PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 9, Number 44 (November 1, 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. 2016 Pierazzo International Student Travel Award 2. DPS Meeting Workshop: Characterizing New Horizons KBO Targets from Earth 3. Lowell Observatory: Tenure-Track or Tenured Astronomer 4. Planetary Sciences Exploration Faculty Position at the University of Central Florida 5. Lunar & Planetary Science Laboratory/Macau University of Science and Technology (LPSL/MUST): Postdoctoral Positions 6. AIDA Workshop at the DPS 2015 Meeting 7. Mars Exploration Science Monthly Newsletter: November 2015 8. NSF Dear Colleague Letter Regarding Arecibo Observatory 9. Faculty Position in Earth and Planetary Materials, UC Davis 10. Faculty Position in Astrophysics, UC Davis 11. NASA Postdoctoral Fellowships 12. Planetary Geomorphology 'Image of the Month' 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 2016 PIERAZZO INTERNATIONAL STUDENT TRAVEL AWARD Application deadline: 9 PM PST, November 13, 2015 Awards will be announced on or before November 30, 2015 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 DPS MEETING WORKSHOP: CHARACTERIZING NEW HORIZONS KBO TARGETS FROM EARTH Tuesday November 10th, 12:20pm - 1:30pm, Annapolis 3 This lunchtime workshop will discuss needs and opportunities for Earth-based KBO observations to support the potential New Horizons extended mission to the Kuiper Belt. At New Year 2019, subject to NASA approval of an extended mission, New Horizons will encounter the cold classical KBO 2014 MU69, providing the first ever close-up view of a small KBO. The spacecraft also has the opportunity to make unique long-range observations of about a dozen additional KBOs during its transit through the Kuiper Belt. Earth-based observations can help to maximize the science return from the Kuiper Belt mission by providing (for instance) astrometric, color, lightcurve, and photometric data on target KBOs, and by providing a broader context for the New Horizons targets. This workshop will outline the planned New Horizons KBO mission, and provide an opportunity for discussion of potential Earth-based support observations. All are welcome- if possible please contact John Spencer (spencer@boulder.swri.edu) if you expect to attend. 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 LOWELL OBSERVATORY: TENURE-TRACK OR TENURED ASTRONOMER Lowell Observatory invites applications for one or more tenure-track or tenured research positions in astronomy or planetary science. We invite applicants at any career level who can build on current strengths or open new areas for Lowell. A Ph.D. in astronomy, planetary science, or a related field is required, as is an outstanding record of research and demonstrated ability or potential to obtain external research funding. Candidates are invited to describe how they would make use of our observational facilities, but we will give equal consideration to all research areas. The start date for this position is flexible but desired by Fall 2016. Additional position details can be found at: https://lowell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Tenure-track- Astronomer.pdf To apply: Send applications electronically to: humanresources@lowell.edu Applications should include: (1) a cover letter and CV, (2) a research plan of 3 pages or less, and (3) names and mail/email addresses of three individuals who have agreed to serve as references. Do not ask for reference letters to be sent in advance. Applications must be received by November 1, 2015 for full consideration. Lowell Observatory is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. 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 PLANETARY SCIENCES EXPLORATION FACULTY POSITION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA Position Number 37268 The Department of Physics (physics.cos.ucf.edu) at the University of Central Florida (UCF) invites applications for a tenure-track position at the assistant professor level expected to begin in August 2016. As part of the recently awarded Center for Lunar and Asteroid Surface Science (CLASS) initiative with the NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI), we seek candidates with experience in exploration-related planetary science including, but not limited to, regolith processes, microgravity dynamics, impact physics, primitive asteroid mineralogy, and in-situ resource utilization. Applicants must have a Ph.D. at the time of appointment in Planetary Sciences, Physics, or a closely related discipline, and a record of independent, interdisciplinary research. The successful applicant is expected to establish a vigorous, externally funded research program and have a strong commitment to excellence in graduate and undergraduate education. Interested individuals must complete an on-line application by going to: https://www.jobswithucf.com/postings/43557 The online application should include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, summary of research and teaching portfolio, and a list of three professional references with contact information. Screening of applications will begin November 15, 2015 and will continue 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 LUNAR & PLANETARY SCIENCE LABORATORY/MACAU UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (LPSL/MUST): POSTDOCTORAL POSITIONS LPSL/MUST is a newly formed research institute currently housing 20 PhD researchers. The Laboratory is funded by the Macau government with the objective to establish a regional leading center in the field of planetary sciences. Current research topics include: * Moon: Chang'E 1-3 data analysis, craters, lunar dust, plasma environment * Space physics: interplanetary field * Mars: geological comparison with Qaidam Basin, Martian atmosphere * Giant planets: Interior and gravitational field, winds and spots * Small bodies: origin and properties, asteroid light curves * Mercury: geomorphology The Laboratory has now several postdoctoral/research associate openings ready to be filled immediately. Salaries are in the range US$30,000-42,000/yr. Housing allowance (up to US$5,000/year) is negotiable. Two-year terms are renewable subject to performance and availability of funding. Interested persons please contact Kwing Lam Chan (klchan@must.edu.mo) before December 1, 2015. K.L. Chan will attend the 47th DPS Meeting at Washington DC to present a poster (Poster Number: 311.29, Session Time: November 11, 15:30-18:00). You are invited to talk to him if you are interested and happen to be in the Meeting. 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 AIDA WORKSHOP AT THE DPS 2015 MEETING National Harbor Lunch time on Monday, Nov. 9 (Room Annapolis 1) The AIDA (Asteroid Impact & Deflection Assessment) mission will be the first demonstration of asteroid deflection by a spacecraft kinetic impact, currently in Phase A study. The target will be the binary asteroid Didymos in 2022 whose mutual orbit will be changed by the impact. An integral part of AIDA will be coordinated ground-based observing campaigns to detect and measure impact effects. The AIDA Workshop at DPS will be an open meeting. Please come if interested to join discussions of the parallel AIDA Phase A studies for ESA and NASA and to hear about opportunities to participate in AIDA Working Groups for observations, modeling and simulations. 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 MARS EXPLORATION SCIENCE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER: NOVEMBER 2015 To the Mars Community, On behalf of Lisa Pratt (MEPAG Chair), Dave Beaty, Rich Zurek, and Serina Diniega of the Mars Program Science Office, the November 2015 edition of the Mars Exploration Science Monthly Newsletter can be found on the web at: http://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov Please send your Mars community announcements and calendar items for inclusion in the newsletter to Meredith at: Meredith.A.Cosby@jpl.nasa.gov 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 NSF DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTER REGARDING ARECIBO OBSERVATORY A notice for the planetary science community: The continued operation of the Arecibo Observatory (AO) is now officially open to question. In the below 'Dear Colleague Letter', released this week, the National Science Foundation (NSF) clearly states its desire to defund AO further (we have already been operating under severe budget cuts for the past few years) and ultimately transfer ownership of and responsibility for the observatory to some other organization: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2016/nsf16005/nsf16005.jsp?WT.mc_id= USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click It is important to note that this decision is much more driven by NSF funding squeezes and its commitment to new projects than it is a measure of the scientific performance of Arecibo Observatory -- which continues to be excellent. The William E. Gordon 305-m diameter radio telescope remains as the world's largest and most sensitive single- dish antenna, and as such retains the potential for many more years of exceptional science (especially if upgraded further). The work that we do here is incredibly important, and we now need the help and support of the scientific community in order to continue it. [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 FACULTY POSITION IN EARTH AND PLANETARY MATERIALS, UC DAVIS The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of California Davis seeks an outstanding scholar whose study of the origin, transformation, or deformation of Earth and planetary materials addresses major processes in the solid Earth. This tenure-track faculty position is the first of multiple anticipated faculty searches directed at understanding the formation and evolution of Earth and other rocky planets, and we seek applicants whose work expands and amplifies our current research strengths. Appointment at the Assistant Professor level is anticipated. The department's research programs and experimental, analytical and computational facilities are described at: http://geology.ucdavis.edu/facilities Candidates should submit a cover letter, CV, publication list, statements of research plans and teaching interests, and names and addresses of four references by December 20, 2015, Applications should be submitted online via the job listing JPF00738 at: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/apply/JPF00738 Inquiries may be addressed to the Search Committee Chair at epm_search@ucdavis.edu [abridged] 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 FACULTY POSITION IN ASTROPHYSICS, UC DAVIS The Department of Physics at the University of California, Davis invites applications for a full-time tenure-track faculty position in astrophysics. Fields of interest span a wide spectrum of astrophysical topics (from planetary sciences to cosmology) and approaches (theory, observation, simulations). This position represents the launch of a major initiative in astrophysics at UC Davis with the intent to broaden the focus of the current cosmology group, and offers an opportunity to become part of an exciting program in astrophysics and cosmology, with connections to planetary science. Multiple positions are anticipated over the next few years. The faculty at UC Davis has access to the telescopes at the Keck and Lick Observatories, and the University of California is a founding partner in the Thirty Meter Telescope. Applications should be submitted online via the job listing JPF00700 at: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/apply/JPF00700 by November 15, 2015. Inquiries may be addressed to astrophysics.search@physics.ucdavis.edu. For further information about the department, please visit: http://www.physics.ucdavis.edu [abridged] 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 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 research opportunities is: https://apps.orau.gov/NPDoc/Catalog/18395 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/1UA7aHs For further information and to apply, visit: http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc/description/index.htm Questions: nasapostdoc@orau.org 12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12 PLANETARY GEOMORPHOLOGY 'IMAGE OF THE MONTH' The November 'Image of the Month' is now available at the IAG's Planetary Geomorphology web page: http://planetarygeomorphology.wordpress.com/ This month's topic is "A Mud Flow on Mars". Contributed by Prof. Lionel Wilson, Lancaster University, UK and Dr. Peter J. Mouginis- Mark, Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, USA. You can now follow IAG Planetary Geomorphology Image of the Month on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PlanetaryGeomorphology or Twitter @PlanetGeomorpho. The Open University is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC 000391), an exempt charity in England & Wales and a charity registered in Scotland (SC 038302). The Open University is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. 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 August 15-19, 2016 Cosmic Dust https://www.cps-jp.org/~dust/Welcome.html Sendai, Japan [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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