Call for Proposals

NASA Ames Summer Program 2016

NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California

June 6 - July 1, 2016

Proposal Deadline: March 14, 2016

2016 Topic Areas

• Solar stellar connection
• Space weather impacts on solar and exo-planets
• Achieving helio/astro-physics science goals with small/nano satellites

Purpose

The NASA Ames Summer Program focuses on the physics of space weather events and their interactions with planetary atmospheres. In the heliosphere, the events start at the Sun and influence the atmospheres, ionospheres, and magnetospheres of Earth and the other planets in the solar system. Observations of these interactions provide data on the interaction of these bodies with the plasma environment and can be studied to advance theoretical development and validation.  

Similar processes occur around other stars and their exo-planets. The wide variety of exoplanet systems being discovered offers a rich ground to explore. Even when restricted to Sun-like stars, the variety of activities is large ¾ our limited lifespan offers us a only a brief sample of solar activities, whereas comparative stellar astrophysics enables us to effectively study solar conditions over much longer timescales and so to explore solar and heliospheric activity of the distant past and future. 

The “Comparative Heliophysics Summer Program 2016” at NASA Ames will focus on the foundations of heliophysics and related disciplines as applied to stars like the Sun and planets like those in the solar system with similar formation histories and that are relevant to understanding the formation, evolution, and present state of our immediate space environment. The program offers also the opportunity to explore approaches to sensor development that address space-weather impact on planetary atmospheres. It is intended to offer the participants an opportunity to carry out a serious program of research while interacting with colleagues. The primary focus is to seed and encourage new multi-disciplinary research through interactions with scientists of various backgrounds. It is expected that the investigations will lead to high-impact publications and opportunities to expand into new research areas.

Up to 25 students will be selected through a competitive process organized by the UCAR Visiting Scientist Programs. In addition, three to five advisors will be recruited from NASA's Ames Research Center to participate in the Summer Program. The program will last for four weeks from June 6 to July 1, 2016. 

Successful candidates are:

• Currently enrolled as advanced undergraduate students** or graduate students in any phase of training, or first or second year postdoctoral fellows.

**undergraduates in physics in their final years (Junior, Senior) with strong background in applied mathematics, numerical methods, and computer science including advanced programming language skills in C++ , Python, and/or FORTRAN.

• Majoring in physics with an emphasis on astrophysics, geophysics, plasma physics, and space physics, or experienced in at least one of these areas.
• Pursuing a career in heliophysics, or astrophysics or planetary science.

For additional information on this program, submitting a proposal and instructions on how to apply,

please visit the Heliophysics website at

http://www.vsp.ucar.edu/Heliophysics/ames-overview.shtml

For further information, call (303) 497-1605 or e-mail vspapply@ucar.edu

The Living With a Star program of the Heliophysics Division in NASA’s Science Mission Directorate sponsors the NASA Ames Summer Program. The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) Visiting Scientist Programs collaborates with NASA in administering the program. The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research is an EE/AAE who values and encourages diversity in the workplace. Images courtesy of NASA.