Issue 25-26, Nov 10, 2025
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- MESSAGE FROM THE DPS COMMITTEE: CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR SPOKANE ORGANIZING COMMITTEES
- YEAR END DRIVE: STAND UP FOR STUDENTS, SUPPORT DPS TRAVEL GRANT FUNDS!
- AAS PUBLIC POLICY OFFICE WANTS TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE STILL AWAITING THEIR FY 2025 GRANTS
- AAS TAKE ACTION TO SUPPORT THE ASTRONOMICAL SCIENCES
- ICES IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM REGISTRATION CLOSING SOON
- AGU LAUNCHES THE AGU GRANT FINDER
- INVITATION TO JOIN ROMAN SPACE TELESCOPE PROPOSAL PLANNING
- 34TH MEETING OF THE NASA SMALL BODIES ASSESSMENT GROUP (SBAG)
- OPAG VIRTUAL FALL MEETING
- EARLY-CAREER SMALL BODIES ASSESSMENT GROUP (SBAG) COORDINATION LEAD: DELAY OF APPLICATION DUE DATE
- LPI LAUNCHES 2026 EXTRATERRESTRIAL MATERIALS ACADEMY FOR UNDERGRADUATES
- TEACHING STRATEGIES THAT WORK: ONLINE WORKSHOP
- HOW TO CREATE A SUPPORTIVE RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS: ONLINE WORKSHOP
- AAS WORKING GROUP SHARES STATUS OF 2026 ASTRONOMY GRADUATE ADMISSIONS
- NEW HORIZONS SCIENCE SPOTLIGHT WEBINAR – TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
- PIERAZZO INTERNATIONAL STUDENT TRAVEL AWARD APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN
- CURRENT TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR ICARUS AND THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
- JOBS, POSITIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES
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MESSAGE FROM THE DPS COMMITTEE: CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR SPOKANE ORGANIZING COMMITTEES
The next DPS annual meeting will be held October 25-30, 2026 at the Spokane Convention Center in Spokane, Washington (https://www.spokanecenter.com/). The chair of the Local Organizing Committee is Dr. Jason Barnes of the University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, and our new chair for the Science Organizing Committee (SOC) is Dr. Abigail Fraeman of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA. This year we’re expanding the scope of the former virtual organizing committee to cover issues pertaining to all aspects of accessibility to conference presentations: the virtual meeting including setup and staffing to handle questions; discoverability of information at the meeting and on the web site; and access at the meeting for disabled persons. This new Accessibility Organizing Committee (AOC) will be chaired by Dr. Jennifer Piatek of Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT.
We are looking for volunteers for both the SOC and AOC. If you are interested in the SOC please email Abby Fraeman and Scott Murchie and indicate the topics that you are interested in helping to shape into a meeting program. If you are interested in the AOC please email Jen Piatek and Scott and indicate the areas where you can help. Both committees will begin meeting in early 2026. Thanks in advance!
– Scott Murchie, DPS Committee Chair
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YEAR END DRIVE: STAND UP FOR STUDENTS, SUPPORT DPS TRAVEL GRANT FUNDS!
In these times when funding for planetary science is increasingly scarce, DPS travel grants provide a lifeline to early career scientists just getting into the field. These grants are supported by dedicated endowments and each year the proceeds support attendance of students in need of funds to attend the DPS annual meeting. This can be a transformative experience, especially for those exploring STEM fields or who are new to research. Thirty-four travel grants were awarded to attend the recent joint DPS-EPSC meeting in Helsinki, Finland, but they met only about half of the need. Please consider a generous, tax-deductible contribution to help support and grow our two travel grant programs, or our dependent care grant program to enable those caring for others to attend.
- Hartmann Student Travel Grants support student presentations at the annual DPS meeting. Postdoctoral scholars may also be eligible, but students are prioritized.
- Underrepresented Minority (URM) Communities in Planetary Science Travel Grants support attendance by students and professionals who are members of groups that have had inadequate access to the planetary science community, such as students and professionals hailing from colleges and non-R1 academic or research institutions that have not traditionally benefited from connections to the planetary science community, and/or students and professionals with degrees in broader STEM disciplines (e.g., chemistry, physics, engineering, mathematics) who are new to the planetary science community.
- The Susan Niebur Professional Development Fund provides financial assistance to DPS members in order to enable their attendance at the DPS annual meeting by offsetting costs for child care, elder care, spousal care, etc. at the meeting location or at home during the DPS conference.
To donate, please log in to your AAS account, and select the grant you wish to support. Thank you SO MUCH in advance!
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AAS PUBLIC POLICY OFFICE WANTS TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE STILL AWAITING THEIR FY 2025 GRANTS
Are You Awaiting FY2025 Funds for Awarded Grants? If so, use the form at the following link to inform AAS if you have yet to receive grant funds: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdfoi4DU99XRH1PPyAHufgnuBupA8fImiO11u-uYmOcrhfXwQ/viewform.
The AAS Public Policy Office will privately contact those who respond to help connect you with your Congressional representatives and advocate for the release of awarded grant funds as soon as possible. All responses will remain confidential.
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AAS TAKE ACTION TO SUPPORT THE ASTRONOMICAL SCIENCES
Please take a few minutes today to encourage members of Congress to end the government shutdown, protect astronomical programs and facilities in Fiscal Year 2026, and defend STEM workforce programs. After completing these action alerts, we strongly encourage you to call or meet with your congressional offices using our suggested action items.
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ICES IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM REGISTRATION CLOSING SOON
The Second Workshop on Ices in the Solar System: A Volatile Excursion from Mercury and the Moon to the Kuiper Belt and Beyond is scheduled for January 5–7, 2026, at Dawson College in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Registration deadline: November 25, 2025
Second Workshop on Ices in the Solar System
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AGU LAUNCHES THE AGU GRANT FINDER
Searching for research funding can be frustrating, especially during these unprecedented times—but it doesn’t have to be.
We’ve launched the AGU Grant Finder, a powerful resource personalized to your research profile.
AGU Grant Finder is your gateway to thousands of funding opportunities from 700+ sources. Get personalized recommendations that match your scientific background, or search on your own by keyword or funder.
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INVITATION TO JOIN ROMAN SPACE TELESCOPE PROPOSAL PLANNING
The Roman Space Telescope is preparing to launch in late 2026. Three core community surveys and one General Astrophysics Survey (GAS) have already been designed. Details can be found at: https://roman.gsfc.nasa.gov/
A call for additional GAS’s is expected soon. While all of these surveys will produce data for solar system science, none are specifically designed for such. The Exoplanets and Solar System Working Group leads invite you to participate in proposal discussion, design and preparation. The proposals are structured differently than typical space-telescope calls and need to be designed for optimal scientific return across the board for Solar System and/or exo-planet science.
A call for pipeline/analysis tools is also expected. We desire input from the community to learn both what tools might already exist/can be adapted, and what tools need to be developed.
We meet the 1st Tuesday of each month on Zoom and invite you to join us. We will add meetings as needed moving forward.
Our next meeting is 2 December 2025 from 3-4pm EST at:
https://osu.zoom.us/j/93405766421?pwd=sEKhbq64QfBcjv7fn62rHZsb67LvNn.1
If you want to connect before our next meeting or have questions, please contact Susan Benecchi.
Solar System/Exoplanet Working group co-lead
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34TH MEETING OF THE NASA SMALL BODIES ASSESSMENT GROUP (SBAG)
The NASA Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG) meeting is scheduled for January 13–14, 2026, at the Johns Hopkins at Mt. Washington campus in Baltimore, Maryland. The meeting will be held in person with opportunities for virtual participation.
This is one of SBAG’s biannual meetings, which addresses the community’s concerns and gathers reports on small-body missions, planetary defense, observing campaigns, and related topics from project leaders and NASA Headquarters. In addition, opportunities for early-career researchers, such as presentations, networking, and job searches, also exist. Finally, informal scientific and technical discussions around small bodies occur among the participants.
Registration fees are not being collected for this meeting, but registration is required. Registration will be available through January 14. Before the meeting, all registrants will receive an email from Houston Meeting Info with virtual connection information.
Early-career researchers and students are encouraged to apply for both early-career opportunities and travel support.
Invited Early-Career Speakers: We will select approximately two early-career researchers who will each give a presentation (approximately 15 minutes, including Q&A).
Lightning Talks: We will provide time on the agenda for additional early-career researchers and engineers attending the meeting to introduce themselves and their research to the community.
Meeting Mentor: Interested early-career members of the small body’s community will be paired with an SBAG meeting mentor to help broaden the networks of early-career researchers and engineers.
Travel and Participation Support: We will offer travel and participation stipends to support students and early-career researchers to attend the meeting.
Visit the SBAG website for more information about each opportunity and submission details.
Submission deadline: November 26, 2025 Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG)
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OPAG VIRTUAL FALL MEETING
Dear OPAG Community,
We hope you are well. We wanted to reach out regarding our upcoming (virtual) OPAG Fall meeting, scheduled for November 17–19. We hope that the government shutdown does not impact our agenda (now available online here) and that our NASA and HQ colleagues will be able to participate as planned. If not, we will hold a science-focused meeting (essentially just Days 2–3, November 18–19) so that our community can still come together and share information, with plans to hold another meeting in early 2026 with NASA and HQ participation.
We plan to make a decision on Monday, November 10, regarding whether we proceed with our Fall meeting agenda as planned or defer to a science-only agenda. Given that this meeting is virtual, we feel this one-week notice is sufficient for you all to make other plans for that extra day.
So, look for an email from us by the end of the day on Monday, November 10.
Best regards,
Morgan and Carol, on behalf of the OPAG Steering Committee
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EARLY-CAREER SMALL BODIES ASSESSMENT GROUP (SBAG) COORDINATION LEAD: DELAY OF APPLICATION DUE DATE
Earlier this month, the SBAG steering committee issued a solicitation for the next Early-Career SBAG Coordination Lead (formerly referred to as SBAG Early-Career Secretary). The application due date is being deferred to a TBD date—after the government shutdown ends—to enable as many interested people as possible to apply. A new application due date will be shared at a later time.
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LPI LAUNCHES 2026 EXTRATERRESTRIAL MATERIALS ACADEMY FOR UNDERGRADUATES
The LPI is now accepting applications for the 2026 Extraterrestrial Materials Academy (ETMA), a 10-week intensive paid summer academy for undergraduate students. The academy will run from June 8 to August 15, 2026.
The academy will provide training for participants to develop analytical and laboratory skills, build knowledge to be competitive for future careers in planetary science, with a focus on sample science, and equip participants with resources to help support their professional journey.
Students from colleges and universities that are not R1 institutions are highly encouraged to apply. Application deadline: January 16, 2026
For more information, visit https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/etma2026/.
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TEACHING STRATEGIES THAT WORK: ONLINE WORKSHOP
AAS and the American Physical Society (APS) are pleased to share our free online workshop, “Teaching Strategies that Work,” on Nov 13, 2025 from 2:00–4:00pm ET.
Looking for ways to help your students improve their understanding of course topics, as well as their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities? In this two-hour online workshop, led by facilitators from the AAPT/APS/AAS Physics and Astronomy FTI, participants will learn the principles of teaching and learning to guide their teaching choices, gain access to valuable instructional resources, and receive support in planning a feasible classroom change that will improve learning for all students. This workshop is suitable for instructors of all levels of experience, regardless of whether your classes are large or small, introductory or upper-division, in-person, virtual, or hybrid. We look forward to working with the broader AAS education community on structuring their learning environments to support the success of all learners. Presenters: Rachel Scherr (University of Washington Bothell) and Ed Prather (University of Arizona). Register Here
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HOW TO CREATE A SUPPORTIVE RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS: ONLINE WORKSHOP
AAS and the American Physical Society (APS) are pleased to share our free online workshop, “How to Create a Supportive Research Environment for Graduate Students,” on Nov 20, 2025 from 3:00–5:00pm ET.
How does your program support graduate students as they navigate their growth as researchers? How do you structure the experience of graduate students in research groups to support their needs? How does the mission and vision of your graduate program contribute to the goals of you, your students, and your institution? How does it shape your mentoring of graduate students? In this two-hour, interactive virtual session, individuals associated with the EP3 Initiative will facilitate a panel discussion on strategies and practices for effective leadership of scientific research groups. The panel includes experts from a range of disciplines (physics, education research, and astronomy) and group sizes. Discussion topics will include the mission and vision of graduate programs and research groups; expectations for group leaders and members; career pathways for research students; mentoring and professional development of graduate students; transitions into and out of research groups; research group management; and group culture and environment. Participants will have opportunities throughout the session to ask questions to learn from the panelists’ expertise. (Please note: the workshop will not directly address seeking grant funding, student financial support, or graduate program admissions.) Register Here
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AAS WORKING GROUP SHARES STATUS OF 2026 ASTRONOMY GRADUATE ADMISSIONS
As graduate programs continue to be impacted by the current fiscal and policy climate, the AAS has convened a new Working Group on Graduate Admissions (WGGA) to monitor the status of astronomy graduate admissions and produce recommendations towards their improvement. This summer and fall, WGGA has surveyed over 150 astronomy and physics graduate programs. We have now released a list of astronomy graduate programs and their intended plans for graduate admissions this fall:
US Astronomy Graduate Admissions, AY 2025-2026
This list is meant to serve as a useful resource for applicants, advisers, and the astronomy community as a whole, offering clarity and a central information source to help understand the current state of graduate admissions in our field during an unusual year.
While a number of programs currently plan to proceed without any major changes, others intend to aim for a smaller-than-usual class size or have chosen to cancel/suspend admissions for this year; some are also still “TBD”. Due to ongoing uncertainty regarding the federal budget and other key issues that impact graduate program enrollment and funding, this list will continue to evolve over the coming days and weeks.
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NEW HORIZONS SCIENCE SPOTLIGHT WEBINAR – TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
New Horizons spotlight seminars have been temporarily suspended, please feel free to avail yourself of previous recordings archived at:
https://pluto.jhuapl.edu/News-Center/index.php#Spotlight-Presentations
When seminars are resumed we will update both the website and via newsletters. Thanks for your continued interest.
For questions, contact New Horizons CoI Susan Benecchi.
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PIERAZZO INTERNATIONAL STUDENT TRAVEL AWARD APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN
Each year, subject to receiving qualified applications, the Planetary Science Institute bestows two awards: The first award supports a U.S.-based Ph.D. student to attend a planetary science-related conference or workshop located outside the U.S. The second award facilitates a non-U.S.-based Ph.D. student to attend a planetary science-related conference within the U.S. Eligible events include planetary-focused sessions at general meetings like AGU, GSA, EGU, and IAG. The event should be open to general participation by the planetary community.
Each award offers a certificate and up to $2,000 in travel support, to be presented by a PSI representative at a scientific conference or meeting. We believe these awards can foster international collaboration and broaden the horizons of aspiring planetary scientists.
For more information, go to: The Pierazzo International Student Travel Award – Planetary Science Institute
Applications close at 9 PM MST, November 25, 2025 for meetings occurring in calendar 2026. Late applications will not be accepted. Winners will be announced on or before December 7.
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CURRENT TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR ICARUS AND THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
The current issues for both DPS-affiliated journals are here:
Icarus:
Icarus | Vol 440, In progress (1 November 2025) | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier
The Planetary Science Journal:
Issue 11 – Volume 6 – The Planetary Science Journal – IOPscience
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JOBS, POSITIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES
Job seekers and employers are encouraged to browse DPS’s job listings and advertise open positions **for free** on the DPS job board.
Full details for several new positions can be found on the DPS job board.
A summary of recent job announcements and postdoc opportunities is listed below.
- Postdoctoral Research Associate (Planetary Atmospheres)
Postdoctoral Research Associate I (Planetary Atmospheres)
The Lunar & Planetary Laboratory at the University of Arizona has an opening for a Postdoctoral Research Associate I in the field of modeling of planetary atmospheres. Research areas include hydrodynamic atmospheric escape from rocky exoplanets, nitrogen and sulfur cycling on early Mars and Earth, chemical kinetics of early Earth, Venus, Mars, and analogous exoplanets, and interior-atmosphere interactions on rocky worlds. Candidates are encouraged to reach out to Prof. Ranjan in advance of their application to cooperatively identify specific research topics of mutual interest. Applicants should have previous experience modeling the atmospheres of planets or exoplanets, although a variety of backgrounds may be relevant. Candidates with expertise in 1D hydrodynamic escape of rocky planet atmospheres and/or in modeling early terrestrial or Martian geochemistry are especially encouraged to apply. The position is for a period of up to three years, renewable annually contingent on satisfactory performance reviews.
First review of applications will begin 12/15/2025. UA LPL is a stimulating, world-class department with strong connections to missions and the next generation of telescopes, as well as to our colleagues in Astronomy and Geoscience. Tucson is a great place to live, with excellent hiking, great food, and a low cost of living. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions!
Web Link: https://arizona.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/4/home/requisition/23799
- Assistant Professor, Computational Earth and Planetary Materials, Stony Brook University
The Department of Geosciences at Stony Brook University invites applications for a full-time tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant Professor level in computational Earth and planetary materials. We seek a candidate with the potential to carry out a program of research in the broadly-defined area of computational materials chemistry with applications to the geosciences that may complement one or more of the Department’s current and traditional
research strengths, and who will be an effective teacher in undergraduate and graduate courses. Details of the Department’s areas of research emphasis and current facilities can be found at: Home | Department of Geosciences
Interested applicants can apply at: Assistant Professor – Computational Earth and Planetary Materials, Department of Geosciences, College of Arts and Sciences
- Positions at the Swedish Institute of Space Physics
PhD student in space physics (dnr: 2.2.1-362/25):
https://www.irf.se/en/karriar/861091
Postdoctoral position in space physics (dnr: 2.2.1-363/25):
https://www.irf.se/en/karriar/869052
Staff Scientist, Ionospheric Physics (dnr: 2.2.1-364/25):
https://www.irf.se/en/karriar/868274
- UT Austin Center for Planetary Systems Habitability Prize Postdoctoral Fellowship
The Astronomy Department and the Center for Planetary Systems Habitability (CPSH) at the University of Texas at Austin invite applications for an institutional prize postdoctoral fellowship. CPSH is an interdisciplinary organization at UT Austin that seeks to advance
our understanding of planetary habitability by bringing together members from three different Colleges within UT Austin (the College of Natural Sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences, and Cockrell School of Engineering):
https://habitability.utexas.edu
We are seeking candidates with knowledge and/or interest in habitability, broadly interpreted. Successful candidates will indicate two mentors associated with the Center, including one from the Department of Astronomy and another from a different department. The ideal candidate will work on a series of projects that intersect two or more disciplines.
The start date is September 2026. Before starting, the applicants should have obtained a Ph.D. in Astronomy, Planetary Science, or related field. Initial appointment is for 1 year, expected to be
renewed for up to 3 years. The deadline for applications is December 8, 2025. Application details can be found here:
https://aas.org/jobregister/ad/7c51f40c
- McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowship
Washington University in St. Louis invites applicants to conduct independent research as a postdoctoral fellow of the McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences (MCSS) in the broad field of space sciences. We welcome applicants with interests in Astromaterials, Cosmochemistry, or Meteoritics; Experimental, Theoretical, or Observational Astrophysics; Planetary Science; Particle and Nuclear Physics, Cosmology and Gravitation; and Earth as a Planet. In their application materials, the candidate should describe their research interests and list potential collaborators from among the faculty fellows of the MCSS.
Employment in this fellowship is planned to begin in July 2026 for an anticipated initial one-year term, with the possibility of renewal for a second year.
Candidates must have a PhD or be a May 2026 degree candidate specializing in one of the fields listed above and have a record of excellent scholarship. Ideal candidates will have demonstrated expertise in relevant observational, lab-based, theoretical, and computational methodologies.
Applications and reference letters are due December 20, 2025.
More information: Postdoctoral Fellowship Opening | McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences
For information about the MCSS, go to: McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences
- PhD and Postdoc Positions at Kapteyn Astronomical Institute
The Kapteyn Astronomical Institute at the University of Groningen (Netherlands) invites applications for in total 7 PhD and 4 ERC-funded postdoc positions in our annual call.
All PhD positions: 7 PhD positions at the Kapteyn Astronomical Institute
All postdoctoral positions: 4 ERC-funded postdoctoral positions at the Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
Planetary-themed positions spann topics from protoplanetary disks & planet formation to the theory and observation of rocky and gaseous exoplanets. Among these positions, we are looking to hire a postdoc and PhD within the context of the ERC MagmaWorlds project on exoplanet geophysics. For these positions we are in particular searching for researchers and students with a background in computational geophysics or planetary science. More details on these positions can be found here: ERC MagmaWorlds Positions 2025 | Forming Worlds
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