PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER
Volume 9, Number 8 (February 22, 2015)

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. [NASA] PDS CAN Announcement and Schedule
2. Cratering Statistics Workshop Abstract Deadline Reminder
3. Invitation to RAS Meeting on the Moon, Mercury and Asteroids
4. NASA Postdoctoral Fellowships
5. Postdoctoral Researcher: Mineralogy and Petrology of Planetary 
   Materials
6. Geomagnetics Postdoctoral Researcher 
7. VEXAG Meeting #12 
8. [NASA] EONS-14: Advanced Science, Technology, Engineering and Math 
   (STEM) Training and Research (ASTAR) Fellowships
9. PhD Position in Planetary Science - Muenster University
10. Post-doctoral Teaching Associate in Mineralogy - University of 
    Tennessee
11. LRO Data Users Workshop at LPSC
12. Job Announcement - NASA Astrobiology Institute Director
13. Barringer Grant Applications for 2015 Now Being Accepted
14. 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

[NASA] PDS CAN ANNOUNCEMENT AND SCHEDULE

The Planetary Science Division intends to release a (CAN) for the 
Discipline Nodes of the Planetary Data System (PDS) by March 2015. 

The overall goal of this solicitation is to establish a network of 
organizations to serve as Discipline Nodes. NASA is planning on 
selecting one or more proposals that outline a design to create an 
active and creative interface between mission providers, the science 
community and the NASA Planetary Data System (PDS). Proposals may be 
submitted by individual organizations or consortia of organizations 
with one of the member organizations serving as the lead or primary 
applicant. Consistent with the use of the PDS4 archiving standard, 
consortia proposing to this CAN may define their own unique, creative, 
and agile approaches to achieving the goal of the solicitation.

Proposers to the CAN are not required to replicate the existing 
organization.

The time frame for the solicitation is intended to be:
* Release of CAN: March 2015 (target)
* Preproposal conference: 14 days after CAN release
* Step 1 Proposals due: No less than 30 days after CAN release
* Step 2 Proposals due: 90 days after CAN release
* Selection: July 2015 (target)

Further information will be posted at: 

http://pds.nasa.gov/  

Questions: 
Dr. Thomas Morgan
thomas.h.morgan@nasa.gov

[Edited for length.]
 
 
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

CRATERING STATISTICS WORKSHOP ABSTRACT DEADLINE REMINDER

Abstract Deadline: March 5

For details see:

http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/craterstats2015/


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

INVITATION TO RAS MEETING ON THE MOON, MERCURY AND ASTEROIDS

Dear colleagues,

We invite you to our Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) Specialist 
Discussion Meeting titled 'Spectroscopy of Airless Bodies in 
Wavelengths from the Visible to the Microwave: Orbital, Telescopic, 
and/or Laboratory Measurements Relevant to Mercury, the Moon and 
Asteroids' on 10th April 2015 at Burlington House in London, UK.

Airless planetary bodies like Mercury, the Moon and asteroids provide 
a unique opportunity for studying the formation and evolution of 
planetary surfaces, as there is no weather or liquid water altering 
their surfaces. Using the individual strengths of each spectroscopic 
technique, the composition of a planet's surface can be determined 
through the identification of spectrally dominant minerals exposed at 
the surface. Our current knowledge of surface compositions come from 
the analyses of:

1) remotely sensed data from spacecraft and telescopes and 
2) laboratory measurements of returned sample material or analogues.  

Join us for a day of discussion on all things spectroscopic of the 
airless bodies!

A provisional schedule is now online at: 

http://users.ox.ac.uk/~phys0722/Home.html

If you would like to present a poster at this meeting please email 
DonaldsonHanna@atm.ox.ac.uk BEFORE 9th March 2015.

Best Regards,
Kerri Donaldson Hanna, Neil Bowles, Simon Green and Stephen Lowry
Organising Committee


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

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, astrophysics, planetary science, 
astrobiology, space bioscience, aeronautics and engineering, human 
exploration and operations, and space technology.

A sample opportunity in planetary science is:

https://www3.orau.gov/NPDoc/Catalog/18115

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/1Kjlmyr

For further information and to apply, visit:

http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc/description/index.htm

Questions: nasapostdoc@orau.org
 

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

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER: MINERALOGY AND PETROLOGY OF PLANETARY 
MATERIALS

The Universities Space Research Association's Lunar and Planetary 
Institute, invites applications for a postdoctoral fellowship in the 
mineralogy and petrology of planetary materials.

The successful candidate will work with Dr. Allan Treiman in NASA-
funded efforts, emphasizing planetary crusts and magmas, and their 
volatile constituents and on the CheMin science team of the Mars 
Science Laboratory mission. The candidate will participate in 
analysis and interpretation of CheMin X-ray diffraction data of Mars 
surface materials; and may also participate in operations planning for 
the CheMin instrument. 

Applicants should have a recent Ph.D. in petrology or geochemistry; 
experience with planetary materials is helpful, but not required.  
The position would be for two years, with possible extension to a 
third year. The candidate must be a U.S. Citizen or Legal Permanent 
Resident, and be able to pass a detailed government background 
investigation. Applicants should send a letter of interest, a 
curriculum vita with a list of publications, a brief (maximum three 
pages) statement of research interests, and a list of three 
references to the posting at:

https://usracareers.silkroad.com/
 
USRA is an Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Females/Protected 
Veterans/Disabled


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

GEOMAGNETICS 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 
and the Center for Research and Exploration in Space Science and 
Technology (CRESST), to work in the Planetary Geodynamics Laboratory 
of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in the area of geomagnetism. 
Additional details are available at:

http://www.astro.umd.edu/employment/index.html#Geomag

Applicants must have a Ph.D. degree (or expect to have the degree by 
the start of the appointment) in a related field of physics, 
geophysics and/or applied mathematics. Applicants are expected to 
have strong quantitative analysis and modeling skills - in addition 
to knowledge of geomagnetic fields, satellite or ground observatory 
data, geomagnetic field models, and core dynamics. Applicants also 
familiar with UNIX, Fortran, and parallel computing will be preferred.

The University of Maryland is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity 
Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. All 
applications received by March 2, 2015 will receive full consideration.


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

VEXAG MEETING #12 
 
VEXAG meeting #12 will be held on Thursday, April 9, 2015 at the 
National Institute of Aerospace, just outside NASA's Langley Research 
Center. This follows the 2-day Venus Science Priorities for Laboratory 
Measurements and Instrument Definition Workshop also held at the 
National Institute of Aerospace.

A preliminary agenda is available at VEXAG Web-Site:

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/vexag/

Key items for this meeting will be progress reports on NASA 
Headquarters and VEXAG activities as well as reports on Venus Express, 
Ataksuki, and other opportunities for international collaboration. 
Posters on technologies for Venus missions are invited.

A block of room has been reserved at Country Inn and Suites by 
Carlson, 1551 Hardy Cash Drive, Hampton, Virginia 23666.  
Call 800-456-4000 to make your reservations. 
Mention Group Block: "Venus Group". Room need to be reserved on/before 
March 6, 2015. Rooms are available for April 6-10, 2015.

If you'll be attending in person, please enter your name on the 
Meeting Registration /Intent to Attend Form on the VEXAG Web-Site:

https://www.hou.usra.edu/meeting_portal/registration/index.cfm?mtg
=vexag2015


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] EONS-14: ADVANCED SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH 
(STEM) TRAINING AND RESEARCH (ASTAR) FELLOWSHIPS

The NASA Office of Education Minority University Research and 
Education Project (MUREP) solicits proposals from students pursuing 
graduate degrees in NASA relevant STEM disciplines. NASA OE MUREP 
ASTAR Fellowship seeks independently conceived fellowship proposals 
from student applicants, specifically in areas of projected 
deficiencies in the NASA future STEM workforce. Selected students 
will perform graduate student research at their respective campuses 
during the academic year as well as conduct research at a designated 
NASA field Center during an annual 10 - 15 week Center based 
research Experience (CBRE).

Funding is provided for a maximum of three years.

Phase I Applications are requested by May 5, 2015.
Phase II Submissions are due July 25, 2015.

Announcement ID: NNH14ZHA001N 

Posted at: 

http://nspires.nasaprs.com/
 
Questions:
Brenda Collins
NASA OE Fellowships Manager
NASA.Fellowships@nasaprs.com

[Edited for length.]


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

PHD POSITION IN PLANETARY SCIENCE - MUENSTER UNIVERSITY

The Institut fur Planetologie (IfP) at the Westfalische Wilhelms-
Universitat Munster, is offering a three-year PhD position focused on 
the development of a database of planetary image data. Candidates need 
to have completed a MSc degree in the field of planetary science, 
geosciences, geoinformatics/geoinformation, geography, geology, or 
similar relevant fields. Starting date is June 1, 2015. There is no 
constraint on citizenship; all applications are welcome.

More information can be found at:

http://www.uni-muenster.de/imperia/md/content/planetology/news/
announcement_phd_position.pdf

http://www.uni-muenster.de/Rektorat/Stellen/ausschreibungen/
st_20151702_sk3.html

To apply, please send an email to Prof. Dr. Hiesinger 
(hiesinger@uni-muenster.de) with the subject "Vacancy DATABASE IFP". 

Please provide a cover letter, CV, and the names and contact 
information of three references. 

If you have any questions, follow the links above, or directly 
contact Prof. Dr. Hiesinger (hiesinger@uni-muenster.de) or 
Dr. Erkeling (gino.erkeling@uni-muenster.de).

Deadline for applications is March 06, 2015.


10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10

POST-DOCTORAL TEACHING ASSOCIATE IN MINERALOGY - UNIVERSITY OF 
TENNESSEE

The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences 

http://web.eps.utk.edu

at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville invites applications for a 
Post-doctoral Teaching Associate position in Mineralogy starting 
August 1, 2015, pending approval of funding. The position is a 9-month 
appointment and includes benefits. Successful candidates will be 
expected to teach mineralogy for undergraduate geology majors, physical 
geology at the entry level, and possibly a specialized mineralogy or 
petrology course at the upper division undergraduate or graduate level. 
Candidates will also be encouraged to participate in departmental 
research projects and/or work on their own research.

UT-Knoxville is the state's flagship research institution, located 
near Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Great Smoky Mountains.  
The EPS department comprises an energetic group of tenure-track and 
research faculty, post-doctoral researchers, and ~150 graduate and 
undergraduate students.

Applicants should e-mail CV, description of teaching and research 
interests, and contact information for 3 references in PDF format to: 
Prof. Josh Emery
Search Committee Chair
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-1410
865-974-8039
jemery2@utk.edu 

The applicant should also arrange to have 3 letters of reference 
e-mailed to the same address. Review of applications will begin 
April 1, 2015.


11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11

LRO DATA USERS WORKSHOP AT LPSC

Would you like to learn how to find and use higher-level data products? 
Come find out about the data available from the Lunar Reconnaissance 
Orbiter (LRO) and how you can use it help revolutionize our 
understanding of the Moon - join us at the LRO Data Users Workshop!

Sunday March 15, 2015, in the Shenandoah room at the LPSC Hotel 
(Woodlands Marriott) from 9AM - 5PM. This will be an open-house-style 
workshop; please participate when you can and stay as long as you wish. 
The schedule below details the agenda for the day.

LRO team members will discuss the available data from each of our 
instruments, including higher-level data products. They'll show you 
how to find them, how to use them, and answer your questions about the 
data.

Agenda:
9:00 - Introductions
9:15 - Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector (LEND)
9:45 - Lyman Alpha Mapping Project (LAMP)
10:15 - Mini-RF (Radar)
10:45 - Break
11:00 - Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER)
11:30 - Q&A Session
12:00 - Lunch
1:00 - Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA)
1:30 - Diviner
3:00 - Break
3:15 - Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC)
4:45 - Q&A #2
5:00 - Wrap-up


12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT - NASA ASTROBIOLOGY INSTITUTE DIRECTOR

NASA seeks a new Director for the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI).  
The ideal candidate will be an internationally recognized scientist 
with proven experience in leading or managing large interdisciplinary 
research programs or projects, possessed with a vision for leading 
the Institute into the future. Applicants for this position should 
have a broad scientific perspective on astrobiology, experience in 
conducting interdisciplinary scientific research, and demonstrated 
skills needed to harness the strengths of disparate research 
communities towards a greater goal. She/he should understand how 
to grow a research endeavor and respond to changing budget climates 
while focusing on maximizing the scientific return on NASA's 
investments in astrobiology. He/she should have experience in leading 
a diverse staff ranging from established scientists to support 
personnel, resource planning, and executing budgets and schedules. 
He/she should be comfortable with modern information technologies and 
distributed research teams. NASA is particularly interested in 
applicants who will find ways to infuse astrobiology into NASA flight 
missions.

Interested individuals should apply directly to USAJobs at:

www.usajobs.gov 

by May 1, 2015. In the keyword search box, type vacancy number 
"AR15S0001". Select "Director, NASA Astrobiology Institute", 
then click "Apply Online".
	

13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13

BARRINGER GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR 2015 NOW BEING ACCEPTED

Graduate students and postdocs,

This year's application deadline for grants from the Barringer Family 
Fund for Meteorite Impact Research is April 3, 2015. This program 
provides 3 to 5 competitive grants each year in the range of $2,500 
to $5,000 USD for support of field research at known or suspected 
impact sites worldwide. Grant funds may be used to assist with travel 
and subsistence costs, as well as laboratory and computer analysis of 
research samples and findings. Masters, doctoral, and post-doctoral 
students enrolled in formal university programs are eligible. For 
additional details and an application, please go to:

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/science/kring/Awards/Barringer_Fund/

The Barringer Family Fund for Meteorite Impact Research has been 
established as a memorial to recognize the contributions of Brandon, 
Moreau, Paul, and Richard Barringer to the field of meteoritics and 
the Barringer family's strong interest and support over many years 
in research and student education. In addition to its memorial nature, 
the Fund also reflects the family's long-standing commitment to 
responsible stewardship of The Barringer Meteorite Crater and the 
family's steadfast resolve in maintaining the crater as a unique 
scientific research and education site.

David A. Kring, Ph.D.
281-486-2119
kring@lpi.usra.edu

 
14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14
 
PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS

Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html

March 22-27, 2015
Habitability in the Universe: From the Early Earth to Exoplanets
http://www.iastro.pt/research/conferences/life-origins2015/
Porto, Portugal

April 9, 2015
VEXAG Meeting #12
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/vexag/
Hampton, VA

April 10, 2015
Spectroscopy of Airless Bodies
http://users.ox.ac.uk/~phys0722/Home.html
London, UK

June 8-11, 2015
2nd Planetary Data Workshop
http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/planetdata2015/
Flagstaff, AZ

July 19-23, 2015
2nd International Congress on Stratigraphy (STRATI 2015)
http://strati2015.uni-graz.at
Graz, Austria

July 21-23, 2015
NASA Exploration Science Forum
http://sservi.nasa.gov/event/exploration-science-forum/
Moffett Field, CA

[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.  Title plus text is limited to 200 words.  Go to        
* http://planetarynews.org/submission.html for complete submission     
* directions.                                                          
*                                                                      
* PEN is a service provided by the Planetary Science Institute         
* (http://www.psi.edu) using no NASA funds. All editorial work is
* volunteer.                                            
***********************************************************************