PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER Volume 10, Number 22 (May 22, 2016) PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org Editor: Susan Benecchi Co-Editors: Mark V. Sykes, Karen R. Stockstill-Cahill Email: pen_editor at psi.edu o-------------------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------------------o 1. Special Announcement: NASA Shared Services Center Grant Report Notice System Out Of Order 2. [NASA] Education Aeronautics Scholarship and Advanced STEM Training and Research (AS&ASTAR) Fellowship 3. Postdoctoral Position in Mars Science 4. Postdoctoral Research Scientists 5. USRA: SOFIA Head of Communications and Public Outreach 6. Job Posting: Geomicrobiologist at NASA Johnson Space Center 7. ICES in the Solar System - First Announcement 8. Save the Date - VEXAG Meeting #14 9. [NASA] PDS - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter CRISM MTRDR and TER Release 2 10. [NASA] PDS - GRAIL Release 7 11. Summer School in Software Systems for Astronomy 12. 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 SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: NASA SHARED SERVICES CENTER GRANT REPORT NOTICE SYSTEM OUT OF ORDER We have received reports of Friendly Reminders and 1st, 2nd & 3rd delinquent notices of required grant progress reports by scientists when reports had already been filed, sometimes months previously. We have also received a report of no reminder notices being sent out since late 2015 to at least one institution. NSSC reports that it has been transitioning to a new tracking system for grant and cooperative agreement progress report submission. "It is a temporary occurrence until the system catches up with the reminder sequence." If things are still problematic in another month, we recommend you communicate with sara@nasa.gov. We will also be in touch with SARA. The Editors 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 [NASA] EDUCATION AERONAUTICS SCHOLARSHIP AND ADVANCED STEM TRAINING AND RESEARCH (AS&ASTAR) FELLOWSHIP This activity supports the vitality and diversity of the STEM workforce of NASA and the United States by training and funding graduate students during their STEM academic endeavors and providing access to NASA, its content, unique facilities, and STEM experts. Specific award objectives: 1. Improve the nation's future STEM workforce by developing the skills and competencies of graduates pursuing degrees in STEM disciplines, one student at a time; 2. Provide opportunities for a diverse population to participate and contribute to NASA's missions and projects; 3. Use NASA's unique mission content, workforce, and facilities in order to enhance and increase the capabilities, diversity, and size of the nation's next generation workforce needed to enable future NASA discoveries; 4. Improve the rates at which students, who have historically been underrepresented in NASA-related fields, are awarded graduate degrees at their respective universities in the STEM fields. Announcement: NNH16ZHA001N Posted at: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ Proposals due: June 17, 2016, 11:59pm EST Pre-proposal teleconference will take place Monday, 5/23/16 at 3:00 pm Eastern Link: https://ac.arc.nasa.gov/nifs/ and join as a guest. The number is 1-844-467-6272 and the passcode is 993012. Address questions to: Elizabeth Cartier, elizabeth.a.cartier@nasa.gov [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 POSTDOCTORAL POSITION IN MARS SCIENCE The Department of Planetology and Habitability at the Centro de Astrobiologia (CAB) invites applications for a postdoctoral position to support investigations on the nature of the early Mars environments. The successful candidate will work with Dr. Alberto Fairen in the ERC-funded Project "icyMARS": https://erc.europa.eu/projects-and-results/erc-funded-projects/icymars Applicants should have a recent Ph.D. in the field of Planetary Science or related discipline, and a background in Mars research. Expertise in Geochemistry or Microbiology would be helpful, but not required. The position, placed in Madrid, would be for two years, with possible extension to a third year contingent upon funding availability and satisfactory performance. Benefits include working in a young enthusiastic team at one of the leading Planetary Sciences institutions in Europe, full social benefits according to the Spanish social care system, and a very competitive salary. Applicants should send a letter of interest, a curriculum with a list of publications, a brief (maximum two pages) statement of research interests, and a list of three references, no later than July, 1 2016, to Alberto Fairen (agfairen@cab.inta-csic.es). The starting date is negotiable, but should be no later than Jan 1, 2017. 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 POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH SCIENTISTS The Planetary Science Institute (EOE/M/F/Vet/Disability) in collaboration with The CosmoQuest Virtual Research Facility is interested in hiring two Postdoctoral Research Scientists with concentrations in: (1) earth and planetary science and (2) astrophysics and heliophysics, to work closely with scientists, educators, and the general public through CosmoQuest. CosmoQuest provides the general public and educators opportunities to learn through classes and web content, and to contribute to NASA SMD related science in meaningful ways. These postdocs are research- focused positions. Postdocs will collaboratively work to ensure that citizen science results can be used to advance the understanding of the universe, and will be expected to aid in or lead projects that produce peer-reviewed science publications. The official job(s) description and application can be found at: http://www.psi.edu/about/hr under "Science Support Staff - Current Openings." Thank you for your time, Jennifer Grier 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 USRA: SOFIA HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC OUTREACH USRA is seeking a knowledgeable and experienced Head of Communications and Public Outreach to deliver high impact scientific results to the public, the astronomical community, and NASA management. Responsibilities: (1) Lead a team of communications specialists at USRA, and work closely with NASA Public Affairs and the science community. A key role is to maximize the exposure of the most intellectually engaging and potentially newsworthy science coming from the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), build the visibility for the science behind SOFIA, and conduct Science Outreach, Public Engagement and Public Affairs activities. (2) Be responsible for the Public Affairs, Public Outreach and Scientific Outreach programs for the SOFIA program. The incumbent will manage the staff and activities associated with the public affairs and outreach programs and will be held accountable for achieving the objectives established by NASA and USRA for keeping the science community, the media, and the public at large informed as to the scientific status of SOFIA, its accomplishments, and opportunities for participation in the Observatory's programs. (3) Provide leadership and vision to continue and grow SOFIA's successful astronomy news and public outreach program. Interested candidates apply at: https://usracareers.silkroad.com/ [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 JOB POSTING: GEOMICROBIOLOGIST AT NASA JOHNSON SPACE CENTER JSC's Astromaterials Acquisition and Curation Office anticipates a hiring opportunity for a geomicrobiology or astrobiology researcher to serve NASA as curator for biological components in astromaterials. Qualifications: Expertise in - (1) biological cleanliness and quantitative biological contaminant characterization; (2) chemical, mineralogical, or petrological consequences of microbial interaction with astromaterials, astromaterials simulants, and terrestrial analogs of astromaterials; or (3) sample collection and handling of geological materials that contain microbial matter. The successful candidate shall develop an externally funded research program in the area of geomicrobiology and/or astrobiology. Additional duties include development and implementation of curation plans for astromaterials returned from future missions with possible extraterrestrial biological components; conducting advanced curation research to prevent biological contamination of NASA's past, present, and future astromaterials collections, and developing methods of monitoring for biological contamination within curation facilities and in NASA's astromaterials collections. This individual will also provide expertise in the area of contamination knowledge as it relates to biological cleanliness of NASA spacecraft at all stages of a mission. The position will be posted at USAJobs in the near future https://www.usajobs.gov/ 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 ICES IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM - FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT We invite you to the "Ices in the Solar System" workshop at the European Space Astronomy Centre near Madrid, Spain. The workshop will be organised in January 2017. The duration of the meeting will be 3 to 4 days, no registration fees are expected. Register at: http://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/ices-in-the-solar-system/home The latest advances in experimental research to support the interpretation of remote sensing observations on current and future missions observing the surfaces of icy bodies will be reviewed. The weathering of ices across the Solar System, in particular under plasma and dust bombardment in the magnetospheres of Gas Giants like Jupiter and Saturn, will be an important theme. Finally, the Rosetta mission has been continuing the examination of the distribution and role played by amorphous and/or crystalline ices in small bodies. The ability of different types of ices to trap chemical tracers is fundamental to constraining evolutionary models of the Solar System. This workshop will revolve around the following main themes: * Volatiles in ices * Surface-Ice chemistry * Geology of icy bodies * Laboratory analogs * Ices within the current snowline The LOC, Sebastien Besse, Nicolas Altobelli, Claire Vallat [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 SAVE THE DATE - VEXAG MEETING #14 Venus Exploration Analysis Group (VEXAG) meeting #14 will be held on Tuesday-Thursday, November 29 - December 1, 2016, at James Webb Auditorium, NASA Headquarters, Washington DC. Current plans are: Tuesday - November 29, 2016 - NASA and Mission Reports Wednesday - November 30, 2016 - Venus Science and Technology Reports Thursday - December 1, 2016 - VEXAG Activities (adjourn at mid-day) If you'll be attending in person and haven't done so already, 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= vexag2016 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 [NASA] PDS - MARS RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER CRISM MTRDR AND TER RELEASE 2 PDS announces the second release of Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter CRISM Targeted Empirical Data Record (TER) and Map-projected Targeted Reduced Data Record (MTRDR) products, with coverage through August 7, 2008. TER products are image cubes derived from CRISM hyperspectral targeted observations, post-processed to standardize the illumination and observation geometry and remove atmospheric gas absorptions and instrument artifacts. MTRDR products are the same data map-projected using terrain models of the Martian surface. MTRDR and TER releases are scheduled every three months, in May, August, November and March. The data may be accessed at: http://pds-geosciences.wustl.edu/missions/mro/crism.htm Alternatively: https://pds.nasa.gov/tools/subscription_service/SS-20160519.shtml To access the latest PDS Data Releases: http://pds.nasa.gov/tools/subscription_service/SS-Release.shtml All available PDS data may be found at: http://pds.nasa.gov/tools/data-search/ For further information, see the PDS Home Page: http://pds.nasa.gov/ The PDS Team pds_operator@jpl.nasa.gov (818) 393-7165 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 [NASA] PDS - GRAIL RELEASE 7 The Planetary Data System announces the release of a new spherical harmonic model, GRGM1200A, from the Goddard Space Flight Center GRAIL Team. This release also includes various new gravity map products in standard PDS image format and in GeoTIFF format. The data may be accessed at: http://pds-geosciences.wustl.edu/missions/grail/ For information about this release, please visit: https://pds.nasa.gov/tools/subscription_service/SS-20160520.shtml To access the latest PDS Data Releases, please visit the following link: https://pds.nasa.gov/tools/subscription_service/SS-Release.shtml All available PDS data may be downloaded from: http://pds.nasa.gov The PDS Team pds_operator@jpl.nasa.gov (818)393-7165 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 Summer School in Software Systems for Astronomy The University of Hawaii at Hilo Physics and Astronomy Department offers the two week course (July 25 - August 5). The course covers software design and implementation of telescope and instrument control systems, observation planning tools, and software for analyzing and archiving astronomical data. A full course description and instructions for enrollment are given at: http://phys.uhh.hawaii.edu/Summer2016/summer2016.php 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 MEETING CALENDAR ADDITIONS Posted at http://planetarynews.org/meetings.html July 25-August 5, 2016 Summer School in Software Systems for Astronomy http://phys.uhh.hawaii.edu/Summer2016/summer2016.php Hilo, HI October 10-14, 2016 The Seventh Moscow Solar System Symposium (7M-S3) http://ms2016.cosmos.ru/ Moscow, Russia November 29-December 1, 2016 VEXAG Meeting #14 https://www.hou.usra.edu/meeting_portal/registration/index.cfm?mtg=vexag2016 Washington, DC January 23-27, 2017 Ices in the Solar System http://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/ices-in-the-solar-system/home Madrid, Spain [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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