2018/session/29889
The aim of this session is to bring together researchers studying solar system
and exoplanet upper atmospheres to exchange knowledge and ideas while
learning of new results in this expanding area of research. We welcome papers
on all aspects of planetary upper atmospheres in the solar and exoplanet systems,
including observations and models that bear on photochemistry and ionization,
magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling, energy balance, circulation and atmospheric
escape. Contributions that allow us to better understand planetary evolution and
the mass-radius diagram of exoplanets are also encouraged. A list of confirmed
invited speakers will be announced later.
Please submit your abstracts by the EPSC abstract deadline of Wednesday,
May 16, 2018.
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EUROPEAN PLANETARY SCIENCE CONGRESS 2018 SESSION ON CASSINI’S LEGACY: ONE YEAR LATER
EPSC 2018, Berlin Germany
16-21 September 2018
EPSC Website: https://www.epsc2018.eu/home.html
The Cassini-Huygens Mission to Saturn ended in a dramatic plunge into Saturn’s
atmosphere on September 15, 2017 sending back in-situ data as long as possible.
Since 2004, Cassini and the Huygens probe revealed the entire Saturn system and
opened up new Ocean Worlds for further exploration. In its final 9 months,
Cassini’s 20 Ring-Grazing orbits (bringing the spacecraft just outside the rings)
and 22 “Grand Finale” orbits starting in April 2017, with closest approach between
the innermost D ring and Saturn’s upper atmosphere, enabled the opportunity for
unique science observations including probes of gravitational and magnetic field
moments to higher order and precision; constraining the ring mass; in-situ sampling
of the plasma and dust environment, upper atmosphere and exosphere; and high
resolution imaging both Saturn, its rings and ring moons. We propose a multi-
disciplinary session to report on analysis and modeling of data collected during
this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore Saturn up close in addition to
highlighting the legacy of discoveries of the Saturn system made over thirteen
years of exploration.
Other Cassini-related EPSC sessions can be found here –
https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/epsc2018/sessionprogramme
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SUMMER SCHOOL IN SOFTWARE SYSTEMS FOR ASTRONOMY
SSfA at UH Hawaii Registration Opens Monday – Registration for Software
Systems for Astronomy 5 on the Big Island of Hawaii opens on Monday,
09-Apr-2018. The course covers software design and implementation of
telescope and instrument control systems, observation planning tools, and
software for analyzing and archiving astronomical data. SSfA-5 will be
offered as a two week intensive course, 23-Jul to 03-Aug, 2018.
Please find special instructions for off-island participants here:
http://astro.uhh.hawaii.edu/Summer/Summer-2018/ssfa18.php#Special_Summer_Note
More information about Software Systems for Astronomy 5 is here:
http://astro.uhh.hawaii.edu/Summer/Summer-2018/ssfa18.php
General information about the UHH summer program is here:
http://astro.uhh.hawaii.edu/Summer/Summer-2018/summer2018.php
The UHH regstration page is here:
https://hilo.hawaii.edu/depts/summer/SummerCourseRegistration.php
More detail about the course is given in the UHH catalog (the course number is 385):
https://hilo.hawaii.edu/catalog/astr-courses
If you have questions, send email to [email protected]
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LSST SOLAR SYSTEM SCIENCE COLLABORATION
Over its 10 year lifespan, the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST)
will catalog over 5 million Main Belt asteroids, almost 300,000 Jupiter
Trojans, over 100,000 NEOs, over 40,000 KBOs, over 10,000 comets, and
tens of interstellar objects. Many of these objects will receive
hundreds of observations in multiple bandpasses. The LSST Solar System
Science Collaboration (SSSC) is preparing methods and tools to analyze
this data, as well as understand optimum survey strategies for
discovering moving objects throughout the Solar System.
Learn more at:
Read our science roadmap at:
https://arxiv.org/abs/1802.01783
Please consider joining the collaboration if you’re an eligible
researcher. If you have any questions, please contact the SSSC
Co-Chairs, Meg Schwamb ([email protected]) and David Trilling
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SUMMER SCHOOL/WORKSHOP: MICROSATELLITES IN PLANETARY AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH
Tartu, Estonia
6-11 August 2018
This early career scientist workshop/summer school aims to:
– Give participant an overview into the most pivotal research questions
in planetary and atmospheric sciences
– Highlight the possible potential of microsatellites in those areas
– Explore novel applications of microsatellites in a multitude of
different fields including astronomy, planetary and atmospheric
sciences, geosciences and astrobiology
– Foster the interaction between space researchers and technologists
– Allow participants to start the design and planning of new space
missions
– Contribute to the training of a new generation of space researchers
The course will consist of lectures by leading scientists, planning of
a micro- or nanosatellite project in small groups as well as open
discussions. Participants will also have the possibility to display
their own research results in a poster session. Furthermore, a half-day
excursion to interesting sites in the area (Ice Age Museum, Lake
Peipus) and a walk in Tartu are included as a social programme.
The event is open to applicants from all nationalities. Detailed
information about the summer school and the application procedure
(deadline 31 May 2018) can be found at:
http://www.nordicastrobiology.net/Tartu2018
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JOBS, POSITIONS, OPPORTUNITIES
A) POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW
National Research Council Canada (NRC)
Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre (HAA)
Victoria, BC, CANADA
NRC’s Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre is seeking a
Postdoctoral Fellow to carry out Kuiper belt research with an emphasis on
interpretation of ground and spacecraft data acquired for/by NASA’s New
Horizons Kuiper Extended Mission (KEM). Fellowships will be for two years
contingent on satisfactory progress achieved during the first year. It would be
highly desirable for the successful candidate to start work by September 2018.
KEM is providing distant fly-by observations of about a dozen Kuiper belt
objects over a large range of phase angles. KEM will conduct the first ever
close encounter with a cold classical Kuiper belt object when it flies within
5000 km of 2014 MU69 on 1-Jan-2019. During its brief and tightly orchestrated
encounter KEM will obtain extensive optical and infrared observation of the
object’s surface. NRC scientists have been part of the KEM planning and a
PDF working with NRC will have the opportunity to join the KEM science
team to assist in the primary fly-by encounter mission as well as the monitoring
of more distant KBOs from within the Kuiper belt. The successful candidate
will work with Dr. JJ Kavelaars and his group, and will closely collaborate with
other members of the Research Centre and KEM science team.
Candidates should have obtained a PhD (or equivalent) within the past three
years (PhD received on or after July 1, 2015) or expect to complete their PhD
within 6 months of appointment.
Please apply online at NRC Careers – Apply Here no later than 23:59 Eastern
Time on 10 May 2018.
As an employer who values diversity in its workforce, we encourage candidates
to self-identify as members of the following designated groups: women, visible
minorities, aboriginal peoples and persons with disabilities. Measures for
accommodation are available to all candidates retained for further assessment.
NRC offers a wide range of benefits including dental, extended health, disability
insurance, as well as generous leave entitlements. To learn more, go to:
http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/careers/nrc_advantage.html.
Pour obtenir des renseignements sur le programme de stagiaire de recherche
postdoctorale en français ainsi que pour postuler, veuillez visiter le site web
suivant : Stagiaire de recherche postdoctorale
Please direct your questions to:
Cindy Stowe
306-975-6172
B) POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE IN EXOPLANET ATMOSPHERES
Lunar and Planetary Laboratory
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
content/postdoctoral-research-associate-exoplanet-atmospheres
The Department of Planetary Sciences/Lunar & Planetary Laboratory of the
University of Arizona has an opening for Postdoctoral Research Associate in
the field of exoplanet atmospheres. The department is at the forefront of
planetary science, including research into the atmospheres of exoplanets as
well as the planets and satellites in the solar system. The successful candidate
will join the Planetary Atmospheres and Exoplanets groups
(https://www.lpl.arizona.edu/research) and work with Dr. Tommi Koskinen on
simulations of exoplanet upper atmospheres. In addition to model development
and maintenance, the candidate will participate in the interpretation of exoplanet
upper atmosphere observations and preparation for the NASA Colorado Ultraviolet
Transit Experiment (CUTE).
We seek a candidate with a background in numerical modeling of planetary atmospheres.
Previous experience in modeling upper atmospheres and escape is
an advantage. Applicants should have a doctoral degree in planetary science,
exoplanets or a related field.
Interested candidates should apply for Job Posting P20545 at www.uacareers.com.
Applicants will be expected to submit a cover letter (1 page), Curriculum Vitae, a
statement of research interest highlighting past achievements and future plans
(up to 3 pages) and contact details for two referees.
C) POSTDOCTORAL POSITION IN EXPERIMENTAL PLANETARY SCIENCE
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Columbia University’s Astrophysics Laboratory invites applications for a
Postdoctoral Research Scientist to perform laboratory simulations of solar
wind ion irradiation of Mercury’s regolith surface. The successful candidate
will join the group headed by Senior Research Scientist Dr. Daniel Wolf Savin;
they will participate in designing, building, and performing experiments utilizing
a novel ion beam apparatus to study the spectral changes and sputtering yields of
regolith-like loose powders.
The appointment is initially for one year, with the possibility of renewal for up to
two additional years; this is contingent upon the availability of funds and mutual
satisfaction.
The successful candidate will have a Ph.D. or the equivalent degree in Planetary
Science, Physics, Geology, Astrophysics, or a related field. Desired laboratory
skills include experience with apparatus design and construction, fast ion beams,
ion optics, ultra-high vacuum techniques, visible and near infrared spectral reflectance
measurements, quadrupole mass spectrometers, catcher foils, X-ray photoelectron
spectroscopy, and associated electronics. Desired computer skills include programming,
multidimensional data analysis, LabView, Python, Autodesk Inventor, Solidworks,
SIMION, Linux/Mac OS, and Windows OS.
The successful candidate will have a strong background in at least some of the
areas listed above, a proven research ability, and evidence of future research potential.
The candidate is expected to be able to work well independently and cooperatively
with a team and to communicate the results of his/her research both orally and in writing.
Demonstrated written and oral communication skills are highly desirable.
Questions regarding this position can be addressed to Dr. Savin at
Applicants should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae (including a list of
publications) and statement of past research. In addition they should arrange
to have three letters of reference sent directly by the writers to Dr. Savin.
Applications will be considered only after all of the requested material has been received.
Applications and letters should be submitted by email to
[email protected]. Screening of applicants will begin immediately and
will continue until the position has been filled.
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Send submissions to:
Anne Verbiscer, DPS Secretary ([email protected])
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