Heliosphere News – August 5, 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 Assistant in Space Plasma Physics at Queen Mary University of London

2. JOB OPPORTUNITY: Research Scientist and Postdoctoral positions in Space Physics Instrumentation and Data Analysis at Los Alamos National Laboratory

3. ANNOUNCEMENT: Decadal Survey White Paper Organization

4. ANNOUNCEMENT: Call for Papers: Frontiers Research Topic “Impulsive Solar Energetic Particle Events: From Flares to Jets”

5. ANNOUNCEMENT: Decadal Survey White Paper Organization: Machine Learning & Data Science

6. MEETING: AGU Fall Meeting (In-person and Online) - 13-17 December 2021, New Orleans, LA

7: MEETING: Mini-conference at the 63rd APS DPP Meeting: “Collisionless Shocks in Laboratory and Space Plasmas (Sorting Number 11.02)” - 8-12 November 2021, Pittsburgh, PA

8: ANNOUNCEMENT: LWS Architecture Committee Seeks Community Input

9: ANNOUNCEMENT: Study on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Competed Space Missions

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1. JOB OPPORTUNITY: Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Space Plasma Physics at Queen Mary University of London

The Space & Astrophysical Plasmas Group at Queen Mary University of London is advertising for a Postdoctoral Research Assistant to work on the funded project “Plasma Dynamics of the Inner Heliosphere”. The project involves the use of Parker Solar Probe, Solar Orbiter and other spacecraft data to study turbulence and related plasma processes near the Sun – how they operate and the role they play, and involves comparison with theory and numerical simulations. There is also scope for the postdoctoral researcher to develop their own related research interests. The appointment period is 2 years (with possibility for extension subject to further funding), the closing date for applications is 20th August 2021. Informal enquiries can be addressed to Dr Christopher Chen (christopher.chen@qmul.ac.uk). The job profile and application form can be found at: https://webapps2.is.qmul.ac.uk/jobs/job.action?jobID=5986

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2. JOB OPPORTUNITIES: Research Scientist and Postdoctoral positions in Space Physics Instrumentation and Data Analysis at Los Alamos National Laboratory

Los Alamos National Laboratory seeks candidates for Research Scientist and Postdoctoral positions in heliophysics data analysis and instrumentation with the Space Science and Applications Group (ISR-1). ISR Division leads instruments on current and recent NASA missions such as IMAP, IBEX, Van Allen Probes, SWIFT, TWINS, and ACE, as well as NASA’s Mars Curiosity and Perseverance rovers. We also build, fly, operate, and analyze data from measurement systems deployed to space for verification of international nuclear treaties, and develop innovative sensors for basic scientific missions, nuclear nonproliferation, space situational awareness and remote sensing.

The successful applicants will be expected to support the development and calibration of a range of space plasma instrumentation for missions such as NASA/IMAP and current National Security missions, and the development of instrumentation for future missions. The candidates will also be expected to participate in original research in magnetospheric and/or heliospheric science. For the Research Scientist position, applicants should have laboratory experience in the development of hardware for the detection of space plasmas or energetic neutral atoms, and an established record of original research in magnetospheric, ionospheric and/or heliospheric science. For the Postdoctoral position, applicants should have laboratory experience broadly applicable to developing hardware for the detection of space plasmas; desired skills include familiarity with heliophysics (magnetospheres, ionospheres, solar wind, outer heliosphere, etc.), or a strong interest in learning about such environments. The selected candidates will have the opportunity to interact with Laboratory staff engaged in a broad range of observational, computational, and theoretical research in heliophysics. Applicants should have a doctoral degree in Space Physics, Physics, Astronomy, Engineering, or appropriate similar fields. The ability to obtain a DOE Q clearance is desired.

Interested persons should apply online at https://lanl.jobs to position posting IRC86128 for the research scientist position, or IRC83749 for the postdoctoral position. Candidates will be expected to furnish a CV and statement of research interests. For further inquiries, contact dreisenfeld at lanl.gov.

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3. 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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4. ANNOUNCEMENT: Call for Papers: Frontiers Research Topic “Impulsive Solar Energetic Particle Events: From Flares to Jets”

The Research Topic “Impulsive Solar Energetic Particle Events: from Flares to Jets” is open for submissions to the Space Physics section of the

journals Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences and Frontiers in Physics. The deadline for manuscript submission is 3 October 2021. We solicit

reviews and perspectives, as well as original research. Manuscripts tackling progress with new observations near the Sun (Parker Solar Probe and

Solar Orbiter) and growing simulation capabilities are particularly welcome.

This call aims to collect papers making up a comprehensive e-book addressing different aspects of Impulsive Solar Energetic Particle Events.

For further information, visit https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/21007/impulsive-solar-energetic-particle-events-from-flares-to-jets.

Topic Editors:

Radoslav Bucik, Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, United States

Linghua Wang, Peking University, Beijing, China

Fan Guo, Los Alamos National Laboratory (DOE), Los Alamos, United States

Sargam Mulay, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom

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5. ANNOUNCEMENT: Decadal Survey White Paper Organization: Machine Learning & Data Science

Members of the Heliophysics Community are coordinating and organizing white papers on Machine Learning and Data Science for the Heliophysics Decadal Survey in order to increase their visibility and impact. Anyone interested in leading, contributing to, or supporting a white paper, please reach out to Matthew Argall (matthew.argall[at]unh.edu) for more details.

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6. MEETING: AGU Fall Meeting (In-person and Online) - 13-17 December 2021, New Orleans, LA

Meeting website:

https://www.agu.org/fall-meeting

List of SPA-Solar and Heliospheric Physics Sessions:

https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm21/prelim.cgi/Program/3120

Submit an abstract (deadline 4 August at 23:59 EDT/03:59 +1 GMT):

https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm21/prelim.cgi/Home/0

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7: MEETING: Mini-conference at the 63rd APS DPP Meeting: “Collisionless Shocks in Laboratory and Space Plasmas (Sorting Number 11.02)” - 8-12 November 2021, Pittsburgh, PA

Conveners: Nikolai Pogorelov (University of Alabama in Huntsville), Michael Gedalin (Ben-Gurion University, Israel), and Derek Schaeffer (Princeton University)

Description: This mini-conference requests submissions which address the wealth of in-situ measurements of collisionless shocks in nature and laboratory. It will also address the physical mechanisms that govern crossing of collisionless shocks by non-thermal plasma.

Presentations discussing different theoretical approaches to describe the properties of collisionless shocks and their validation by observational and experimental data are especially welcome.

Meeting website:

https://engage.aps.org/dpp/meetings/mini-conferences

Submit an abstract (mini-conferences deadline 5 August at 5:00PM EDT):

https://engage.aps.org/dpp/meetings/annual-meeting/abstract-submission

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8: ANNOUNCEMENT: LWS Architecture Committee Seeks Community Input

NASA Heliophysics Division has asked a 10-member committee to evaluate the LWS mission line, including making suggestions for a future mission architecture. As part of our work, the LWS Architecture Committee (LWSAC) has examined the Strategic Science Areas as defined by the LWS Program Analysis Group and identified appropriate science objectives. For each of these objectives a set of measurement strategies, physical phenomena, required measurements and envisioned implementations have been crafted.

You can find all this at our website http://lws-ac.jhuapl.edu/
We would like your feedback on these items – you can find a feedback form for each SSA through the webpage. We recognize there is a lot of material there; feel free to comment (briefly if possible) on a subset of the items (even within an SSA or within a given science objective). The forms will be open from August 7-21.

From this material we will be forming Focused Mission Topics which will be presented for additional input later in the year. If you have any questions, please email us at SES-LWS-AC-Web@jhuapl.edu.

Thank you,
Christina Cohen for the LWSAC committee

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9: ANNOUNCEMENT: Study on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Competed Space Missions

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) has contracted with NORC at the University of Chicago (NORC) to implement an important research study to understand the factors that impede or facilitate diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the proposed leadership for competed space missions at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The results of this study will inform practical recommendations for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA and its partners to reduce impediments to applicants and thereby enhance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the competitive pool of proposed leaders.

We are looking for potential key informants, who have served as Principal Investigator (PI) on at least one proposal for a competed space mission from 2010 to the present, who would be willing to participate in a discussion around the processes for preparing and submitting a mission proposal to NASA, and elements of the mission proposal process that may present barriers or are facilitators for achieving diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. We are interested in speaking to an array of individuals, who can provide diverse perspectives based on their race/ethnicity, gender identity, career stage, success of applications to NASA, and other factors.

Participation in this study will comprise a 45–60-minute virtual discussion with an interviewer from NORC. Your participation in the study will NOT be made known to NASA or NASEM, and NO staff outside of the NORC Study Team will know your identity or be involved in the discussion itself. All interview responses will be kept confidential and stored separately from your contact information, and NORC will not share your contact information or interview responses with anyone outside our study team.

If you are interested in participating in the study, please complete this short Study Eligibility Survey by August 20, 2021: https://norc.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dnCQsdxJUtl5W4u OR reply to sawyer-heather@norc.org. The NORC study team will contact you within a few weeks to schedule an interview if you are eligible to participate.

We would also appreciate you forwarding this email invitation to your colleagues or friends who may be interested in the study as well.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Thank you,

The NORC Study Team

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All the best,

Jamie Sue Rankin