Issue 22-10, April 26, 2022
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- PLANETARY SCIENCE AND ASTROBIOLOGY DECADAL SURVEY 2023-2032
- NEW DIRECTOR FOR THE MINOR PLANET CENTER
- SBAG STEERING COMMITTEE POSITIONS OPEN
- ARECIBO OBSERVATORY SPRING 2022 NEWSLETTER NOW AVAILABLE
- SBAG EARLY CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
- EPSC SESSION OPS2 (EXPLORATION OF TITAN)
- JOBS, POSITIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES
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PLANETARY SCIENCE AND ASTROBIOLOGY DECADAL SURVEY 2023-2032
A new decadal survey from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine identifies scientific priorities and opportunities and makes funding recommendations to maximize the advancement of planetary science, astrobiology, and planetary defense in the next 10 years.
The report identifies three high-level scientific themes — origins, worlds and processes, and life and habitability — and defines 12 priority science questions to help guide mission selection and research efforts in planetary science and astrobiology.
Read more, including the report, at the link:
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NEW DIRECTOR FOR THE MINOR PLANET CENTER
The Small Bodies Node (SBN) of NASA's Planetary Data System announces that Dr. Matthew Payne has been appointed to the Directorship of the Minor Planet Center (MPC), located at the Center for Astrophysics, Harvard and Smithsonian.
https://pds-smallbodies.astro.umd.edu/
https://minorplanetcenter.net/
Previously the Project Scientist at the MPC, Dr. Payne has served as Acting Director of the MPC since February 2021. Dr. Payne has overseen several recent improvements in the MPC's operations, including the integration of a full helpdesk system, and has led automation and modernization efforts to optimize observational data processing and in preparation for the next generation of surveys. SBN looks forward to future improvements planned under Matthew Payne's leadership. The Minor Planet Center, operating under the auspices of the International Astronomical Union, is a functional sub-node of SBN and is funded by the Near-Earth Object Observations Program of NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office.
https://www.nasa.gov/specials/pdco/index.html
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SBAG STEERING COMMITTEE POSITIONS OPEN (MAY 6)
Three positions are open for the Steering Committee of the Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG), with three-year terms starting in August 2022.
The 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.
In addition to a member in Planetary Defense who works to understand the population of small bodies that may impact our planet, we seek two at-large members in any area of small body research at any career stage.
The application requires: 1) a two-page CV, including a description of participation in SBAG or other small bodies organizations, and 2) a short (300 words maximum) statement of interest. Criteria for selection are: participation in small bodies community organizations, leadership experience, and relevant research or mission experience.
In support of diversity, applicants may specify gender, whether they belong to an underrepresented group in STEM, or other additional relevant information.
Send applications to Bonnie Buratti (bonnie.buratti@jpl.nasa.gov) by May 6, 2022, 8:00 PM EDT. New members will be announced at the 27th Meeting of SBAG, June 7-9, 2022.
Bonnie Buratti, SBAG Steering Committee Chair
Website: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/sbag/
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ARECIBO OBSERVATORY SPRING 2022 NEWSLETTER NOW AVAILABLE
The Spring 2022 Arecibo Observatory Newsletter is now available! Each newsletter features science highlights and updates about the facility, staff, and education program. The newsletter includes articles and highlights about recent planetary science publications using Arecibo data:
- AO REU Student Published Radar Study on Large Potentially Hazardous Asteroid
- Arecibo Radar Maps of Venus from 1998 - 2020
- Arecibo S-Band Radar Characterization of Local-Scale Heterogeneities within Mercury’s North Polar Deposits
You can subscribe to receive future newsletters via email: Join AO Newsletter list.
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SBAG EARLY CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
The upcoming NASA Small Bodies Assessment Group meeting will be held virtually and in person in Washington D.C. on June 7 – 9 2022. There will be multiple presentation opportunities at this meeting specifically for the early career small body community including invited early-career speakers and lightning talks. Applications for 15-minute invited talks and ~3 minute lightning talks are due via email by COB (5 pm Eastern Time) by May 11 2022.
Additional details about these opportunities will be available on the SBAG meeting website: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/sbag/meetings/. Please send the application to SBAG Early Career Secretary Stephanie Jarmak (stephanie.jarmak@swri.org) and feel free to contact her if you have any questions about the application process.
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EPSC SESSION OPS2 (EXPLORATION OF TITAN)
The Europlanet Science Congress (EPSC) 2022 is planned to be held in Granada, Spain, 18–23 September 2022, in person! We’d like to direct your attention towards the session OPS2 « Exploration of Titan ».
Conveners: Alice Le Gall, Anezina Solomonidou | Co-conveners: Ralph Lorenz, Conor Nixon, Marco Mastroguiseppe, Sandrine Vinatier
Session Description: Saturn's moon Titan, despite its satellite status, has nothing to envy to planets: it has planetary dimensions, a substantial and dynamic atmosphere, a carbon cycle, a variety of geological features (dunes, lakes, rivers, mountains and more), seasons, and a hidden ocean. It even now has its own mission: Dragonfly, selected by NASA in the frame of the New Frontiers program.
In this session, scientific presentations are solicited to cover all aspects of current research on Titan: from its interior to its upper atmosphere, using data collected from the Cassini-Huygens mission (2004-2017) and/or from ground-based telescopes (e.g., ALMA) and/or based on modeling and experimental efforts to support the interpretation of past and future observations of this unique world.
See here: https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC2022/session/44576
The deadline for abstract submission is 18 May 2022, 13:00 CEST.
Information on how to submit an abstract can be found at the link: https://www.epsc2022.eu/abstract_management/how_to_submit_an_abstract.html
Looking forward to meeting you in person at last!
Best regards,
Alice Le Gall
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JOBS, POSITIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES
Job seekers and employers are encouraged to browse DPS's job listings and advertise open positions.
Recent openings and opportunities are listed below and many more are at the link above.
A. Lecture or Assistant Teaching Professor, NAU
The Dept. of Astronomy & Planetary Science, Northern Arizona University, has a Lecturer or Assistant Teaching Professor in Astronomy position opening! We'd love to invite any qualified people, and especially those with diverse backgrounds, to apply and to join us in teaching and/or developing our unique curriculum at beautiful Flagstaff, AZ! Please send any inquires to the committee chair, Dr. Lisa Chien (Lisa.Chien@nau.edu).
Lecturer or Assistant Teaching Professor, Astronomy & Planetary Science, Northern Arizona University, AZ
B. Envision Vensar Project Scientist, JPL
The Planetary Science Directorate and the Venus Synthetic Aperture Radar (VenSAR) Project seek a Project Scientist for the development and operations of the VenSAR radar on the European Space Agency’s (ESA) EnVision mission.
Details can be found at : https://citjpl.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/Jobs/job/JPL-Campus/EnVision-VenSAR-Project-Scientist_R1983
C. Postdoctoral Position In Planetary Astronomy, Caltech
Applications are invited for a postdoctoral position in planetary astronomy within Caltech's Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences. The successful applicant will collaborate with the de Kleer research group on the interpretation of thermal data of icy moons and small bodies from ALMA, the VLA, and JWST. The work will involve reduction and analysis of thermal data, as well as collaboration on the development of (sub)surface models which will be used to characterize (sub)surface processes on these worlds. The project requires training in mathematics and physics as well as strong scientific programming skills. Experience working with astronomical or spacecraft data is required, and experience with radio interferometry and/or mid-infrared spectroscopy is preferred. The successful candidate will have opportunities to mentor graduate and undergraduate students.
The start date is flexible, but will be no sooner than June 1, 2022. The initial duration of the position is one year, with renewal for up to two additional years. The position offers a competitive salary, benefits, and annual research budget, as well as access to Caltech's extensive resources, including the Keck and Palomar Observatories and computational facilities.
Applicants for the position must have a PhD in planetary science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, geology, or an equivalent field by the date of their appointment. Applicants must provide a CV including a complete list of publications; a 1-2 page statement describing their research interests and experience; and the names of three individuals who can provide letters of recommendation. Application materials should be sent to Jen Shechet (shechet@caltech.edu) no later than May 20, 2022. Questions regarding the position should be directed to Professor Katherine de Kleer (dekleer@caltech.edu).
D. Canada Excellence Research Chair In Cosmochemical Planetary Exploration, York University
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