Newsletter 17-02

Issue 17-02, January 17, 2017

 

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  1.  LOTTERY FOR 1-YEAR COMPLIMENTARY SUBSCRIPTION TO ICARUS
  2. THE DPS COMMITTEE REMINDS YOU TO VOTE IN THE AAS ELECTIONS
  3. NASA NEW FRONTIERS 4 AO PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE
  4. CALL FOR NEW MEMBERSHIP IN TMT INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE DEVELOPMENT TEAMS
  5. OPAG MEETING REGISTRATION OPEN
  6. TOWN HALLS TO DISCUSS EUROPA LANDER SDT REPORT
  7. JOBS, POSITIONS, OPPORTUNITIES

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LOTTERY FOR 1-YEAR COMPLIMENTARY SUBSCRIPTION TO ICARUS
 

As part of the Division’s agreement with Elsevier, the publisher offers 30 free 

subscriptions to Icarus every year.  With thanks to Tony Roman, our webmaster, 

for setting up this link, enter the lottery at 

publications/icarus-complimentary

You may enter the lottery if your institution doesn’t have a subscription to Icarus 

and you provide a statement explaining your need/desire for a free subscription. 

The lottery will close in 2 weeks after this notice.

 

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THE DPS COMMITTEE REMINDS YOU TO VOTE IN THE AAS ELECTIONS

 

Don’t forget to vote in AAS elections. The DPS is the largest AAS division. 

Perry Gerakines and Doris Daou are running for the nominating committee that 

selects candidates for officers and councilors and Karen Meech and Terry Oswalt 

are running for Councilor. 

 

Balloting closes at 11:59 pm EST on 1 February 2017

https://vote.aas.org/ballot/ballot_view/34 

 

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NASA NEW FRONTIERS 4 AO PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE
 
Potential proposers to the New Frontiers 4 AO soliciting Principal 
Investigator (PI)-led science investigations utilizing a complete 
spaceflight mission are encouraged to attend the pre-proposal 
conference on Friday, January 20, 2017, from 11:00 am to 
approximately 3:30 pm eastern time (Washington, DC). Information 
will be presented by NASA officials, and participants will have the 
opportunity to pose questions regarding the opportunity. The 
conference will be virtual and participation will be facilitated 
via Webex and teleconference phone line. Travel to the pre-proposal 
conference is not necessary and attendance in person is not 
supported. The agenda and instructions will be posted at the NF4 
acquisition website (https://newfrontiers.larc.nasa.gov/) under 
the Pre-Proposal tab. Attendance is open to all and no registration 
is required.

 

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CALL FOR NEW MEMBERSHIP IN TMT INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE 

DEVELOPMENT TEAMS

 

Applications for membership in the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) International Science Development Teams (ISDTs) are being accepted until 20 January 2017

The ISDTs are research groups that provide scientific guidance and feedback 

to the TMT project, stimulate planning for future TMT observing programs, 

and build connections between TMT and the international astronomical 

community. They foster scientific collaboration across the TMT partnership 

and beyond, into the broader astronomical community. ISDT membership is 

open to all qualified Ph.D. scientists.

 

ISDT members contributed extensively to the 2015 edition of the

TMT Detailed Science Case. They have organized parallel topical sessions 

at the annual TMT Science Forum, and have recently written a set of 

concept studies for TMT Key Project observing programs.

 

There are currently nine ISDTs, organized around the following science themes:

  • Fundamental physics and cosmology
  • Early universe, galaxy formation and the intergalactic medium
  • Supermassive black holes
  • Milky Way and nearby galaxies
  • Stars, stellar physics and the interstellar medium
  • Formation of stars and planets
  • Exoplanets
  • Our solar system
  • Time domain science

Application instructions are available at the TMT ISDT web site, where you can

also find more detailed information about the ISDTs, their organizers, membership, 

and activities. ISDT membership entails a commitment of time and effort. 

Applications will be evaluated by the ISDT organizers and the TMT Science 

Advisory Committee based on the candidate’s scientific qualifications, the 

activities that he or she proposes to carry out in support of the ISDT and TMT, 

and the level of effort that he or she can commit to investing in ISDT activities.

 

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OPAG MEETING REGISTRATION OPEN

 

Registration is now open for the OPAG meeting to be held 

February 22–23 in Atlanta, Georgia.

 

To register, visit http://www.cvent.com/d/zvq56f

(the page also includes hotel information).

 

This link has also been added to the meeting information on the OPAG website 

(http://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/).

 

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TOWN HALLS TO DISCUSS EUROPA LANDER SDT REPORT
 
NASA is currently conducting a pre-phase A study of a Europa lander 
mission concept with the primary goal of searching for evidence of 
biomarkers and/or extant life on Europa. The SDT report will be 
released in late January, and NASA and the SDT are eager to hear 
feedback from the science community on the science content and 
implementation for the mission concept. To that end, NASA will host 
interactive town halls at LPSC and AbSciCon to discuss the SDT report.  
The purpose of these town halls is to provide an extended opportunity 
to communicate the science content of the report to the scientific 
community and, equally importantly, to engage in constructive 
discussion with the scientific community. The workshops will take 
place on the afternoons of Sunday, March 19, for LPSC and Sunday, 
April 23, for AbSciCon. For questions please contact Dr. Curt Niebur 
at [email protected].

 

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JOBS, POSITIONS, OPPORTUNITIES

 

A) SCIENTIST LEVEL II, EXOPLANET AND COMPARATIVE PLANETARY SYSTEMS SCIENCE

JET PROPULSION LABORATORY

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA

 

https://jobregister.aas.org/node/58363

 

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology 

invites applications for a staff Scientist position under the Exoplanetary 

Science Initiative. We are seeking a scientist who will take an active 

role as a leader and collaborator in the area of exoplanet and comparative 

planetary science. The successful candidate benefitswill also contribute 

to the development of mission and instrument concepts, science analysis 

plans, and support science program management. The candidate will be 

expected to develop a strong research program, and to maintain 

communication with astrophysics and planetary scientists at JPL and Caltech, 

including with the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center (IPAC), the 

NASA Exoplanet Science Institute (NExScI), and the NASA Exoplanet 

Exploration Program. We require a Ph.D. in astrophysics, planetary science, 

or related field, with a record of publications in exoplanet or planetary 

science, or related field. The candidate is expected to take initiative in 

collaborating across exoplanet and planetary sciences, to support 

planning, development, and implementation activities related to these, 

and to demonstrate effective presentation and communication skills.

 

B) RESEARCH SUPPORT SPECIALIST III-
     SPIF DATA MANAGER/GIS SPECIALIST-

CORNELL UNIVERSITY

ITHACA, NEW YORK

The Cornell Center for Atmospheric and Planetary Science seeks

candidates with GIS experience to fill our Spacecraft Planetary

Imaging Facility, (SPIF) Data Manager’s/GIS Specialist position. 

The SPIF Manager is responsible for the management of all aspects

of SPIF operations. Assisting users in locating, processing and

analyzing spacecraft data stored in NASA Planetary Data Systems.

The successful candidate will hold yearly workshops on ArcGIS,

SOCET, SET/GPX, and PDS data processing using USGS ISIS

software package. They will also develop and maintain education/public

outreach programs alongside existing center outreach personnel.

To apply and see additional information please go to:
https://cornell.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/CornellCareerPage/job/Ithaca-Main-Campus/SPIF-Data-Manager-GIS-Specialist_WDR-00009712-1.

Questions may be directed to Lynda Sovocool, Finance and Human

Resource Manager, [email protected]

 

C) POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE

 

LOWELL OBSERVATORY

FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA

 

content/post-doctoral-research-associate-1

 

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Send submissions to:

Anne Verbiscer, DPS Secretary ([email protected]

 

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