Issue 20-39, August 23, 2020
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- DPS 2020 DEPENDENT CARE GRANTS
- APOPHIS T-9 YEARS: ABSTRACT DEADLINE REMINDER
- THE ART OF PLANETARY SCIENCE 2020: A VIRTUAL ODYSSEY
- INDICATION OF INTEREST: DECADAL WHITE PAPER ON THE VALUE OF EXTENDED MISSIONS
- 2021A NASA KECK CALL FOR PROPOSALS
- AGU VIRTUAL STUDENT TRAVEL GRANT APPLICATIONS DUE AUGUST 25
- LSST SOLAR SYSTEM SCIENCE COLLABORATION
- JOBS, POSITIONS, OPPORTUNITIES
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DPS 2020 DEPENDENT CARE GRANTS
The DPS Susan Niebur Professional Development Fund provides financial assistance
to qualifying members of the DPS in order to facilitate their meeting participation by
offsetting dependent care costs (such as childcare, elder care, spousal care, etc) at the
meeting location, or at home, during the DPS conference week. This includes dependent
care expenses needed to allow attendance and participation in the 2020 virtual DPS meeting.
The DPS Professional Development Subcommittee will accept applications for dependent
care subsidies to assist an eligible DPS member to participate in the 2020 DPS Meeting.
The initial submission deadline is Monday, September 14, 2020. The review of submissions
will begin Tuesday September 15; however, further requests will be accepted and reviewed,
funding and eligibility permitting.
Please access the grant application form at development#grants .
Mark Gurwell, DPS Professional Development Subcommittee member
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APOPHIS T-9 YEARS: ABSTRACT DEADLINE REMINDER
Apophis T-9 Years: Knowledge Opportunities for the Science of Planetary Defense
Virtual Workshop November 4-6, 2020
This virtual workshop will explore the dynamical details and corresponding science
opportunities presented by the April 13, 2029 near-miss passage of the asteroid Apophis.
Knowledge is the first line of planetary defense, and the 2029 Apophis encounter is a
once-per-thousand-year opportunity for investigating an asteroid as large as 350 meters
passing within 6 Earth-radii.
Abstract submission deadline – August 26, 2020, 5:00pm Central Daylight Time (GMT -5)
Registration deadline – October 21, 2020
https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/apophis2020/
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THE ART OF PLANETARY SCIENCE 2020: A VIRTUAL ODYSSEY
Calling all space artists!
Submissions are now open for The Art of Planetary Science 2020: A Virtual Odyssey.
This year, we are partnered with International Observe the Moon Night and will
be hosting an additional special sub-gallery of moon-themed art as a result.
The submission form, as well as detailed information about the 2020 Prospectus,
is located on our website.
Art submissions are open August 1-31, 2020, and the virtual art gallery will be
located on The Art of Planetary Science 2020 website starting September 25th, 2020.
The Art of Planetary Science 2020: A Virtual Odyssey opening weekend will occur
September 25-27, 2020. The all-virtual event weekend will kick off with an opening
of the online art gallery, streamed presentations from artists and scientists, music and
entertainment performances, and a telescope viewing stream of the Moon.
Stay tuned for more details and an event schedule release.
We hope to see you this year, virtually!
Sincerely,
Your TAPS 2020 Organizers
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INDICATION OF INTEREST: DECADAL WHITE PAPER ON THE VALUE OF EXTENDED MISSIONS
Please sign up here to be involved in a white paper to be submitted to the Planetary
Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey on the value of Extended Missions to
planetary science and to the workforce.
https://forms.gle/862Ugz5jdQZfCgBa8
There is a tremendous demonstrated value in Extended Missions. They produce excellent
science at low incremental cost. Additionally, these missions provide early-career scientists
opportunities for active mission involvement and experience in leadership roles, thus
increasing diversity at all levels. However, despite NASA’s best intentions, there are
aspects of their handling of Extended Missions that have detrimental effects to the
success of those missions.
This will be an update to the 2016 National Academies report on “Extending Science:
NASA’s Space Science Mission Extensions and the Senior Review Process”. We plan
to evaluate the recommendations of that study, provide a reminder of those
recommendations which have not yet been addressed and add new recommendations.
Ross Beyer
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2021A NASA KECK CALL FOR PROPOSALS
The NASA Exoplanet Science Institute is soliciting proposals, including those for
Solar System observations, to use NASA’s portion of time on the Keck Telescopes
for the 2021A observing semester (February 1 – July 31, 2021). All proposals are
due by September 17, 2020 at 4 pm PDT.
The opportunity to propose as a Principal Investigator for NASA time on the Keck
Telescopes is open to all U.S.-based astronomers (a U.S.-based astronomer has their
principal affiliation at a U.S. institution). Investigators from institutions outside of the
U.S. may participate as Co-Investigators on proposals for NASA Keck time.
NASA intends the use of the Keck telescopes to be highly strategic in support of on-
going space missions and/or high priority, long-term science goals. Proposals are
sought in the following discipline areas: (1) investigations in support of EXOPLANET
EXPLORATION science goals and missions; (2) investigations of our own SOLAR
SYSTEM; (3) investigations in support of COSMIC ORIGINS science goals and
missions; and (4) investigations in support of PHYSICS OF THE COSMOS science
goals and missions. Direct mission support proposals in any of these scientific areas
are also encouraged.
Please read the Call for Proposals for complete information, instrument availability,
and application guidelines.
Key Dates:
_ September 3: deadline to request General Mission Support letter from NASA HQ
_ September 17: all proposals and supporting letters due to NExScI
Questions: [email protected]
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AGU VIRTUAL STUDENT TRAVEL GRANT APPLICATIONS DUE AUGUST 25
The 2020 AGU Fall Meeting Virtual Student Travel Grant program is accepting
applications for students to be reimbursed for some of the costs to attend #AGU20’s
online experience. This year, all factors are being considered, from technical needs like
Wi-Fi to childcare. The deadline to submit your application is August 25. READ MORE
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LSST SOLAR SYSTEM SCIENCE COLLABORATION
Over its 10-year lifespan, the Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and
Time (LSST) will catalog over 5 million Main Belt asteroids, almost 300,000
Jupiter Trojans, over 100,000 NEOs, over 40,000 KBOs, tens of interstellar objects,
and over 10,000 comets. Many of these small bodies 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. Over the next year, the SSSC will be giving feedback on the possible
scenarios for the LSST survey strategy and providing suggestions for on-sky
observing during Rubin Observatory’s commissioning that would enhance
opportunities for science validation. Our current guidelines on membership are
focused on building community involvement. If you’re interested in joining the
SSSC, more details can be found at http://www.lsstsssc.org
If you have any questions, please contact the SSSC Co-Chairs,
Meg Schwamb ([email protected]) and
David Trilling ([email protected]).
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JOBS, POSITIONS, OPPORTUNITIES
A) POSTDOCTORAL POSITION IN DATA VISUALIZATION FOR PLANETARY AND SPACE
SCIENCES
https://virtualplanet.wustl.edu/postdoc-position-in-data-visualization-for-planetary-sciences/
The Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences at Washington University
in St. Louis seeks a postdoctoral research associate to manage a unique
data visualization program within the Fossett Laboratory for Virtual
Planetary Exploration. The Fossett Lab is a leader in developing
applications and outreach experiences that leverage Augmented Reality
(AR) technology for education and research in Earth, planetary, and
space sciences. The successful candidate will maintain apps for
Microsoft HoloLens, iOS, and Android devices; build new AR experiences
that serve needs of Washington University instructors and scholars; and
coordinate education and outreach.
The candidate selected for this position will also conduct independent
research as an associate of the McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences
(MCSS). In their application, the candidate should describe research
interests and list potential collaborators from among MCSS faculty.
Candidates must have a Ph.D. in Earth, planetary, or space science. The
initial appointment is for one year, renewable for a second year.
Salary is commensurate with experience. To apply, contact Phil
Skemer, Director of the Fossett Lab, with a statement of interest, CV,
and names and contact information for three professional references.
[email protected]
http://virtualplanet.wustl.edu
B) POSTDOCTORAL OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE SMA
We are pleased to announce that the applications for the 2021 Submillimeter Array
(SMA) Postdoctoral Fellowship program are now open. We anticipate offering one
or more SMA Postdoctoral Fellowships starting Summer/Fall 2021. Application
information and instructions can be found at
http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/opportunities/fellowships/sma
The deadline for applications is October 15, 2020.
The SMA is a pioneering radio interferometer designed for arc-second imaging in
the submillimeter spectrum. SMA science spans an impressive array of fields, ranging
from our solar system, through imaging of gas and dust and tracing magnetic fields in
stellar nurseries and planet-forming disks, to exploration of nearby galaxies and imaging
of dusty star-forming galaxies at high redshift, and to time domain flux monitoring
observations of compact objects. In addition to its outstanding record in astronomical
research, the SMA is a world leader in the design of wide-bandwidth, high-frequency
radio receivers for astronomy. The SMA recently commissioned a significant upgrade
to its correlator to process up to 48 GHz of total bandwidth at a uniform spectral resolution
of 140 kHz across the entire processed spectral range, providing significantly enhanced
science capability.
These positions are aimed chiefly at research, both observational and theoretical, in
submillimeter astronomy. Successful candidates will participate in remote and on-site
observations with the SMA, research in their interpretation, and/or instrument development.
While the SMA fellowships are intended primarily for research associated with the
SMA, our main offices at the Center for Astrophysics provide Fellows with unique
opportunities to develop collaborations within the broader CfA community of 250
Ph.D. staff researchers and with extraordinary freedom in structuring their research
activities. Applicants must have a recent Ph.D. in astronomy or a related field.
The SMA is a collaboration between the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and
the Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics in Taipei, Taiwan. The
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, a part of Center for Astrophysics, is an Equal
Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer where all qualified applicants receive equal
consideration without regard to race, color, creed, national origin or gender.
The CfA is a supportive environment for many active STEM outreach and educational
programs at the local and national level, especially those reaching underserved communities.
We also conduct research on effectiveness of such innovations and offer professional
development opportunities to enhance proficiency in communication and teaching.
Should you have any questions, feel free to contact [email protected].
C) PHD AND POSTDOC OPPORTUNITIES AT DARTMOUTH COLLEGE
Dear colleagues,
We are searching for a graduate student and postdoctoral researcher in the broad
areas of ice mechanics and cryospheric fluid dynamics to join us in the Thayer
School of Engineering at Dartmouth College. We are looking for students of applied
mathematics, physics, earth science, or engineering with a keen interest in snow,
glaciers, permafrost, and/or icy satellites. Within each of these topic areas, we will
work together to find a project of mutual interest and the successful applicants will
be encouraged to develop their own ideas.
As a research group, we specifically aim to foster a broader participation of
underrepresented researchers in the geophysical sciences. Our goal is to build a
community that is supportive and inclusive, with individualized mentoring for
each researcher to account for the unique challenges they face.
Please feel free to get in touch if you are interested or know of exceptional candidates.
We prefer a winter/spring 2021 start for the PhD student, and flexible for the postdoc.
Dartmouth College is a private, liberal arts college in Hanover, New Hampshire
which is in the bucolic Upper Valley on the border of New Hampshire and Vermont.
Situated on the Connecticut River and the Appalachian Trail, there are fantastic
opportunities for outdoor activities in the surrounding region including hiking,
trail running, rowing, skiing, and cycling. Locally there are many trails for cross
country and backcountry skiing in addition to the Dartmouth Skiway. Major ski
resorts are nestled into the Green and White Mountains, about 1-2 hours afield.
The Upper Valley is a collection of 6+ towns with cafes, breweries, farmer’s
markets, and coop grocery stores with an artistic and inclusive community.
Additionally, Hanover is 2.5 hours from Boston, MA and 3.5 hours from Montreal, QC.
Dr. Colin R. Meyer
Assistant Professor of Engineering
Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College
engineering.dartmouth.edu/people/faculty/colin-meyer
D) SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMMER POSITION, FREIE UNIVERSITÄT BERLIN (GERMANY)
Late Accretion onto Terrestrial Planets (TRR 170) is a Transregional Collaborative
Research Center funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The scope of
TRR 170 is the interdisciplinary study of the late growth history of terrestrial planets.
We are seeking a programmer who is familiar with the setup and functionality of
Dataverse to provide programming support to our IT team. Work can be carried out
for selected work packages or in full.
Experience: IT student to senior programmer. The work can also be designed for a
Bachelor or Master thesis.
Working remotely is possible, office location at FU Berlin Campus Lankwitz.
In total 12 months of work can be split over several time periods in 2020-2023.
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