Newsletter 19-52

Issue 19-52, November 14, 2019

 

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  1. MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR: FIRST EDITOR OF THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
  2. PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL SCIENCE EDITORS SELF-NOMINATION CALL
  3. FREE HELIOPHYSICS TEXBOOK AVAILABLE ONLINE
  4. EXOPLANETS IN OUR BACKYARD: SOLAR SYSTEM AND EXOPLANET SYNERGIES ON PLANETARY FORMATION, EVOLUTION, AND HABITABILITY
  5. SOFTWARE SYSTEMS FOR ASTRONOMY REGISTRATION OPEN
  6. JOBS, POSITIONS, OPPORTUNITIES

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MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR: FIRST EDITOR OF THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL

 

On behalf of the DPS Committee, I am pleased to announce the selection of

Dr. Faith Vilas as the first editor of the Planetary Science Journal. Faith has

substantial editorial experience along with a broad range of knowledge in

planetary science and an openness to modern ideas for this new journal.

 

The AAS press release announcing Dr. Vilas as the first editor of the Planetary

Science Journal can be found here:

https://aas.org/press/faith-vilas-named-editor-planetary-science-journal

 

I would also like to heartily thank the DPS Publications Subcommittee, chaired

by Dr. Ross Beyer, for their diligent work in both working with the AAS to help

establish the PSJ and also in their efforts to select the first editor. There were a

number of excellent applicants for the position.

 

Don’t forget! The PSJ will begin taking manuscript submissions on December 2, 2019.

Please go to https://journals.aas.org/planetary-science-journal/.

 

Amanda Hendrix

DPS Chair

 

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PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL SCIENCE EDITORS SELF-NOMINATION CALL

 

The process is underway to select the first Editor for the new

Planetary Science Journal (PSJ), but we are also looking for

individuals that would like to self-nominate to be considered

to be Science Editors that would work with the new PSJ Editor.

 

Science Editors will perform professional services to facilitate

peer review of scientific manuscripts for publication in the PSJ.

This includes:

               – Managing the peer-review process for manuscripts assigned to

                               them by the PSJ Editor

               – Select and manage the referees assigned to the manuscripts

                              they are responsible for

               – Perform their duties consistent with the AAS Code of Ethics

               – Meet or exceed the expectation of timelines as defined

                               by the PSJ Editor

               – Attend the annual gathering of AAS scientific editors.

 

The PSJ SEs will report to the PSJ Editor and the AAS Editor-in-Chief.

The term of a Science Editor is 3 years, and is renewable.

Scientific Editors receive a grant of approximately $15,000 per annum

for their services and travel support for their annual meeting.

 

If you would like to self-nominate for one of these positions, please

e-mail the DPS Publications Subcommittee Chair, Ross Beyer ([email protected]),

the following message:

               – Subject: PSJ SE self-nomination

               – a few sentences about what subject or topic areas you would be

                               interested and capable of supporting as a Science Editor

               – curriculum vitae (just a one or two page version is sufficient)

 

For full consideration, please submit your self-nomination before Nov 22.

If you have any questions please contact the DPS Publication Subcommittee

Chair, Ross Beyer ([email protected]), or the AAS Editor-in-Chief, Ethan

Vishniac ([email protected]).

 

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FREE HELIOPHYSICS TEXTBOOK AVAILABLE ONLINE

 

“PRINCIPLES OF HELIOPHYSICS: a textbook on the universal processes behind

planetary habitability”, by Karel Schrijver et al., now at arxiv.org/abs/1910.14022

 

Heliophysics is the science of the physical connections between the Sun and the solar

system. The science of heliophysics lies at the foundation of the study of space weather,

and is also directly involved in understanding planetary habitability. The multitude of 

connections between heliophysics, astrophysics, and planetary sciences is explored in a

series of previously published books (by Cambridge University Press, with ‘Heliophysics’

as their primary titles) that were developed over more than a decade of NASA-funded

Summer Schools for early-career researchers in the discipline.

 

Now there is a new textbook, based on the original series, that emphasizes universal

processes from a perspective that draws attention to what provides Earth (and similar

(exo-)planets) with a relatively stable setting in which life as we know it can thrive.

Whereas the original books were written for advanced PhD students and beginning

postdocs, this book is intended for students in physical sciences in later years of their

university training and for beginning graduate students in fields of solar, stellar, (exo-)

planetary, and planetary-system sciences. The text includes 200 “activities” in the form

of problems, exercises, explorations, literature readings, and “what if” challenges.

 

The volume is written by Karel Schrijver, Fran Bagenal, Tim Bastian, Juerg Beer,

Mario Bisi, Tom Bogdan, Steve Bougher, David Boteler, Dave Brain, Guy Brasseur,

Don Brownlee, Paul Charbonneau, Ofer Cohen, Uli Christensen, Tom Crowley,

Debrah Fischer, Terry Forbes, Tim Fuller-Rowell, Marina Galand, Joe Giacalone,

George Gloeckler, Jack Gosling, Janet Green, Steve Guetersloh, Viggo Hansteen,

Lee Hartmann, Mihaly Horanyi, Hugh Hudson, Norbert Jakowski, Randy Jokipii,

Margy Kivelson, Dietmar Krauss- Varban, Norbert Krupp, Judith Lean, Jeff Linsky,

Dana Longcope, Daniel Marsh, Mark Miesch, Mark Moldwin, Luke Moore, Sten

Odenwald, Merav Opher, Rachel Osten, Matthias Rempel, Hauke Schmidt, George

Siscoe, Dave Siskind, Chuck Smith, Stan Solomon, Tom Stallard, Sabine Stanley,

Jan Sojka, Kent Tobiska, Frank Toffoletto, Alan Tribble, Vytenis Vasyliunas,

Richard Walterscheid, Ji Wang, Brian Wood, Tom Woods, and Neal Zapp

 

The book can be accessed directly at arXiv at https://arxiv.org/abs/1910.14022

or via the textbook ‘resources’ page of the Heliophysics Summer School:

https://cpaess.ucar.edu/heliophysics/resources/textbooks

 

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EXOPLANETS IN OUR BACKYARD: SOLAR SYSTEM AND EXOPLANET SYNERGIES ON PLANETARY FORMATION, EVOLUTION, AND HABITABILITY

Abstract deadline extended to November 20, 2019

The Exoplanets in Our Backyard Workshop will be held February 5-7,
2020, at the Lunar and Planetary Institute, in Houston, Texas,
immediately following the Outer Planets Assessment Group (OPAG)
meeting.

The workshop is co-organized with the Venus Exploration Analysis Group
(VEXAG), the Outer Planets Assessment Group (OPAG), and the
Exoplanet Exploration Program Analysis Group (ExoPAG), to increase
much-needed collaboration between the exoplanet and Solar System
science communities. The goals of the workshop are to examine and
discuss exoplanet-solar system synergies on planetary properties,
formation, evolution, and habitability. We invite abstracts for
contributed oral and poster presentations that focus on: comparative
planetology; Solar System studies as a baseline to inform studies of
extrasolar planetary properties and evolution; and lessons learned on
planetary statistics, demographics, and system architectures from
extrasolar planetary systems. The workshop aims to foster and build
new collaborations among scientists in the Solar System and exoplanet
communities and to help guide the direction of future exploration and
observations of worlds in the Solar System and beyond.

The abstract deadline has been extended to November 20, 2019. For more
information: https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/exoplanets2020/

 

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SOFTWARE SYSTEMS FOR ASTRONOMY REGISTRATION OPEN

 

Please note that registration is now open for the summer school in Software Systems
for Astronomy (SSfA-7).  The course will take place 20-Jul to 31-Jul, 2020, on the

Big Island of Hawaii.  The course covers software design and implementation of

telescope and instrument control systems, observation planning tools, and software

for analyzing and archiving astronomical data. 

 

If you are not a UHH student, use this link to register:

https://hilo.hawaii.edu/depts/summer/SummerAdmissions.php

 

If you are a UHH student, use this link to register:

https://hilo.hawaii.edu/depts/summer/SummerCourseRegistration.php

 

More information can be found here:

http://astro.uhh.hawaii.edu/Summer/Summer-2020/summer2020.php

 

Interested students are encouraged to fill in this short questionnaire:

http://132.160.60.71/~aconrad/ssfaQuest.html

 

Direct questions to [email protected]

 

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JOBS, POSITIONS, OPPORTUNITIES

 

A) POSTDOCTORAL SCIENTIST POSITION AT ARECIBO OBSERVATORY

 

A postdoctoral scientist position is available in the planetary radar group at the

Arecibo Observatory, Puerto Rico. The position will include training in radar

observations of near-Earth objects, planets, and moons. We encourage applications

from recent doctoral graduates with experience in any type of asteroid observations

or related research. Radar observation experience is not required. The position is

by default for two years but extendable to three years. To apply, please send your

CV and a two-page research statement to Dr. Anne Virkki through anne.virkki(a)ucf.edu 

by Dec 2, 2019. Arecibo Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation

operated by the University of Central Florida in collaboration with Yang Enterprises,

Inc., and Universidad Ana G. Méndez. The planetary radar program is fully funded

through NASA’s Near-Earth Objects Observations program.

 

B) POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE POSITION IN MODELING EXOPLANETS PLASMA ENVIRONMENT AND STAR-PLANET INTERACTION

 

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral position at the University of Massachusetts

Lowell’s Center for Space Science and Technology, to work on modeling radio emissions

from exoplanets and star-planet interaction, with Dr. Ofer Cohen. The successful

applicant will develop MHD codes to simulate modulation of stellar radio emission

by transiting exoplanets, star-planet interaction, and will perform coupled simulations

of the plasma environment around short-orbit exoplanets. The applicant will also

develop code coupling between stellar coronae and planetary magnetospheres models.

 

Minimum Qualifications for the position include:

 

1. Ph.D. in Space Physics, Astrophysics, computational physics or related field.

2. Computational, coding, and model development experience, plasma physics modeling 

experience, strong background in space plasma physics or astrophysical plasmas.

 

Other preferred qualifications:

1. Experience with parallel coding (MPI), Fortran 90 (preferred, but not a requirement).

2. Good communication and writing skills.

 

The postdoc will be expected to demonstrate ability to submit research proposals on

her/his own, to be independent in the science work, and to work with undergraduate/

graduate students in the center.  Opportunities to gain teaching experience may also 

be available. 

 

To apply, go to the UMass Lowell position announcement at:

https://explorejobs.uml.edu/lowell/en-us/job/503644/postdoctoral-research-associate-modeling-exoplanets-plasmas

or go to the UMass Lowell job listing and search for position number 503644:

https://explorejobs.uml.edu/lowell/en-us/listing/

 

Please include a CV, cover letter and research summary with your application. 

Names and contact information of three references will be required during the

application process.  

 

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Send submissions to: 

Anne Verbiscer, DPS Secretary ([email protected]

 

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