PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 7, Number 2 (January 13, 2013) 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. SPICE Training Class 2. International Primitive Body Exploration Working Group (IPEWG) Meeting 3. NASA Postdoctoral Fellowships 4. Internship Opportunities at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory 5. Postdoc - Boston University - Curiosity and Mars Atmosphere 6. [NASA] Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute Cooperative Agreement Notice 7. MEPAG #27 Cancellation Notice 8. Magnetospheres of the Outer Planets - MOP 2013 9. PhD Researcher in the Field of Geomicrobiology 10. 8th Meeting of the NASA Small Bodies Assessment Group 11. 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 SPICE TRAINING CLASS NAIF announces the next SPICE training class will take place April 23-25 in Monrovia, California (near Pasadena). You may find the combination announcement letter and registration form on the NAIF website announcements page: http://naif.jpl.nasa.gov/naif/announcements.html Registration is required, the sooner the better but no later than March 29th. Seating is limited and will be offered in the order in which firm registrations are received. 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 INTERNATIONAL PRIMITIVE BODY EXPLORATION WORKING GROUP (IPEWG) MEETING We are pleased to announce that the third Meeting of the IPEWG 2013 will be held May 29-31 2013 in Nice, France. Information regarding meeting goals, logistics and registration are indicated on the following web site (to be completed, so please check it regularly): http://www.oca.eu/michel/IPEWG2013/ Discussions held at IPEWG 2013 are expected to impact and improve international collaboration activities for primitive body space exploration. We expect the workshop to come up with a prioritized set of recommendations to be included in a charter. We hope you will attend and participate in this important program. Please note that IPEWG2013 is followed by a MarcoPolo-R International Symposium (ESA primitive asteroid sample return mission in competition in the M3 class mission) at ESTEC (The Netherlands) on June 3-4, 2013. Direct low-cost flights from Nice to Amsterdam can be used to attend this symposium. We are currently working on the program of the workshop and to invite subject experts as we prepare to build on the successes of IPEWG 2008 and 2011. Please contact Patrick Michel, LOC Chair (michelp@oca.eu) with any questions. 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 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 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 INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AT JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory is engineering the future of space exploration - examining Earth's near-space environment, our Sun, planetary bodies and the outer solar system. The NASA/APL Internship Program provides unique opportunities for university students to work on NASA missions or other space-related research opportunities at APL. Join us for 10 weeks this summer, and be a part of this extreme exploration! To apply, visit: https://www.APLapp.com Deadline for submittals: January 28, 2013 The Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is a not-for-profit center for engineering, research, and development. Located north of Washington, DC, APL is a division of one of the world's premier research universities, The Johns Hopkins University. To learn more about APL, visit http://www.jhuapl.edu/ Bryant Garcia 443.778.2376 (Baltimore) 240.228.2376 (Washington) 443.986.6288 (Cell) 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 POSTDOC - BOSTON UNIVERSITY - CURIOSITY AND MARS ATMOSPHERE The Center for Space Physics at Boston University invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher position supervised by Professor Paul Withers. The research will involve the analysis of accelerometer and other measurements made by Curiosity during its descent to the surface of Mars, leading to an accurate reconstruction of the atmospheric conditions encountered by Curiosity and subsequent scientific interpretation of these results. Candidates should possess a PhD degree in a relevant field. Experience conducting research on planetary atmospheres and/or experience working with spacecraft observations are desirable. The salary offered will be competitive and commensurate with experience. Funding is available for two years with the possibility of extension. The appointment is expected to begin as soon as possible after 1 April 2013. Please contact Paul Withers (withers@bu.edu) for further information. Applications should be sent by email to Paul Withers (withers@bu.edu). The application should be submitted in PDF format and contain a curriculum vitae, statement of research interests, and contact information for three referees. Review of applications will begin on 28 February 2013. Women and underrepresented minorities are particularly encouraged to apply. Boston University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. 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] SOLAR SYSTEM EXPLORATION RESEARCH VIRTUAL INSTITUTE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT NOTICE Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI) Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) released NASA's Science Mission Directorate and Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate have jointly released a CAN, available at: http://tinyurl.com/SSERVI to solicit multi-institutional team-based proposals focusing on basic and applied scientific questions fundamental to understanding the Moon, Near Earth Asteroids, the Martian moons, and the near space environments of these target bodies. The date and time for a community-wide virtual Q and A session to discuss the CAN will be announced shortly. Upon selection of the ~7 new teams in the latter half of 2013, the NASA Lunar Science Institute (NLSI) will become the Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI). Although the teams will be new, there will be no change in leadership or management location. SSERVI will be directed by Dr. Yvonne Pendleton and managed by the current NLSI staff located at NASA Ames Research Center. The sixth NASA Lunar Science Forum, hosted by the NLSI at Ames Research Center, is planned for July 16-19, 2013, with its primary focus on lunar science. In future years, the forum will include the expanded scope of the new virtual institute, SSERVI. 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 MEPAG #27 CANCELLATION NOTICE Delays in the federal budget process means that the President's traditional budget message is unlikely to occur by the time of the presently scheduled February 26 and 27th MEPAG meeting in Washington D.C. You are surely all aware of the announcement in December at the Fall AGU meeting by Associate Administrator John Grunsfeld that NASA intends to launch a new rover to Mars in 2020. However, the 2020 Rover Science Definition Team is just now being formed and will not be far enough into its deliberations to give a meaningful out-brief in February. We have decided to cancel the two-day physical meeting and to replace it with a half-day electronic meeting (e.g., WEBEX), tentatively scheduled for the afternoon (EST) of either February 26 or 27. At that time the community can be briefed on changes in MEP leadership (Doug McCuisition has retired), status of budget planning within MEP and PSD, and the new thrust in Mars exploration, including the membership, charter and status of the 2020 Rover SDT. Details will follow when they are available. We apologize for any inconvenience. Dave Des Marais, MEPAG Chair Charles Budney Dave Beaty Rich Zurek Michael Meyer Mars Program Office (Edited for length.) 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 MAGNETOSPHERES OF THE OUTER PLANETS - MOP 2013 July 8-12 in Athens, Greece Registration and abstract submission for the meeting are now available. You can register by May 31st at: http://space.academyofathens.gr/mop2013/registration.html and submit your abstract before May 1st at: http://space.academyofathens.gr/mop2013/abstracts.html Dr. N. Sergis for the LOC 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 RESEARCHER IN THE FIELD OF GEOMICROBIOLOGY We seek a highly motivated PhD student to join us in the petrology group at Faculty of Geosciences in Utrecht University in the Netherlands. The aim of the PhD project is to develop techniques with nickel isotopes to detect the activity of methanogenic archaea and reverse methanogenesis in diverse environments. Focus will be given to methanogens from volcanic areas in order to determine if microbial activity can enhance Ni release from Ni-containing minerals. Part of the work will be carried out with collaborating research groups at Wageningen University and the ETH in Zurich, Switzerland. Requirements: You should have an MSc degree in geochemistry, (geo)microbiology, environmental sciences or a related field, with experience of laboratory work, and preferably a strong interest in isotope geochemistry and its application to problems in Early history. You should communicate easily in English, both verbally and in writing. This is a temporary position for 4 years. The gross monthly salary increases from euro 2,042 (year 1) to euro 2,612 (year 4). For informal enquiries, contact: Dr. Paul Mason, p.mason@uu.nl or Dr. Melike Balk, m.balk@uu.nl You may also wish to visit the Faculty website at: www.geo.uu.nl/ 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 8TH MEETING OF THE NASA SMALL BODIES ASSESSMENT GROUP January 14-16, 2013 Liaison Capitol Hill Washington DC We have a very exciting program, and I encourage everyone to come and participate. Late (no charge) on-site event registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. The agenda, WebEx instructions and other details are posted at: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/sbag/meetings/ See you there! Mark V. Sykes Chair, NASA Small Bodies Assessment Group 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 PLANETARY MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html May 29-31, 2013 Third Meeting of the International Primitive Body Exploration Working Group (IPEWG) http://www.oca.eu/michel/IPEWG2013/ Nice, France [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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