PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 7, Number 7 (February 17, 2013) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Melissa Lane Co-Editors: Susan Benecchi, Mark V. Sykes Email: pen_editor at psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. MESSENGER MDIS Data Users' Workshop 2. Next-Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference (NSRC) 2013: Abstract Deadline Approaching 3. Ph.D. Projects in Earth and Planetary Geomorphology, Trinity College, Ireland 4. Irish Research Council Postdoctoral Fellowship 5. JGR-Planets Editor Search 6. NASA Proposal Writing Workshop at LPSC 7. NASA AO Town Hall Meeting at LPSC 8. NASA Postdoctoral Fellowships 9. [NASA] Call for Volunteer Reviewers for NESSF Program 10. [NASA] ROSES NRA is Now Available 11. [NASA] Delayed Due Date for ICESat and CryoSat-2 (ROSES 2012) 12. Venus-Related Postdoctoral Fellowship at NASA Glenn Research Center 13. Planetary Meeting Calendar Additions o---------------------------------------------------------------------o 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1 MESSENGER MDIS Data Users' Workshop Since entering orbit in 2011, MESSENGER’s Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS) has acquired >100,000 images of Mercury’s surface and created the first global maps of the Solar System’s innermost planet. A MESSENGER MDIS Data Users' Workshop will be held in association with the 44th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference on Sunday, March 17, 2013, from 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM. This workshop will introduce the available MDIS products, the calibrations applied, and tools for finding and using MDIS data, and is intended for anyone interested in using the data. To learn more about this workshop and to register, visit the MDIS Data Users' Workshop website: http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/workshop2013/workshop.html 2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2 NEXT-GENERATION SUBORBITAL RESEARCHERS CONFERENCE (NSRC) 2013: ABSTRACT DEADLINE APPROACHING NSRC-2013 will be the fourth in a series of 3-day topical meetings held since 2010 for the next-generation suborbital research and education (REM) communities. The meeting is designed to educate researchers and EPO professionals about the capabilities of the new generation of commercially-available reusable suborbital vehicles, funding and flight opportunities for flying experiments on these vehicles, and the kinds of experiments various research communities--including microgravity physics, astrophysics and planetary science, life sciences, and atmospheric science are planning. The meeting includes a NASA night. NSRC typically has over 400 attendees. Confirmed keynote speakers for 2013 include NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver, Commercial Spaceflight Federation President and former NASA astronaut Mike Lopez-Alegria, and FAA Associate Administrator George Nield. This year's meeting will be held June 3-5 in Broomfield, Colorado, just outside Boulder. The meeting web site is at: http://nsrc.swri.org/ The NSRC-2013 abstract deadline is 7 March. 3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3 PH.D. PROJECTS IN EARTH AND PLANETARY GEOMORPHOLOGY, TRINITY COLLEGE, IRELAND There are several Ph.D. projects in Earth and Planetary Geomorphology available at the Department of Geography, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. These include: Aeolian Dynamics on Mars Rock Breakdown on Mars Carbon Dioxide as a Geomorphic Process on Mars Moisture and Salinity Cycling on Aeolian Dunes, Namibia Fluvial Geomorphology and Flood History in Irish Landscapes Please bring these opportunities to the attention of your talented students. For more information, see: http://www.tcd.ie/Geography/research/gradprojects/MB2.php 4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4 IRISH RESEARCH COUNCIL POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP The Irish Research Council has advertised Postdoctoral funding opportunities. For information, see: http://www.irchss.ie/funding/postdoctoral-funding Please contact Dr. Mary C. Bourke regarding potential projects on Planetary and Earth geomorphology. Mary C. Bourke (BOURKEM4@tcd.ie) Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland 5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5 JGR-PLANETS EDITOR SEARCH AGU is looking for a dynamic, well-organized scientist with high editorial standards and strong leadership skills to serve a 4-year term as editor for the Planets section of the Journal of Geophysical Research. Applicants should be respected leaders in the community, independent-minded, and even-handed. As editor you should be committed to further strengthening JGR-Planets as the leading journal in planetary sciences and be proactive in attracting innovative contributions in traditional disciplines and in emerging areas. This position is for a second editor that will complement the duties of the current editor-in-chief. Applicants from all fields of planetary science are welcome, but those with specializations in Mars and planetary surface processes will be given special consideration. If you would like to be considered as an editor of JGR-Planets, send your curriculum vitae with a short letter of interest via email to pubmatters@agu.org. If you would like to nominate a highly qualified colleague, send a letter of recommendation to the same email address. Please make sure that you specify JGR-Planets in the subject line of the email. Deadline for applications is March 25, 2013. Contact: Mark Wieczorek, wieczor@ipgp.fr 6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6 NASA PROPOSAL WRITING WORKSHOP AT LPSC Curious about how to improve the quality of the proposals you send to NASA? Ever wonder what the review panel is really looking for when it that proposal? The Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters is offering a Proposal Writing Workshop at LPSC that is based on the cumulative experience of current and former Discipline Scientists who have managed a variety of Research and Announcement (R&A) programs at NASA Headquarters. The specific focus of this intense, educational session is to provide a greater understanding of NASA's research programs and review process and offer constructive insight into writing an effective research proposal. The event is open to all at no charge and will be held on Sunday, March 17, from 12-5 pm in Montgomery Ballroom A. All interested planetary scientists, from graduate students through emeritus professors, are encouraged to attend. To register, send an e-mail with your name, affiliation, and current position to curt.niebur@nasa.gov. 7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7 NASA AO TOWN HALL MEETING AT LPSC The preparation of an Announcement of Opportunity (AO) is a lengthy process involving a large group of stakeholders and interested parties. The Planetary Science Division has begun planning for the next Discovery and New Frontiers AOs. This preparation includes compiling lessons learned, evaluating the effectiveness and impact of past AO policies, and considering changes to the AO process and its policies and requirements. As part of this effort NASA is hosting a community discussion at LPSC. NASA participants will include Michael New, Lead Program Scientist for the Discovery Program; Curt Niebur, Lead Program Scientist for the New Frontiers Program; and Len Dudzinski, Program Executive for RPS Program. Participants will present their thoughts on past AO experiences as well as the early stages of the preparation process for the next AOs. Interested community members can share their experience and feedback as short (3 minute) presentations. Time will be reserved for a discussion with attendees led by Drs. New and Niebur. It is expected that time constraints will limit the number of community presentations, so interested presenters are encouraged to contact Curt Niebur at curt.niebur@nasa.gov prior to the meeting. 8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8 NASA POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers scientists and engineers unique opportunities to conduct research at NASA Centers. Each NPP fellowship opportunity is designed to advance NASA research in a specific project related to space science, earth science, aeronautics, exploration systems, lunar science, astrobiology, or astrophysics. Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in hand before beginning the fellowship, but may apply while completing the degree requirements. U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, and foreign nationals eligible for J-1 status as a Research Scholar may apply. Stipends start at $53,500 per year, with supplements for high cost-of-living areas and for certain academic specialties. Financial assistance is available for relocation and health insurance, and $8,000 per year is provided for professional travel. Applications are accepted three times each year: March 1, July 1, and November 1. For further information and to apply, visit: http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc/description/index.htm Questions may be submitted by e-mail to nasapostdoc@orau.org 9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9 [NASA] CALL FOR VOLUNTEER REVIEWERS FOR NESSF PROGRAM The Planetary Science Division in NASA's Science Mission Directorate is recruiting reviewers for the NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (NESSF) program. These are graduate student fellowship proposals that cover a wide range of planetary topics. The review panels will be held virtually via Webex (no travel required) in mid to late April. PSD especially encourages postdoctoral fellows and early-career professionals to apply and get some experience on a review panel. Serving on a review panel is one of the best ways to improve your proposal-writing skills. If you are interested in serving on this panel, please visit the SARA volunteer reviewer website: http://tinyurl.com/ajpchgo Questions can be sent to Sarah Noble, sarah.k.noble@nasa.gov 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 [NASA] ROSES NRA IS NOW AVAILABLE NASA's Science Mission Directorate announces the release of its annual omnibus solicitation, Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science (ROSES) for 2013: http://solicitation.nasaprs.com/ROSES2013 Details of the solicited programs are given in the Appendices of this ROSES NRA. Further information about specific program elements may be obtained from the individual Program Officers listed in the Summary of Key Information for each program element in the Appendices of this ROSES NRA, while questions concerning general ROSES NRA policies and procedures may be directed to Max Bernstein, Lead for Research, Science Mission Directorate, at sara@nasa.gov. 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 [NASA] DELAYED DUE DATE FOR ICESAT AND CRYOSAT-2 (ROSES 2012) ROSES 2012 Appendix 32: The due date for ROSES 2012 Appendix A.49 Studies with ICESat and CryoSat-2 is delayed. Proposals are now due February 22, 2013. Questions concerning Appendix A.49 Studies with ICESat and CryoSat-2 may be addressed to: Thomas Wagner, NASA Headquarters thomas.wagner@nasa.gov 12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12 VENUS-RELATED POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP AT NASA GLENN RESEARCH CENTER Applications are now being accepted for a postdoctoral Fellowship at NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) related to Venus studies. The Fellowship will concentrate on in-situ Venus geophysics/atmospheric physics and chemistry science carried out in Venus relevant environments, and exploring the capabilities of potential harsh environment instrumentation suites to provide relevant science data related to these studies. The candidate may use the harsh environment simulation capabilities at NASA GRC to conduct scientific investigations into Venus geophysics/atmospheric physics and chemistry studies towards addressing decadal science and preparing for potential Venus in situ science missions. Research also entails verification of various forms of instrumentation required to address decadal science questions and/potentially incorporate the work on future missions in the respective environments. Similar science for other planetary bodies may also be considered based on relevance to these research topics and applicant interest. Requirements are a recent Ph.D. in geophysics/ geology or atmospheric physics. Experience in experiment design or instrument/space craft system development is desirable. For more information see: https://www3.orau.gov/NASA_Catalog/Opportunity/18713 or inquire at gary.w.hunter@nasa.gov 13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html June 3-5 Next-Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference 2013 http://nsrc.swri.org/ Broomfield, CO June 10-14, 2013 International Venus Workshop http://www.iaps.inaf.it/Venus2013/ Catania, Italy [Editor Note: If there is a planetary-related meeting, conference or workshop of which you think your colleagues should be aware, please send the date, title, URL and location to pen_editor at psi.edu.] *********************************************************************** * The Planetary Exploration Newsletter is issued approximately weekly. * Current and back issues are available at http://planetarynews.org * * To subscribe, go to http://planetarynews.org/pen_subscribe.php, or * send a request to pen_editor at psi.edu * * To unsubscribe, send an email to pen_editor at psi.edu * * Please send all replies and submissions to pen_editor at psi.edu. * Announcements and other messages should be brief with links to URLs * for extended information, including detailed descriptions for job * announcements. 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