UK Solar Physics Newsletter Lyndsay Fletcher & Duncan Mackay, Editors January 2008 o News, Views and Gossip o STEREO news o New MIST web site. o STFC Summer School in Solar Physics - Final Announcement o Invitation to participate - International Year of Astronomy 2009 o New RHESSI nugget o Meetings, Conferences and Workshops o Solar Image Processing Workshop IV: Algorithm comparison and effective implementation o IAU Symposium No.257: Second Announcement o GONG 2008/SOHO XXI Final Announcement o Eighth RHESSI workshop - Potsdam o 13th GEANT workshop - Kobe o Employment Opportunities o STFC CASE PhD studentship at the University of Glasgow o Three research positions in Helsinki, Finland o Two postdoctoral positions on solar magnetism and hydrodynamics at the IAC o Postdoctoral Research Associate, Solar and Heliospheric Physics, University of Arizona, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. o Postgraduate position at the University of Copenhagen and at the Ruhr University Bochum within the Solaire network. o Research Staff Position in Helioseismology, Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (ref RS0908) o Postdoctoral Fellowship in Helioseismology, Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (ref PF0908) o Programmer, German Data Center for the Solar Dynamics Observatory o Postdoc positions in high-temperature solar and laboratory plasma physics o Physicist, Solar Physics Branch, Naval Research Laboratory o PhD positions in solar physics research at Stanford/Lockheed; Palo Alto, Ca Dear Colleague, Here are a few items which have come to our attention since the last Newsletter. You can find this newsletter also at the UKSP website: http://www.uksolphys.org Lyndsay (lyndsay@astro.gla.ac.uk) Duncan (duncan@mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk) ********************************************************************* * * * News, Views and Gossip * * * ********************************************************************* From: "Davis, CJ (Chris)" The STEREO HI team announce their new website at www.stereo.rl.ac.uk. Here you can find out all about the STEREO Heliospheric Imagers, including links to daily and monthly movies, an event list, data download and documents describing the instruments and how to work with the data. If you have any questions relating to the STEREO or the Heliospheric Imagers, send an email to stereo_support@ukssdc.ac.uk and one of the UK support team (Richard Harrison, Chris Davis, Danielle Bewsher, Jackie Davies and Steve Crothers) Will get back to you. We have also set up an email list which we will use to distribute information about the latest developments from the UK STEREO team. To subscribe to this list, send an email to jiscmail@jiscmail.ac.uk with; subscribe stereo-hi Jane Doe -- in the body of the message [not the subject!] replacing 'Jane Doe' with your preferred user name. The two minus signs mean "end of commands" so if you have an auto-signature or some antivirus scan or some such it is ignored. We look forward to hearing from you. Chris. ************************************ From: Gary Abel Dear All, Some of you may have noticed that the MIST website (www.mist.ac.uk) has had an overhaul. This is thanks to Andrew Kavanagh who has done all the hard work. Gary Abel. ************************************* From: Mihalis Mathioudakis STFC Summer School in Solar Physics - Final Announcement The Advance Summer School in Solar Physics will take place at Queens University Belfast from August 31st - September 5th 2008. There is still some funding available to support the attendance of STFC students, self funded students and students on Dorothy Hodgkin awards. For more information see http://star.pst.qub.ac.uk/asssp/ or email M.Mathioudakis@qub.ac.uk ************************************* From: Ian Robson An invitation to participate in the International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009) in the UK - message from professor Ian Robson The United Nations and UNESCO have designated 2009 as the International Year of Astronomy, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Galileo's first observations through a telescope. As you would expect, given our standing on the world scene and our heritage, the UK is playing a major role in IYA2009. The RAS, STFC and IoP have provided funds for a UK Coordinator, Steve Owens, who is working with me to deliver a vibrant and exciting programme for the public in 2009. Some of the objectives for the year include: * reconnecting the general public with the night sky * promoting widespread access to new knowledge and observing experiences * increasing scientific awareness * supporting and improving formal and informal science education * facilitating new networks and strengthen existing ones Information on what's currently planned for IYA2009 in the UK can be found at www.astronomy2009.co.uk , but these are early days and there's lots more yet to do. We have already made good progress on recruiting help from the amateur astronomers, planetaria and science centres, and many programmes are now in the planning phase. Now it is your turn as professional astronomers. We are looking to YOU to help deliver the programme to meet the above objectives. So what can you do? There are many things; examples include working with your local astronomy society and /or your department outreach specialist to give a series of talks to the public and schools, present open days, provide telescopes for public viewing, set up local events in your home town. Something else individuals can do is to become an astronomy blogger. We will be setting up a blog-space on the web and you too can emulate Andy Lawrence et al; but in this case we're looking to showcase how exciting astronomy is and what it's like to be an astronomer and 'do astronomy'. So let's see some YOUNG BLOGGERS giving the public an idea of the excitement, fun and reward of studying astronomy. There's already a number of you out there so please contact us to - I'm sure you'd like an IYA2009 logo on your blog. We would also like to make contact with all astronomy departments, and in this case, to try to prevent data overload, we'd like a single contact name per department, this could be your nominated outreach person for example. Whatever it is you want to do, we'd like to hear from you, we're here to help and assist in any way we can. So please contact us at info@astronomy2009.co.uk so we can discuss how you can participate and make this a really great year to remember. ************************************* Announcing a new RHESSI Science Nugget "EIT Waves - Cadence issues" by David Long and Peter Gallagher It can be found on http://sprg.ssl.berkeley.edu/~tohban/nuggets/ We publish these at roughly two week intervals. Please send any questions regarding the RHESSI science nuggets to rhessi.nuggets@gmail.com or directly to the nugget authors (simply click the author's name when reading the nugget). S. Christe H. Hudson ********************************************************************* * * * Conferences, Workshops, Meetings * * * ********************************************************************* From: Jack Ireland irst Announcement Solar Image Processing Workshop IV: Algorithm comparison and effective implementation October 26-30th, 2008 Pier 5 Hotel, Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD, USA. http://www.sipwork.org/?q=meetings/sipworkiv The solar physics community has, in the past, largely relied on the identification of solar features and events through manual labor. With ever larger amounts of data, it is necessary to have automated detection and classification algorithms that make scientifically useful information reliably available to the community on a timely basis. We invite members of the community to present their solar image processing algorithms and to compare their result. Features of particular interest (but not exclusively so) are active regions (sunspots, coronal loops, etc), coronal holes, filaments/prominences and coronal mass ejections. We will also discuss the implementation of existing algorithms as reliable and robust tools usable by the community. Suggestions for discussion topics are also welcome. As in previous workshops, the meeting will be relatively short (3.25 days), with conference talks taking up the first half of each day, and more targeted splinter sessions in the afternoons. The meeting will also be relatively small, with a maximum of 85 participants. Previous meetings have attracted researchers with a broad spectrum of interests, creating a very stimulating atmosphere We look forward to meeting you in Baltimore this year! Please go to http://www.sipwork.org/?q=meetings/sipworkiv for more details. J. Ireland (SOC) C. A. Young (LOC) ********************************************* From : Nat Gopalswamy IAU Symposium No.257: Second Announcement Dear colleagues, We thank you for your interest in the IAU Symposium No.257 "Universal Heliophysical Processes" which will be held in Ioannina, Greece during September 15-19, 2008. Updated information about the Symposium is available at: http://iau257.uoi.gr The list of keynote speeches and invited talks and social events is given. If you are interested in giving a contributed talk or in presenting a poster, please register and provide the abstract (title, author(s), affiliation( s), and the text of abstract less than 300 words) through the above web site. We remind you that the deadline for registration and submitting an abstract is June 30, 2008. Only the abstracts received by this date will be considered for the selection of the contributed talks. Later registrations will be also welcome, however for poster presentations only. Please, note that, the applications for IAU grant have been processed and awards made. There may be a few small grants from the LOC that will be made to deserving participants. You must register before June 30, 2008 in order to avail these grants (Please contact Dr. A. Nindos, LOC chair: anindos-at-cc.uoi.gr). The final program will be announced on August 15, 2008. In order to ease the organization of the Symposium, we ask you to register as soon as possible. Please bring this announcement to your students and postdocs who may be interested in this unique symposium. Looking forward to meeting you at Ioannina, Greece. Sincerely, On behalf of the SOC Nat Gopalswamy, David Webb, and Kazunari Shibata ********************************************* From : Frank Hill GONG 2008/SOHO XXI Final Announcement Solar-stellar dynamos as revealed by helio- and asteroseismology Boulder, Colorado, Aug. 11-15, 2008 The deadline for registration and abstract submission for the GONG 2008/SOHO XXI Meeting has been extended to June 30, 2008. This meeting will cover the latest results from helioseismology and asteroseismology in the context of dynamos and the generation of stellar and solar magnetic fields. Please visit the web site at http://gongsoho08.ucar.edu/ for further details. ********************************************** From: Gordon Emslie Colleagues: This is a reminder of the upcoming RHESSI workshop in Potsdam, Germany, from September 2 ^S 6, 2008. This workshop will have a somewhat different format from those to date, in that it will be focused on an in-depth study of several key issues. The opening plenary (on Wednesday, September 3) will be devoted to an in-depth review and discussion of these issues, followed by more detailed presentations and discussion at working group sessions. The presenters at the plenary session are: Gordon Hurford ^S ^\From RHESSI Data to Solar Physics^] Astrid Veronig ^S ^\From Flares to Microflares ^S a Critique of the ^XStandard Models^Y^] Sam Krucker ^S ^\Hard X-ray and Gamma-ray Sources, and their relation to CMEs and SEPs^] Nicole Vilmer ^S ^\Electron and Ion Acceleration ^S Observations and Theory^] The full program of the workshop, plus local information and a list of registered participants to date, can be found at http://www.aip.de/groups/osra/english/rhessiworkshop/index.html To access the list of registered participants and the abstracts submitted, use the username ^\meeting^] and the password ^\potsdam.^] At this time I would like to encourage everyone (both ^Xlocals^Y and ^Xtravelers^Y) to register and select a first-choice working group, so that the group leaders can enhance current efforts to coordinate pre-workshop activities and to prepare group meeting agendas. No registration fee is due at this time, and an accurate estimate of the number of attendees will be a great help to the local organizers, so please register as soon as you can. (Note also that the addition of your registration to the list of registered participants will take some time, so please be patient!) Thanks in advance, Gordon Emslie ******************************************************** From: Melanie Illsley 13th Geant4 Users Workshop 6th ^S 8th October 2008 Kobe, Japan Geant4 is a radiation effects simulation open software toolkit with many applications in space physics ^S see http://geant4.cern.ch. Geant4 users and potential users are invited to the workshop ^S see http://www-conf.kek.jp/g4ws2008/ or contact John Allison below. (The users workshop is followed by a Collaboration Workshop, 9th ^S 11th October) John Allison Department of Physics & Astronomy University of Manchester Manchester M13 9PL UK Tel : +44 1422 845624 Mobile/Cell : +44 7810 242262 e-mail : John.Allison@manchester.ac.uk e-mail (2) : John.Allison@3-C.Coop www : http://www.hep.man.ac.uk/u/johna *********************************************************************** * * * Positions Vacant * * * *********************************************************************** From: Giota Petkaki We invite applications for a STFC CASE PhD studentship, to be held in the Physics and Astronomy Department at the University of Glasgow and carried out in collaboration with the Natural Complexity group at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). The project will be on "Particle acceleration in complex, turbulent electromagnetic fields", and it will be supervised by Dr A.L. MacKinnon (Univ. of Glasgow) and Dr P. Petkaki (BAS). Applicants must have, or expect to have a First or Upper Second Class honours degree or an MSc, in Physics, Mathematics, or other relevant discipline,. We are looking for somebody enthusiastic and motivated with a taste for theoretical or modelling work. An interest in space/solar physics or astrophysics would be desirable. Some experience of numerical programming, in FORTRAN/C or other high-level languages, would also be advantageous. The student will spend at least one month per annum physically working in BAS, in the multi-disciplinary environment of the Natural Complexity Group. The studentship will pay a stipend of 12,600 per annum to an eligible student. Candidates must hold a UK passport or have been ordinarily resident in the UK throughout the 3 year period preceding the date of application for the studentship. Students with a relevant connection to an EU country other than the UK may their have fees paid but are not eligible for any maintenance stipend. However, an EU candidate may be eligible for a full award if a 'relevant connection' with the UK has been established. For further information regarding the eligibility criteria, please visit the STFC Website: http://www.stfc.ac.uk/Grants/Studs/studentships.aspx#Eligibility The project will study the energisation of charged particles in turbulent space plasmas. The project will involve using fractional calculus methods to describe (non-Gaussian) properties of turbulence, and developing computer code to follow particles in the presence of such turbulence. Ultimately the results of these calculations will be compared with observations of energetic particles in space and with X-ray observations of the Sun, to constrain the properties of the regions where particles are accelerated to high energies. Email (Alec MacKinnon) a.mackinnon@educ.gla.ac.uk or (Giota Petkaki) ppe@bas.ac.uk for further details. Applicants will have to apply formally through the Physical Science Graduate School, University of Glasgow. ******************************************* From: Minna Palmroth JOB OPENINGS: Postdoctoral and student opportunities in space plasma physics at the Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland The Space Physics Group at the Finnish Meteorological Institute seeks to fill three research positions in space plasma physics. The Space Physics Group at the Finnish Meteorological Institute is the leading European space modelling group and especially known for its powerful plasma simulation tools including a global MHD simulation, a global hybrid simulation for non-magnetized planets and moons, and a local kinetic simulation. We are now seeking candidates for the following tasks: 1) A doctoral student for observational examination of energy transfer in the magnetosphere using multipoint spacecraft data. 2) A doctoral student for further development of the GUMICS global MHD simulation code, especially its ionospheric module. 3) A postdoctoral scientist or a software expert with ability to learn physics. The task is to develop a new self-consistent space plasma simulation for non-MHD processes. The successful candidates are expected to collaborate with the Space Physics Group in the current reasearch areas. It is expected that all positions include tasks related to simulations and/or their results and observational analysis. Previous experience with numerical and/or observational space physics is an advantage. Familiarity with any of the following is an advantage: C/C++, LINUX, parallel computing, supercomputer environment, numerical algorithms. The doctoral dissertation is typically a four-year project in Finland, including 3-4 peer-reviewed, first-authored papers and some doctoral level university courses (in this case to be completed at the University of Helsinki, adjacent to the FMI building at the Kumpula campus for natural sciences). The positions are funded through the Academy of Finland and a grant from the European Research Council. The positions are available from 1 September 2008, for one year with a possibility for upto 4 years extension upon yearly performance. Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled. For specifics about the position, contact Dr. Minna Palmroth (+358-9-1929 4696, minna.palmroth at fmi.fi). Interested candidates should send their informal application, CV, list of publications, and names of three references to minna.palmroth at fmi.fi. ******************************************** From : F. Moreno-Insertis Two postdoctoral positions on solar magnetism and hydrodynamics at the IAC The Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias (IAC, Tenerife, Spain) invites applications for two postdoctoral positions to work in the field of solar magnetism and hydrodynamics with funds provided by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through project AYA2007-66502. Our team is part of the large and very active solar group at the IAC. We are developing 3D numerical models of dynamical processes in the solar atmosphere and convection zone. We are interested in the MHD and/or radiation aspects of state-of-the-art numerical simulations and also in their diagnostic capabilities for comparison with observations. We are primarily looking for researchers with a strong motivation and background in one of the following fields: -- Numerical simulation of (magneto)hydrodynamical processes in the Sun -- Magnetic connectivity between the photosphere, chromosphere and corona -- Radiation hydrodynamics of the solar atmosphere Both theoreticians and observers will be considered for these positions. Our team is a leading member of the SOLAIRE European Network. The appointed post-docs will thus benefit from the Solaire network research environment (http://www.solairenetwork.net/research.php), which has the explicit aim of fostering research collaboration among its participant institutions ( http://www.solairenetwork.net/institutions.php) and its five collaborative work packages (http://www.solairenetwork.net/research.php?op1=1). The activities (http://www.solairenetwork.net/activities.php) of the network include network meetings, postgraduate schools and complementary-skills courses. The duration of the appointments will be 2 years and 1 year, respectively. The end of the appointments must be before November 2010. This call is open to citizens of any country in the world. Further information and application forms can be found at the following address : http://www.iac.es/folleto/research/postdocs2008/atmosferasolar_eng_2008.html Questions about the positions can be addressed to Prof. F. Moreno-Insertis (fmi@iac.es) The deadline for the reception of applications is July 2nd, 2008. ******************************************** From: John Leibacher Postdoctoral Research Associate, Solar and Heliospheric Physics, University of Arizona, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. Applications are invited for a postdoctoral Research Associate in Solar and Heliospheric Physics in the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at the University of Arizona. The position is available for one year, and renewable depending on performance and availability of funds. General areas of research include theory and modeling of the origin and transport of energetic charged particles in the heliosphere, the global structure of the interplanetary magnetic field and solar wind, pickup ions, and anomalous or galactic cosmic rays. We seek a highly motivated individual with experience in one or more of these areas and who can integrate well with our ongoing research programs. Applications, accompanied by a resume, and complete bibliography, should be sent to Prof. Joe Giacalone, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, 85721-0092. Please include the names and contact information of at least three persons who are well acquainted with the applicant's accomplishments and potential who will provide letters of recommendation upon request. The review of applications will begin in September, 2008 and will continue until the position(s) is filled. The University of Arizona is an AA/EEO/ADA employer - M/W/D/V. ******************************************** From: Aake Nordlund Postgraduate position at the University of Copenhagen and at the Ruhr University Bochum within the Solaire network. The Solaire Network is offering a postgraduate position for a student to do research leading to a doctoral (PhD) thesis on the topic "basic properties of the fast energy release processes in magnetic reconnection scenarios, using numerical 3D Particle-In-Cell techniques". The appointment consists of full-time, fixed-term contracts at the University of Copenhagen (total 24 months) and at the Ruhr University Bochum (12 months), financed with the SOLAIRE Marie Curie Network funds provided by the European Commission and with local Danish grant sources. The two institutions will act as supervising nodes, with the NBI, University of Copenhagen being the main supervisor. We are looking for a motivated, outstanding recent graduate who wants to receive research training in Solar Physics in a vibrant, international, network-wide framework. The appointed student will receive training both at the local level in the appointing nodes as well as through various network-wide activities like PostGraduate Schools, Network Meetings and Complementary-Skills Courses. Salary and additional benefits will follow the applicable European Union (EU) and national rules. Candidates can be citizens of any country in the world with less than 4 years postgraduate research experience and who do not yet have a PhD. They cannot be appointed in their own country or in a country where they have spent more than 12 months in the past 3 years. Further conditions and exceptions to these rules can be obtained in the contact addresses given below. The Solaire network especially encourages applications from women. For further information (description of the positions, application procedure, address for submission, salary and benefits, etc) visit the Solaire web page: http://www.solairenetwork.eu or write an email to aake (at) nbi.dk ******************************************** From: Laurent Gizon Research Staff Position in Helioseismology, Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (ref RS0908) The Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany, invites applications for a research staff position in helioseismology or asteroseismology. The MPS is a leading institution in the fields of solar physics, helioseismology, and planetary sciences. The Helioseismology Group at MPS is developing an active program of research in preparation for the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) due for launch at the beginning of 2009. Further information is given at http://www.mps.mpg.de/en/ (MPS main web page) and http://www.mps.mpg.de/projects/seismo/ (Helioseismology Group). The position is available as early as 1 September 2008 for a period of two years. The salary and benefits will be calculated according to the TVOD-E13 category of the German civil service. Moving expenses will be covered. Our group collaborates closely with Stanford University and the University of Southern California: travel support is available for strengthening these collaborations and for conference attendance. The applicant should have a PhD in physics, geophysics, astronomy, applied mathematics, or scientific computing. Terrestrial seismologists are encouraged to apply. Applications should include a curriculum vitae, list of publications, contact information of two referees, and a short cover letter. Candidates must submit their application electronically to Dr. Laurent Gizon at gizon@mps.mpg.de. Screening of applications begins immediately. The Max Planck Society is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women and disabled individuals. ******************************************** From : Laurent Gizon Postdoctoral Fellowship in Helioseismology, Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (ref PF0908) The Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS) in Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany, invites applications for a postdoctoral fellowship in helioseismology or asteroseismology. The MPS is a leading institution in the fields of solar physics, helioseismology, and planetary sciences. The Helioseismology Group at MPS is developing an active program of research in preparation for the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) due for launch at the beginning of 2009. Further information is given at http://www.mps.mpg.de/en/ (MPS main web page) and http://www.mps.mpg.de/projects/seismo/ (Helioseismology Group). The position is available as early as 1 September 2008 for a period of two years with the possibility of an extension. The net monthly allowance is tax-free 2100 EUR (3240 US$). Moving expenses will be covered. Our group collaborates closely with Stanford University and the University of Southern California: travel support is available for strengthening these collaborations and for conference attendance. The applicant should have a PhD in physics, geophysics, astronomy, applied mathematics, or scientific computing. Terrestrial seismologists are encouraged to apply. Applications should include a curriculum vitae, list of publications, contact information of two referees, and a short cover letter. Candidates must submit their application electronically to Dr. Laurent Gizon at gizon@mps.mpg.de. Screening of applications begins immediately. The Max Planck Society is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women and disabled individuals. ******************************************** From : Laurent Gizon Programmer, German Data Center for the Solar Dynamics Observatory The Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany, invites applications for short-term positions as a computer programmer to contribute to the establishment of a German Data Center for the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). Experience in the management of databases and in the design of dynamic web interfaces is desirable, but not essential. Knowledge of the English language is highly desirable. Master or PhD students are encouraged to apply. Applications should include a curriculum vitae and the contact information of one referee. Candidates must submit their application (PDF format only) or inquiries electronically to Dr. Laurent Gizon at gizon@mps.mpg.de. Screening of applications begins immediately. ******************************************** From : Joerg Buechner Postdoc positions in high-temperature solar and laboratory plasma physics The Max-Planck-Institutes for Solar System Research and for Plasma Physics are inviting applications for several postdoctoral positions available for a joint interdisciplinary cooperation between the institutes on turbulent transport, plasma heating, particle acceleration and magnetic reconnection in solar and laboratory plasmas. The successful applicants will participate in the institutes' theoretical research in the following directions: 1.) Nonlinear wave particle interaction and ion heating, 2.) Microturbulence-induced transport in magnetized plasmas, 3.) Electron transport and runaway, 4.) Interscale-coupling in magnetic reconnection, 5.) MHD turbulence and dynamo action. The research work will be carried out at facilities located in Katlenburg-Lindau (Lower Saxony), Garching (Bavaria) and Greifswald (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania) in Germany. Applicants must hold a doctorate and have the documented ability to carry out novel research. Applications from related fields in theoretical plasma physics and astrophysics are also encouraged. Candidates with an outstanding research record in the described fields are welcome. We especially encourage young scientists who just recently have accomplished their PhD to apply. The Max Planck Society wants to increase the number of women in those areas where they are underrepresented and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply. The Max Planck Society is committed to employing more disabled individuals and especially encourages them to apply. The successful candidates will initially be employed for two years, with a possibility of a one-year extension depending on the success of the research and funding of the project. She/he will be offered tax-free stipendia according to the regulations of the Max-Planck-Society, i.e. the payment will depend somewhat on the experience of the applicant. The application should include a curriculum vitae and a full list of publications. Attached should be a short (one-page) letter describing your strength and qualification for the above described topics. Please, mark at the top of the letter the preferred topic(s) among the five listed above. Please, provide also the names of two scientists willing to provide letters of reference and submit your application as soon as possible, but not later than by the end of July 2008 in electronic form to Prof. J. Buechner, Max-Planck Institut fuer Sonnensystemforschung, 37191 Katlenburg-Lindau at the email address : "buechner(AT)mps.mpg.de" noting "Plasma physics postdoc position" in the subject field of the mail. The presumable time of appointment will be the first of October 2008, but earlier or later appointments are also possible. ******************************************** From : Simon Plunkett Physicist, Solar Physics Branch, Naval Research Laboratory The Solar Physics Branch of the Naval Research Laboratory Space Science Division expects to announce a staff scientist position vacancy in the summer of 2008. Staff scientists are responsible for conducting a broad program of scientific analysis, instrument development and data reduction. The position to be announced is for a Science and Engineering Professional, Career Level III, with a Space Scientist specialization. A Ph.D. is desirable or preferred and the ability to obtain a security clearance will be required. The position will emphasize fundamental physical understanding of varying phenomena in the heliosphere. The primary task will be to combine modeling of transient phenomena such as coronal mass ejections with analysis and interpretation of data to accurately forecast the Earth's space environment. The incumbent will collaborate closely with individuals and teams specializing in research on various aspects of the space environment and its impact on civilian and Department of Defense systems, and will provide scientific support for instrument development programs in the Branch. The successful applicant shall have: Knowledge, skill and ability to apply the techniques used for astrophysical scientific data analysis and interpretation; model specification, verification and validation; and the tools used for simulation and visualization of heliospheric phenomena. Knowledge of the physics of the solar wind, magnetosphere and ionosphere. Knowledge of the design and calibration of solar and space environment sensors. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to scientific and technical audiences. Skill in writing successfully funded proposals for Naval concepts and ideas. NRL is an equal opportunity employer. Interested parties should address resumes and questions to Dr. Simon Plunkett (Telephone: 202-404-3720; E-mail: simon.plunkett@nrl.navy.mil). ******************************************** From : Neal Hurlburt PhD positions in solar physics research at Stanford/Lockheed; Palo Alto, Ca The Stanford Lockheed Institute for Space Research is a collaboration between Stanford University and Lockheed Martin's Advanced Technology Center in Palo Alto, California. SLISR designs, builds, and operates state of the art instrumentation for the study of solar activity from deep within the Sun to the inner heliosphere. The research team is currently involved in the operation and data analysis of the SOHO, TRACE, RHESSI, HINODE, and STEREO spacecraft, and is preparing for the launch and subsequent operations of instruments on the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) in 2008. Staff members are also constructing advanced numerical models in various contexts from the convection zone to corona and inner heliosphere. Observers and modelers collaborate closely within the group. SLISR is seeking (astro-)physicists who have received a Ph.D. (or equivalent ) degree in the past 5 years, with experience in solar physics. The positions available are Stanford University Research Associates, who will work closely with the solar groups at LMATC and Stanford. Successful applicants are expected to pursue individual research careers by contributing to the analysis of observations made primarily with TRACE, Hinode, and SDO. Theoretical analysis and modeling related to the observations are also encouraged. There will be opportunities, if desired, to participate in instrument operations and /or in collaborations with scientists at other institutes in the US, Europe and Japan. The appointments will be for 1 year with an expected extension to 2 years. Interested applicants should send a curriculum vitae, a statement of interest, and the names of three references to Prof. Philip Scherrer, Hansen Experimental Physics Lab., 452 Lomita Mall, Stanford, CA 94305-4085. Selection will be made by a panel of Stanford and Lockheed Martin solar physicists. Applications should be received by July 31, 2008. Stanford University is committed to equal opportunity through affirmative action in employment and we are especially eager to identify minority persons and women with appropriate qualifications. -- Dr Duncan H Mackay Mathematical Institute, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 9SS, Scotland. Tel 01334 463760 Fax 01334 463748 The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland : No SC013532 _______________________________________________ uksp mailing list uksp@physics.gla.ac.uk http://www.physics.gla.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/uksp