Newsletter 21-09

Issue 21-09, April 25, 2021

 

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  1. DART BOARDERS PROGRAM
  2. EPSC 2021 ICE GIANT SYSTEM SCIENCE AND EXPLORATION
  3. SMALL BODIES ASSESSMENT GROUP (SBAG) STEERING COMMITTEE POSITIONS OPEN
  4. ARECIBO OBSERVATORY QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER NOW AVAILABLE
  5. NEW PLANETARY SOCIETY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
  6. NASA COMMUNITY COLLEGE NETWORK INVITES SCIENTISTS TO PARTICIPATE
  7. JOBS, POSITIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES

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DART BOARDERS PROGRAM

 

Inspired by similar programs on other missions (Dragonfly, Psyche, InSight, and Europa Clipper), the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) Investigation Team is organizing a pilot program intended to expose early career scientists to the experience of working on a mission team. We are inviting a select number of senior graduate students and early career scientists (less than 7 years since PhD or Masters’ degree) to be “DART Boarders” to observe our next mission Investigation Team meeting from 14-18 June, 2021. We hope that this will provide valuable insight into the work and team dynamics that take place on missions, help early career scientists make informed decisions about their career paths, and potentially provide opportunities for networking among the DART Boarders and between them and the team. Unfortunately, we cannot offer support for time spent in the program, but we anticipate a time commitment of roughly 16-20 hours spread over the week of the team meeting, with a few introductory hours the prior week.

 

This opportunity is open to advanced graduate students and early career scientists regardless of nationality. We note that the team meeting will be virtual and held during typical North American working hours. Respondents will be selected based upon the anticipated impact to their career path and the alignment of their research interests with the scientific objectives of the mission, while giving preference to candidates who do not have existing connections to the team via existing advisor-student relationships. DART recognizes and supports the benefits of having diverse and inclusive communities and expects that such values will be reflected in this opportunity. Questions can be sent to [email protected] with the subject line “DART Boarders”.

 

Please indicate your interest by filling out the following form by Tuesday, 11 May, 2021: https://forms.gle/LF3K9vtKMP6xCRwq6

 

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EPSC 2021 ICE GIANT SYSTEM SCIENCE AND EXPLORATION

 

Abstract submission open until May 26

 

Conveners: D.H. Atkinson, O. Mousis, S.K. Atreya, T. Cavalie, K.E. Mandt, A. Probst, M. Hofstadter, L.N. Fletcher, J.-P. Lebreton

 

This session will cover all aspects of ice giant (IG) systems including (but not limited to) the atmospheric structure and composition, magnetospheres, interiors, satellites, and rings of the IGs. Interdisciplinary, cross-cutting themes of ice giant planet exploration, such as the relationship to exoplanetary science and connections to heliophysics are also included in the session. The session will comprise a combination of solicited and contributed oral and poster presentations on new, continuing, and future studies of the ice giant systems and the importance of the ice giants to  models of the formation and evolution of the giant planets and solar systems.

 

For more information, please email [email protected]

 

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SMALL BODIES ASSESSMENT GROUP (SBAG) STEERING COMMITTEE POSITIONS OPEN

 

We are seeking applications for four positions for the Steering Committee of the Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG), with three-year terms starting in August 2021.

 

The SBAG Steering Committee organizes SBAG meetings, writes the official SBAG findings, and takes a leadership role in other activities where community input on topics of interest is needed. The application requires a) a two-page CV, which should include a description of participation in SBAG or other small bodies community organizations, and b) a one-page statement of interest. Previous participation in SBAG is preferred, but not required. Please send your applications by email to Bonnie Buratti ([email protected]) by May 17, 2021, 8:00 PM Eastern time. The current Steering Committee will select new members prior to the 25rd Meeting of SBAG, June 7-8, 2021.

 

Bonnie Buratti, SBAG Steering Committee Chair

Website: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/sbag/

 

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ARECIBO OBSERVATORY QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER NOW AVAILABLE

 

The Spring 2021 Arecibo Observatory Newsletter is now available! Each newsletter features science highlights and updates about the telescope, staff, and current education programs. The newsletter also includes articles about recent AO planetary science observations and publications. You can subscribe to receive future newsletters via email: Join AO Newsletter list.

 

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NEW PLANETARY SOCIETY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

 

The Planetary Society invites proposals to its new grants program, Science and Technology Empowered by the Public (STEP) Grants. These are planetary science or technology grants chosen from an open, international, competed proposal process. Proposals must fit within one or more of The Planetary Society’s core enterprises (Explore Worlds, Find Life, Defend Earth). All funding will come from Planetary Society members and donors. Grant winners need to provide regular, short project updates and be willing to support The Planetary Society’s efforts to share the content and excitement of the project with members and the public. Preliminary proposals (pre-proposals) are due May 26, 2021. Based on the pre-proposal submissions, a small number of proposers will be invited to submit full proposals from which grant selections will be made. For this first round of STEP Grants, the nominal expectation is two awards at approximately the US $50,000 level each.

For more information, visit http://planetary.org/stepgrants

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NASA COMMUNITY COLLEGE NETWORK INVITES SCIENTISTS TO PARTICIPATE

 

The NASA Community College Network (NCCN), operated by the SETI Institute through funding from NASA’s Science Activation program, is recruiting 25 NASA-funded scientists to participate from April 2021 through June 2022 to help shape the development of their network. This program will bring NASA subject matter experts, research findings, and educational resources into the science classrooms of the United States’ community college system. NCCN is accepting applications which will be considered to ensure broad-scale representation from across the United States for this pilot cohort.

 

Participants will work with NCCN to bring accessible content to community colleges. This might involve refining and developing materials or directly connecting with community college instructors and their students. The NCCN team will facilitate and coordinate interactions and activities with participating community college instructors. Participants will also attend a total of 10 hours of virtual project meetings, and sessions discussing best practices for sharing NASA science content and resources with community college instructors and students. Flexible options will be offered to fit your schedule. Participants will also contribute to the assessment of the NCCN program by participating in occasional surveys and interviews conducted by the program’s external evaluator.

 

If you are interested in this program and can make the commitment, please complete the participant information form at

 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfUJrte3BB_6L5jYMPzKtQqok7D09-Frd7qROr3LO0kzzuSsw/viewform

 

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JOBS, POSITIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES

 

A. Preceptor in Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University

 

https://jobregister.aas.org/ad/80a2ed41

 

B. Postdoctoral research scientist at The Planetary Science Institute

 

https://www.psi.edu/about/hr

 

C. Ph.D. position in exoplanetary science at U. Central Florida

 

For more information, reach out to Prof. Ramirez at [email protected]

 

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Send submissions to:

 

Maria Womack, DPS Secretary ([email protected])

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