Table of Contents ====================================================================== 1. 2014 WORKSHOP REPORT: Geospace Systems Science Focus Group 2. 2014 GEM Mini-workshop: Reconnection in the Magnetosphere Focus Group Session 3. Ladder Faculty Search in Atmospheric Dynamics at UCLA 4. Postdoctoral Associate Geoinformatics / Astroinformatics at Haystack Observatory 5. Postdoctoral Associate Computer Science at Haystack Observatory ====================================================================== *************************** ** THE GEM MESSENGER ** *************************** Volume 24, Number 36 November 3, 2014 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. 2014 WORKSHOP REPORT: Geospace Systems Science Focus Group ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Joe Borovsky , Bill Lotko, Vadim Uritsky, and Juan Valdivia (Editor’s Note: This report will be included in an upcoming GEMstone Newsletter with all the tables that do not appear in this electronic newsletter.) The Geospace Systems Science (GSS) Focus Group had its first sessions at the 2014 GEM Summer Workshop in Telluride: three sessions plus two joint sessions. The first sessions was entitled “Timescales, Time Lags, and Feedback Loops in the M-I System”, the second session was entitled “Long- Running Measurements of the State of the System: What Can Be Done?”, and the third session was entitled “Planning Session for the Systems Science Focus Group”. All three sessions were audience-participation discussions and no slides were shown. These three sessions are reviewed below. The two joint sessions were “The Origins of the Non-Adiabatic Heating from Magnetosheath into Magnetosphere” joint with the Magnetosheath Focus Group and “Shielding” joint with the SIMIC Focus Group. These two sessions have been reviewed in the reports from the other two focus groups. Session 1: “Timescales, Time Lags, and Feedback Loops in the M-I System” The first purpose of this session was to identify, catalog, and quantify the known timescales and time lags in the M-I system associated with reactions to the solar wind, with plasma transport, with morphological evolution, with the evolution of plasma populations and radiation belts, with ionospheric outflows, etc. The second purpose was to identify and catalog the feedback loops in the driven M-I system. The session was an audience discussion aimed at filling out Table 1 below: naming a time lag (L) or a timescale (T) of the magnetosphere- ionosphere system and providing, if possible, an estimate of that timescale or time lag. The name of an expert on the timescale or time lag has been added to the table: some of the experts were present for the session discussion and some were drafted by the audience. Session 2: “Long-Running Measurements of the State of the System: What Can Be Done?” To quantify the state of the magnetosphere-ionosphere system and to gauge the reaction of the system to the solar wind, we chiefly rely on geomagnetic indices. However, geomagnetic indices only characterize a small fraction of what goes on the magnetosphere-ionosphere system. The purpose of this GSS session was to identify other measures of the system that could be used. To be practical, the measures must be in the form of a simple index, one number that is a function of time. The audience-participation discussion was summarized in Table 2, which is a list of potential or already existing indices that characterize the various aspects of the magnetosphere-ionosphere system, the name of an expert (present or suggested) who would know about making such an index, and brief notes about the feasibility of that index. The conclusion of the discussion was that there are many more indices available that would describe many aspects of the magnetosphere- ionosphere system. Session 3: “Planning Session for the Systems Science Focus Group” The new GSS Focus Group met at the 2014 GEM Summer Workshop without having any prior audience input as to the direction the focus group should take and the session topics that the focus group should host. A session was held to get some of that input from the GEM community. A wide variety of issues and topics were discussed. Some of the discussion topics are summarized in Table 3. That discussion will be continued and solidified at a session at the 2014 Mini-GEM Workshop in San Francisco where a call will be made to the GEM community for presentations about suggestions for session topics for 2015 and beyond. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. 2014 GEM Mini-workshop: Reconnection in the Magnetosphere Focus Group Session ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Paul Cassak, Andrei Runov, and Homa Karimabadi We announce the Magnetic Reconnection in the Magnetosphere session at the GEM Mini-Conference the Sunday before the upcoming AGU meeting. The session is currently scheduled for 12:00-1:50pm in the Stanford Room at the Westin San Francisco Market Street and 50 Third Street. The planned style for this year's GEM Mini-Conference is to spend about 50 minutes on each of two topics with an open discussion format: (1) spontaneous vs. driven reconnection in the magnetotail, and (2) dayside reconnection. We have chosen this format to encourage group participation with a goal of making genuine progress on these important topics. For these segments, we do not intend to have planned talks. Of course, people can show relevant slides as the discussion dictates. In any remaining time, there will be an opportunity to give brief scheduled talks (literally 2 slides in the GEM style) on topics relevant to the focus group in the order that requests to be added to the list are received. As a reminder, the GEM format is quite different than the AGU format, so the organizers will not allow extended AGU-style presentations. If you would like to be added to the list, please email Paul.Cassak@mail.wvu.edu. We will accommodate as many as we can. Thanks, and we look forward to seeing you in San Francisco, ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Ladder Faculty Search in Atmospheric Dynamics at UCLA ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Samantha Miller The UCLA Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (AOS) seeks candidates for up to two ladder faculty positions in the broad area of Atmospheric Dynamics. The successful candidate(s) will demonstrate the potential to conduct exceptional research and an excellence in teaching. In addition, s/he will show a clear commitment to enhancing the diversity of the department’s faculty members, graduate student population, and majors within the field. The appointments can be made at any level of seniority. Candidates with research interests within atmospheric dynamics at any scale, including observational methods and analysis, modeling and theory, are invited to apply. The UCLA Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences is a vibrant and collaborative department whose faculty in atmospheric and ocean dynamics have long-standing strengths in the theory and modeling of large-scale circulations, moist convective processes, the general circulation, climate dynamics and the application of modern applied mathematics to problems in atmospheric and oceanic sciences. The successful applicant must hold a Ph.D (or equivalent) degree at the time of appointment and will be expected to lead or develop a first rate program of research in Atmospheric Dynamics. He or she will be expected to contribute to the teaching mission of the AOS department, at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Salary will be commensurate with education and experience. The target start date is on or after July 1, 2015. Please submit your online application to the Search Committee for faculty positions in Atmospheric Dynamics at https:recruit.apo.ucla.edu/apply/JPF00519. Please include: ; (1) curriculum vitae; (2) Cover letter; (3) a statement of teaching; (4) Statement of Research (5) a list of 3-5 individuals who are familiar with your work and can serve as a reference. Applications are due by January 15, 2015, but the position will remain open until filled. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy please cut and paste the following link into a browser:http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Postdoctoral Associate Geoinformatics / Astroinformatics at Haystack Observatory ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Terrill Gadde The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Haystack Observatory is expanding its Computer-Aided Discovery efforts to provide scalable machine assistance for Big Data in geoscience and astronomy. As data volumes from ground-based and space-based instrument networks are growing beyond Petabytes, smart computational approaches are required for data collection and analysis. Scientific libraries and toolsets need to leverage parallel computing on multicore processors, clusters, and clouds in order to manage and analyze such vast amounts of data. Postdoctoral Opportunity. MIT Haystack is a world leader in a variety of fields including radio science, Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), and novel software-based instrumentation for geoscience, astronomy, and atmospheric science. Scientific studies include space weather and ionospheric monitoring using mobile phones, Very Long Baseline Interferometry observations for studies of the solid Earth, ultra-high resolution imaging of super massive black holes, low frequency imaging of the Sun, and detection of remnant radio signals from the early Universe. We invite applications for a postdoctoral opportunity to strengthen research in the Geoinformatics / Astroinformatics group at MIT Haystack. Consideration will be given to individuals who offer a strong grounding in areas such as Geoscience, Astronomy, or Computer Science. The successful applicant will be expected to play a major role in the Computer-Aided Discovery program and collaborate and contribute to the research and technical development of Computer-Aided Discovery systems. The research center provides a stimulating work environment on a 1300-acre radio science campus in Westford, Massachusetts. The salary is competitive and appointments will initially be for two years, with secure funding for a possible extension to a third year. Qualifications/Requirements: Recent Ph.D. in Geoscience, Astronomy, Computer Science, or related fields. Preferred areas of expertise include Geoinformatics, Astroinformatics, parallel / high-performance computing, algorithm development, machine learning, software engineering. Our interdisciplinary team also welcomes applications from other Postdocs who have a strong interest in any of the above areas, and who are interested to develop new areas of science and solve complex problems. Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate research results in the form of peer-reviewed research journals articles and oral presentations is a must. Must display outstanding scientific research ability, excellent communication skills, and the willingness to work with a team. In addition to applying online, http://jobs.mit.edu, please send a brief summary of research interests, a CV that includes a list of publications, and the contact information for three references to job@haystack.mit.edu with subject "Application Computer-Aided Discovery/Pankratius". ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Postdoctoral Associate Computer Science at Haystack Observatory ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Terrill Gadde The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Haystack Observatory is expanding its Computer-Aided Discovery efforts to provide scalable machine assistance for Big Data in geoscience and astronomy. As data volumes from ground-based and space-based instrument networks are growing beyond Petabytes, smart computational approaches are required for data collection and analysis. Scientific libraries and toolsets need to leverage parallel computing on multicore processors, clusters, and clouds in order to manage and analyze such vast amounts of data. Postdoctoral Opportunity. The Computer-Aided Discovery program represents an excellent opportunity for Computer Scientists to develop new directions of Big Data science and strengthen the Astroinformatics / Geoinformatics group. As a leader in astronomy, geoscience, and atmospheric science instrumentation, MIT Haystack provides a fruitful ground for novel Computer Science research. The selected candidates will have an opportunity to tackle new problems and work with experts in interdisciplinary teams. Studies at Haystack include for example space weather and ionospheric monitoring using mobile phones, Very Long Baseline Interferometry observations for studies of the solid Earth, ultra-high resolution imaging of super massive black holes, low frequency imaging of the Sun, and detection of remnant radio signals from the early Universe. The successful applicant will be expected to play a major role in the Computer-Aided Discovery program and contribute to the research and technical development of Computer-Aided Discovery systems. The research center provides a stimulating work environment on a 1300-acre radio science campus in Westford, Massachusetts. The salary is competitive and appointments will initially be for two years, with secure funding for a possible extension to a third year. Qualifications/Requirements: Recent Ph.D. in Computer Science or related fields. Consideration will be given to individuals who offer a strong grounding in areas such as machine learning, algorithm development, statistics, imaging, simulation, numerical methods, parallel computing, or software engineering. Our interdisciplinary team also welcomes applications from other Postdocs who have a strong interest in any of the above areas, and who are interested to develop new areas of science and solve complex problems. Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate research results in the form of peer- reviewed research journals articles and oral presentations is a must. Must display outstanding scientific research ability, excellent communication skills, and the willingness to work with a team. In addition to applying online, http://jobs.mit.edu, please send a brief summary of research interests, a CV that includes a list of publications, and the contact information for three references to job@haystack.mit.edu with subject "Application Computer-Aided Discovery/Pankratius". +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | To broadcast announcements to the GEM community, please contact | | Peter Chi, GEM Communications Coordinator, at: | | | | | | Please submit your announcements in plain text or Word document. | | | | To subscribe the GEM Messenger, send an e-mail to | | | | with the following command in the body of your e-mail message: | | subscribe gem | | To remove yourself from the mailing list, the command is: | | unsubscribe gem | | | | GEM Messenger is also posted online via newsfeed at | | http://heliophysics.blogspot.com and | | http://www.facebook.com/heliophysics | | | | Back issues are available at: | | http://www-ssc.igpp.ucla.edu/gemwiki/messenger/ | | | | URL of GEM Home Page: http://aten.igpp.ucla.edu/gemwiki | | Workshop Information: http://www.cpe.vt.edu/gem/index.html | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+