PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 7, Number 41 (September 22, 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. [NASA] MDAP Proposal Due Date Delayed 2. AGU Session P030 - Thermal Modeling of Terrestrial and Planetary Bodies 3. NASA Postdoctoral Fellowships 4. Ames Research Center Job Opening 5. Planetary Mission Research Scientist Job Opening 6. PDS4 Workshop at Denver DPS 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 [NASA] MDAP PROPOSAL DUE DATE DELAYED The objective of the Mars Data Analysis Program (MDAP) is to enhance the scientific return from missions to Mars conducted by NASA and other space agencies. These include, but are not limited to, the following missions: Mars Pathfinder (MPF), Mars Global Surveyor (MGS), Mars Odyssey (MO), Mars Exploration Rovers (MERs), Mars Express (MEX), Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), and Phoenix (PHX). MDAP broadens scientific participation in the analysis of mission data sets and funds high-priority areas of research that support planning for future Mars missions. MDAP supports scientific investigations of Mars using publicly available (released) data. The proposal due date for Appendix C.12, the Mars Data Analysis Program, has been delayed by two weeks due to loss of power caused by flooding in Colorado. The new due date for proposals is Friday, October 4, 2013. Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2013 Announcement Number: NNH13ZDA001N http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ RSS feed at: http://nasascience.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/grant-solicitations /roses-2013 Questions concerning this amendment and Appendix C.12, MDAP, may be directed to: Mitchell Schulte Planetary Science Division Science Mission Directorate (202) 358-2127 mitchell.d.schulte@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 AGU SESSION P030 - THERMAL MODELING OF TERRESTRIAL AND PLANETARY BODIES This session gives us an opportunity to share our science results and techniques with the broad thermal modeling community, rather than just our narrow sub-discipline. Our hope is that this session will foster communication and facilitate collaborations between subdisciplines. Thermal modeling techniques are used to understand a broad range of geologic and atmospheric problems on solid planetary bodies, including but not limited to Earth, Europa, Io, Mars, and Titan. Examples of such problems include the cooling of lava flows, volcano/geothermal monitoring, surface and near sub-surface physical properties, crater deformation, and icerock interactions. The techniques used to address thermal modeling-related questions are often applicable across many disciplines, datasets, and topics. By sharing scientific results and/or thermal modeling techniques and applications from a broad range of sub-disciplines, we will foster interdisciplinary collaboration and cooperation within the diverse thermal modeling community. Conveners: Robin Fergason, rfergason@usgs.gov (USGS, Astrogeology Science Center) Greg Vaughan, gvaughan@usgs.gov (USGS, Astrogeology Science Center) 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) 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 posted at: https://www3.orau.gov/NPDoc/Catalog/18421 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/14cNpfH For further information and to apply, visit: http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc/description/index.htm Questions: 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 AMES RESEARCH CENTER JOB OPENING Application period: Thursday, August 15, 2013 to Friday, September 27, 2013 Ames Research Center Job Announcement AR13B0014, Research Space Scientist, AST, Planetary Studies, GS-1330-12/13 https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/349635800 The Exobiology Branch (Code SSX) at NASA Ames Research Center is currently seeking interested applicants for the position of Research Space Scientist. The incumbent is responsible for conducting microbiological and/or geologic research to identify biosignatures that characterize past/present life in environments related to astrobiology. He/she studies the origin, composition, structure, and evolution of the solar system, including planets and satellites; the Earth and Moon; and meteorites, asteroids, comets and dust. As a Research Space Scientist, the incumbent is responsible for conducting research involving modern field samples, ancient terrestrial rocks, meteorites, extraterrestrial materials, ices, Mars analog rocks, and returned data from spaceflight missions. He/she conducts research that emphasizes on the elucidation and characterization of modern, ancient, or extraterrestrial habitable zones and mineral biosignature. This includes the evaluation of preservation potential related to biosignatures; primary/secondary mineral phases associated with habitable zones; and the development of databases, microbial specimens, and geological collections for planetary studies and spacecraft missions. Mark Fonda (650) 604-5744 http://spacescience.arc.nasa.gov/ [Edited for length.] 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 PLANETARY MISSION RESEARCH SCIENTIST JOB OPENING Astromaterials Research Office, NASA Johnson Space Center We are pleased to announce a new opening for a civil servant position within the Astromaterials Research Office (KR). The Incumbent serves as a Planetary Mission Research Scientist in KR. The Incumbent conducts fundamental planetary science research, participates in planning and operations of robotic planetary exploration missions such as those in the Discovery and/or New Frontiers programs, and provides expertise on small-sample handling, curation, and analysis to the Astromaterials Acquisition and Curation Office on an as-needed basis (combining to 90% time). The Incumbent also supports overall Directorate and Center needs as assigned (10% time). The position is expected to be filled at the GS-13 level. Application period: Monday, 23 September 2013 to Monday, 4 October 2013. All applications must be completed using the USAJobs.gov website. The job announcement number to search on is JS13D0035. The full announcement can be viewed at: http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/351945100 I will provide upon request the HR-authored guide for compiling competitive applications in USAJobs.gov; just email me if you'd like a copy (david.draper@nasa.gov). [Edited for length.] 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 PDS4 WORKSHOP AT DENVER DPS The PDS Small Bodies Node is pleased to announce that it will be offering a hands-on workshop in PDS4 data standards and data set development at the upcoming DPS meeting in Denver: Getting Acquainted with PDS4 Standards in Time for Comet ISON Time: 9:00am-12:00pm Date: Wednesday, 9 October 2013 Location: Governer's Square 17 Observations of Comet ISON destined to be archived in the PDS will be coming in under the brand-new PDS4 data standards. In this workshop we will provide a brief intro to the new standards, and then provide sample files and real-time help getting you set up to work with XML, schemas, and the new PDS standards. PDS personnel will be on hand to answer questions and guide you through the process of creating basic labels for the most common data types. Bring your laptops and a thumbdrive. Sample data of your own is welcome! A web page for posting sample data and additional information of interest is available at: http://borrelly.astro.umd.edu/wiki/DPS2013_Workshop No registration is required for this free workshop. For questions or more information: Anne Raugh PDS Small Bodies Node, University of Maryland raugh@astro.umd.edu (301) 405-6855 [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 July 21-25, 2014 2014 Sagan Exoplanet Summer Workshop: Imaging Planets and Disks http://nexsci.caltech.edu/workshop/2014/index.shtml Pasadena, 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. 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