Heliosphere News - April 29, 2021

A newsletter devoted to Heliospheric Science.

Editor: Nathan Schwadron (nschwadron at unh.edu)

Co-Editor: Mihir Desai (mdesai at swri.edu)

Co-Editor: Eric Zirnstein (ejz at princeton.edu)

Co-Editor: Matina Gkioulidou (matina.gkioulidou at jhuapl.edu)

Co-Editor: Jamie Rankin (jsrankin at princeton.edu)

Coordinator: Liz Wilber (Elizabeth.Wilber at unh.edu) Web site editor: Ken Fairchild (Ken.Fairchild at unh.edu)

If you are interested in being added to the list, being removed from the list, or posting an announcement, please send information to Nathan, Mihir, Eric, Matina, or Jamie. Posts are limited to ascii text.

Newsletters are archived on the following website:

http://heliospherenews.unh.edu/.

******************* Announcements *******************

1. JOB OPPORTUNITY: Postdoctoral Research Fellow and/or Senior Research Positions in Space Physics at Princeton University

2. JOB OPPORTUNITY: Research Scientist Positions in Space Physics at Florida Institute of Technology

3. JOB OPPORTUNITY: Heliophysics POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER Opportunity at SwRI, San Antonio

4. MEETING: Heliophysics 2050 Workshop, May 3-7, 2021

5. MEETING: Spring 2021 Meeting on Solar Flare Energy Release, May 24-26, 2021

6. ANNOUNCEMENT: Decadal Survey Preparatory Discussions (Pre-/Post-Heliophysics 2050 Workshop)

7. ANNOUNCEMENT: Decadal Survey White Paper Organization

8. MEETING: Upcoming SHIELD Webinar: Fri May 14th, 2021 2:00 PM EST

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1. JOB OPPORTUNITY: Postdoctoral Research Fellow and/or Senior Research Positions in Space Physics at Princeton University

The Space Physics Group (see https://spacephysics.princeton.edu/) in the Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University, anticipates offering one or more postdoctoral or more senior research positions in the observational study of Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs) and Energetic Neutral Atoms (ENAs).

The Space Physics Group researches many aspects of space physics (aka Heliophysics), with a strong emphasis on experimental and observational space plasma physics. The Group currently leads NASA's Parker Solar Probe (PSP) Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun (ISOIS) energetic particle instrument suite. The Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) mission, and the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) mission, which will launch in 2025 to explore the details of particle acceleration and the Sun's interaction with the local interstellar medium.

The successful candidate(s) will play a significant role in the analysis and publication of SEP observations from ISOIS and ENA observations from IBEX and must have both significant prior experiences analyzing at least one of these type(s) of particle data, as well as the proven ability to lead and participate in the rapid development and publication of numerous excellent research articles. A Ph.D. is required in physics, astrophysics, space science, or a closely related field.

Interested persons must apply online at https://puwebp.princeton.edu/AcadHire/apply/application.xhtml?listingId=17501, Selecting Space Physics as the position you are interested in.

For further inquiries, contact spacephysics at princeton.edu

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2. JOB OPPORTUNITY: Research Scientist Positions in Space Physics at Florida Institute of Technology

The Space Physics Group in the Department of Aerospace, Physics and Space Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, is offering several postdoctoral and senior research positions in space physics. The Space Physics Group researches in several areas of heliospheric physics. These positions focus on studying cosmic rays and solar energetic particle propagation in fluctuating magnetic fields for space weather forecasts. Preferred qualifications of the candidate include having prior experience in numerical computer modeling, machine learning, and analyzing plasma, particle, and magnetic field data from spacecraft. The applicant should have a Ph.D. degree in space physics or closely related disciplines. Send application to mzhang at fit.edu in a single PDF file along with names and contact information for recommendation letters.

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3. JOB OPPORTUNITY: Heliophysics POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER Opportunity at SwRI, San Antonio

The Space Research Department at SwRI, San Antonio is seeking applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher to carry out original research addressing a broad range of heliospheric topics, with focus on the acceleration of energetic particles in the solar corona and the interplanetary medium. The candidate will analyze data from Wind, ACE, STEREO, MMS, and PSP missions. The candidate is also expected to participate in the testing and calibration of flight instruments on NOAA/SWFO and NASA/IMAP missions. The research will involve interactions with Institute Staff engaged in a broad range of experimental, observational, computational, and theoretical research in the physics of the solar wind, energetic neutral atoms, suprathermal and energetic particles. The candidate should have a PhD degree in Space Physics or Plasma Physics, and have graduate-level experience in the analysis and interpretation of solar wind, magnetic field, and suprathermal particle datasets. The candidate must have at least a 3.0 GPA, and demonstrate the ability to program and utilize data analysis software tools such as IDL, Python, Simion, or MATLAB. The position is available for immediate appointment and is for a one-year term with possible extension for up to one year.

To apply for this position go to

https://resapp.swri.org/ResApp/Job_Search_Results.aspx?DETAIL=15-01495

For more information about SwRI visit

https://www.swri.org/technical-divisions/space-science-engineering

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4. MEETING: Heliophysics 2050 Workshop, May 3-7, 2021, Virtual

The workshop will examine current scientific understanding and what near-term investigations can enable and inform future investigations. From this scientific progression, the workshop will explore fundamental connections (i.e., Science Web) that map current understanding to the next set of research investigations which will, in turn, enable next-generation studies. These investigations will cover the range of work from basic research to operational efforts and would be agnostic to their mode of execution (e.g., theory, observations, spaceflight missions). This approach will enable the next Decadal Survey to lay out a long-term science strategy: What does Heliophysics look like in 2050, and what do we do in the next decade to help us get there?

Call for Poster Abstracts

Poster presenters and attendees are encouraged to discuss the long-term impact of the presented topics, with an eye toward collaboration in submitting white papers to the Heliophysics Decadal Survey. Solicited poster abstracts are limited to 2,500 characters, and an abstract pdf is not required.

Abstract submission deadline: April 4, 2021, 12:00 p.m. U.S. Central Daylight Time (GMT -5)

Registration

Registration fees are not being collected for this virtual workshop, but registration is required for communication purposes including virtual access information.

Registration deadline: April 26, 2021

https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/helio2050/

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5. MEETING: Spring 2021 Meeting on Solar Flare Energy Release, May 24-26, 2021

A reminder that the deadline for abstract submission to the meeting on Solar Flare Energy Release is May 3. The link for abstract submission can be found either on the conference website (https://agenda.infn.it/event/26094/overview) or the SolFER website (solfer.umd.edu). Abstracts from early career scientists and students are especially welcome.

The SolFER DRIVE Science Center is announcing a web-based science meeting on Solar Flare Energy Release to take place on May 24-26, 2021. The meeting is open to all scientists working on the topic. The meeting will include invited talks, submitted oral talks as well as poster presentations and will provide substantial time for informal scientific discussion. We encourage paper submissions that are based on remote and in situ observational data as well as those based on theory and modeling. Extensive use will be made of Gather meeting software to facilitate interactive poster sessions as well as informal discussion between meeting participants. The meeting will be organized around the key scientific topics listed as follows:

What mechanisms facilitate the fast release of magnetic energy in impulsive solar flares?
What controls the onset of fast flare energy release?
Why and how do flares transfer a large fraction of the released magnetic energy into energetic electrons?
What mechanism drives the energization of ions and the measured abundance enhancements of some species during impulsive flares?
What mechanisms control energetic particle transport in flares?
How does reconnection heat plasma in flares and the small events (nanoflares) that may be responsible for heating the corona?

More information on these scientific topics can be found on the SolFER website (solfer.umd.edu). Information on abstract submission and more details on the daily timeline of the meeting are being developed for posting on the website.

The SolFER science team also encourages community participation in the ongoing science discussion related to flare energy release. A detailed calendar of working group meetings as well as the monthly webinar can be found on the SolFER website (solfer.umd.edu).

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6. ANNOUNCEMENT: Decadal Survey Preparatory Discussions (Pre-/Post-Heliophysics 2050 Workshop)

To augment the impact of the Heliophysics 2050 Workshop (May 3-7) on the community’s pre-decadal preparation, NASA is supporting additional opportunities for community coordination.

1. Pre-Workshop, NASA is encouraging preparatory discussions so that the In-Workshop discussions are as productive as possible.

2. Post-Workshop, NASA is encouraging follow-on discussions that can take threads that arise at the Workshop and further develop them as part of decadal survey white paper preparation.

NASA especially encourages discussions on interdisciplinary science, science that expands the field of heliophysics, a coherent pipeline from basic research to operational activities, and state of the profession topics. Topics should be focused enough to be productive without being so focused that discussion threads outside of established canon are excluded.

Given the limited time before the Workshop, groups are encouraged to meet at least once a week. After the Workshop, groups will be encouraged to consider the decadal survey white paper deadlines when scheduling.

Some pre-Workshop groups are currently meeting, and interested individuals are encouraged to contact the organizer for connection information:

Larry Kepko (larry.kepko@nasa.gov): Terrestrial magnetospheric science

Shasha Zou (shashaz@umich.edu): Terrestrial ITM science

Albert Y. Shih (albert.y.shih@nasa.gov): High-energy solar physics

Dan Seaton (Daniel.Seaton@Colorado.EDU): Middle corona and connection to heliosphere

Mark Linton (mark.linton@nrl.navy.mil): Solar interior and atmospheric science

Allison Jaynes (allison-n-jaynes@uiowa.edu): Magnetosphere-atmosphere connections

Justyna Sokol (justyna.sokol@swri.org): Outer heliosphere

Aleida Higginson (aleida.k.higginson@nasa.gov): Outer corona/heliosphere

Rob Ebert (rob.ebert@swri.org): Comparative magnetospheres

Katherine Garcia-Sage (katherine.garcia-sage@nasa.gov): Exoplanets/astrospheres

Hantao Ji (hji@princeton.edu): Reconnection (including applications to laboratory and astrophysics communities)

Jennifer Gannon (gannon@cpi.com): Space weather

Ryan McGranahan (ryan.mcgranahan@colorado.edu): Data science in heliophysics

Anna Tenerani (anna.tenerani@austin.utexas.edu): Turbulence

Jaye Verniero (jverniero@berkeley.edu): Community

To volunteer to organize a new group, contact Ian Cohen (ian.cohen@jhuapl.edu) to coordinate. No topic relevant to the Workshop and the decadal survey will be discouraged. A modest honorarium is available for eligible organizers.

All groups must be open to all interested members of the community. All groups must abide by the highest standards of conduct.

Any questions about NASA Heliophysics Division’s preparation for the decadal survey should be directed to Jared Leisner (jared.s.leisner@nasa.gov).

Links:

Heliophysics Division Decadal Survey webpage: https://science.nasa.gov/heliophysics/resources/2024_decadal_survey

Heliophysics 2050 Workshop: https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/helio2050/

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7. ANNOUNCEMENT: Decadal Survey White Paper Organization

To support community self-organization ahead of the decadal survey, a webpage has been set up for individuals to share their plans for decadal white papers with the heliophysics community.

The intention is for community members to use this page to coordinate similar white papers, solicit comments from interested researchers, and make connections that lead to refined and new white papers. The webpage is based on the Lunar and Planetary Institute’s successful model used for a previous decadal survey, and can be found at: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/decadal_whitepaper_proposals/heliophysics/

This site is for community information only and is not part of the National Academies' activities. The decadal survey sponsoring agencies do not approve, reject, or modify white paper concepts submitted.

Listing a white paper proposal here does not commit the author to submitting a white paper to the decadal survey, and an individual is not required to list a white paper here in order to submit it for the decadal survey.

Any questions about NASA Heliophysics Division’s preparation for the decadal survey should be directed to Jared Leisner (jared.s.leisner@nasa.gov).

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8. MEETING: Upcoming SHIELD Webinar: Fri May 14th, 2021 2:00 PM EST

A Path Towards Creating Effective Scientific Presentations

Speaker: Heather Elliot

This webinar is designed to set you on a path towards creating effective presentations. Presentations are a key way of advertising your work and an integral part of establishing collaborations. We go over general advice for making scientific presentations at conferences, and more formal presentations to clients and government agencies (e.g. NASA Preliminary Design Reviews and Critical Design Reviews). The advice includes how to prepare presentations, and how to give presentations. We provide some advice for dealing with common problems encountered during presentations.
Additional links and references are provided to guide your journey towards being an effective presenter.

Dr. Elliott’s research focuses on the plasma properties of large‐scale solar wind structures, and Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections. Her work with ACE, Ulysses, New Horizons, OMNI, and Polar data has spanned a wide range of topics: solar wind, interstellar pickup ions, Jupiter’s magnetotail, ion outflow in Earth’s magnetosphere, comet tails, forecasting the Kp Index, and solar wind interaction with Pluto. Currently, she is the Deputy PI for the Solar Wind Around Pluto (SWAP) instrument on the New Horizons spacecraft. She is a Co‐I on the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) mission, the Polarimeter to UNify the Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH) mission, and the SHIELD DRIVE Data Center. As an undergraduate, she was a summer student at Arecibo Observatory assisting with ionospheric research, and her master’s work compared simulation results to thermospheric observations. Her Ph.D. dissertation examined how the solar wind affects the cold ion outflow that escapes from the ionosphere into the high altitude polar magnetosphere.

Friday, May 14

2 PM EST

https://bostonu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0vdemvrTMjGt0ECcz2tI1Prb36DWq7eou_

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Cheers,

Nathan