PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 8, Number 55 (November 30, 2014) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Susan Benecchi Co-Editors: Mark V. Sykes, Melissa Lane Email: pen_editor at psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. 2015 Pierazzo International Student Travel Award 2. Postdoctoral Associate Position at Stony Brook University 3. Past Life? Present Life? The Future of Solar System Exploration 4. Jovian Magnetic Field and Magnetosphere Postdoctoral Researcher 5. NASA Postdoctoral Fellowships 6. Faculty Position at the University of Minnesota 7. 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 2015 PIERAZZO INTERNATIONAL STUDENT TRAVEL AWARD Application deadline: December 15, 2014 Awards will be announced on or about December 31, 2014 This award is established by the Planetary Science Institute in memory of Senior Scientist Betty Pierazzo to support and encourage graduate students to build international collaborations and relationships in planetary science. Two awards will be made each year, contingent upon there being meritorious applications. One will be awarded to a graduate student working on his or her Ph.D. at an institution within the U.S. This is to support travel to a planetary science related meeting (conferences and workshops) outside of the U.S. The second award will be to a graduate student working on his or her Ph.D. at an institution outside of the U.S. This is to support travel to a planetary science related meeting within the U.S. These include general meetings that have planetary-focused sessions such as the AGU, GSA, EGU and IAG. The award will consist of a certificate and up to $2000US. Additional information and application materials are available at: http://www.psi.edu/pista 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 POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE POSITION AT STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY Required Qualifications: PhD, or the equivalent degree from a foreign university, in Geosciences, Chemistry, Geochemistry, Materials Science or a related field. Successfully defended dissertation prior to the start date. Course work or research experience in Chemistry, Geochemistry, Mineralogy, or Materials Science. Preferred Qualifications: Research experience in materials characterization, collecting and analyzing X-ray or neutron scattering data, structure modeling and/or measuring and analyzing infrared spectral data. Effective written and verbal communication skills. Demonstrated outstanding research ability, with an emphasis on critical thinking skills and high productivity. Duties: The Postdoctoral Research Associate will conduct research in Chemistry/Geochemistry/Mineralogy, with an emphasis on understanding the formation and properties of amorphous materials. The successful incumbent will be responsible for the following: * Conduct research related to characterization of poorly crystalline and amorphous materials, possibly including material synthesis, synchrotron X-ray studies, and infrared spectroscopy, depending on the incumbent's specific expertise and interests. * Summarize findings in conference presentations and publications. * Read & synthesize information from relevant scientific literature to inform geochemical interpretations. Full time. For a complete description and instructions on "how to apply", see: http://www.stonybrook.edu/jobs/ and select the reference # WC-R-9331-14-11-S. Stony Brook University/SUNY is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. [Edited for length.] 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 PAST LIFE? PRESENT LIFE? THE FUTURE OF SOLAR SYSTEM EXPLORATION The Planetary Society cordially invites you to attend our special event, "Past Life? Present Life? The Future of Solar System Exploration" at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, December 2nd, in Dirksen 562. Confirmed guests for this event are: * Bill Nye, CEO of The Planetary Society * Dr. Kevin Hand, Deputy Chief Scientist of Solar System Exploration, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) * Dr. Michael Meyer, Lead Scientist for the Mars Exploration Program, NASA As the stunning success of ESA's Philae lander has again demonstrated, people around the world embrace the bold exploration of our solar system. In this engaging event, we will highlight the astrobiological possibilities of two of the most compelling solar system destinations - Mars and Europa - and see how NASA can (and will) lead the way in the future exploration of both. We will ensure a significant amount of Q&A time to explore some of the issues surrounding the possibilities in planetary exploration, and also what NASA at its partners are doing right now. We hope you can join us at this free, public event. You can optionally RSVP at: http://support.planetary.org/site/Calendar/1131322263? view=RSVP&id=100421 More info available at: planetary.org/events Please pass this around to your colleagues. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. 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 JOVIAN MAGNETIC FIELD AND MAGNETOSPHERE POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER (NASA-GSFC/CRESST/University of Maryland) Applications are now being accepted for a Postdoctoral Research Associate, funded through the University of Maryland College Park (UMCP) and the Center for Research and Exploration in Space Science and Technology (CRESST), to work in the Planetary Magnetospheres Laboratory of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in the area of Jupiter's magnetic field and magnetosphere, using data from the Juno (New Frontier) mission. Additional details are available at: http://www.astro.umd.edu/employment/index.html#Juno Candidates for this position should have a Ph.D. in a relevant scientific discipline with prior experience conducting scientific research. Experience with magnetometer instrumentation and data, disciplined programming skills (primarily Fortran and IDL), and scientific writing experience are desired. The University of Maryland is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. 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 NASA POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) provides opportunities for scientists and engineers to conduct research largely of their own choosing, yet compatible with the research opportunities posted on the NPP Web site. Selected by a competitive peer-review process, NPP Fellows complete one- to three-year Fellowship appointments that advance NASA's missions in earth science, heliophysics, planetary science, astrophysics, space bioscience, aeronautics and engineering, human exploration and space operations, and astrobiology. A sample research opportunity is: https://www3.orau.gov/NPDoc/Catalog/18624 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. The latest NPP Newsletter: http://bit.ly/1tI5M9x For further information and to apply, visit: http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc/description/index.htm Questions: nasapostdoc@orau.org 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 FACULTY POSITION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA The School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities invites applications for a tenure track position in the area of Experimental Space Plasma Physics. The appointment is expected to be at the Assistant Professor level. Candidates are expected to hold a Ph.D. in physics, astrophysics or a related discipline and should have demonstrated the potential to conduct a vigorous and significant experimental research program as evidenced by their publication record and supporting letters from recognized leaders in the field. The successful applicant will be joining a department with active programs in both experimental and theoretical space plasma physics. Details of the position can be found at: http://www.physics.umn.edu/about/news/jobs/7601/Assistant_Professor _in_Space_Plasma_Physics_.html Candidates must go to: https://employment.umn.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=123909 and submit an application online. Candidates must arrange to have letters of reference (signed and on official letterhead) sent directly to spacephys14@physics.umn.edu as PDF files. To ensure full consideration, applications should be received before December 22, 2014. The University of Minnesota shall provide equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment. [Edited for length.] 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 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html April 13-17, 2015 IAA Planetary Defense Conference http://pdc2015.org/ Frascati, Italy June 8-11, 2015 Autonomous Spacecraft Navigation: New Concepts, Technologies & Applications for the 21st Century http://www.mpe.mpg.de/events/593-heraeus-seminar/ Bonn, Germany October 12-16, 2015 Exploring the Universe with JSWT http://congrexprojects.com/2015-events/15a02/introduction Noordwijk, The Netherlands [Editor Note: If there is a planetary-related meeting, conference or workshop of which 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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