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Yearly Archives: 2019
Course on “Dynamical Systems and Machine Learning Approaches to Sun-Earth Relations”
The International School of Space Science of the Consorzio Interuniversitario per la Fisica Spaziale organizes a Course on “Dynamical Systems and Machine Learning Approaches to Sun-Earth Relations”, to be held in L’Aquila, Italy, 15-19 June 2020, directed by G. Consolini, D. Del Moro.
The course is devoted to young researchers and PhD students and will provide an introduction and an overview of the recent theoretical, numerical and data analysis advances in the framework of dynamical systems and machine learning approaches to the characterisation and the modelling of Sun-Earth’s relations.
The dynamics of the Sun strongly affects the interplanetary and circumterrestrial environment, causing phenomena that have a great impact on the anthropic activities. In the past, the response of the Earth’s magnetosphere-ionosphere system to the changes of the solar wind and interplanetary conditions due to the solar activity has been widely investigated showing that the dynamics of the coupled solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere (SMI) system resembles that of a complex system displaying scale invariant features, turbulence and a near-criticality behaviour. On the other hand, in the framework of dynamical systems, several new tools and methods have been proposed to quantify and characterise the dynamical complexity and its role in nonlinear out-of-equilibrium dynamical systems.
Furthermore, the modelling of the complex dynamics of the SMI system, as such as some features of the solar activity has been shown to benefit from the recent advances in the field of machine learning techniques.
The course will consist in theoretical lectures and laboratory exercitations.
Applications are due before February 29, 2020.
For more information visit http://www.cifs-isss.org/ or send an e-mail to ssc@aquila.infn.it
European Solar Physics Division (ESPD) – 2020 Prizes: First Call for Nominations
Deadline: February 1st, 2020
Since 2017, the European Solar Physics Division (ESPD) of the European Physical Society (EPS) awards three prizes: the ESPD PhD Thesis Prize, the ESPD Early Career Researcher (Postdoc) Prize and the Senior Prize. These prizes are nomination-based. The deadline for nomination is February 1st, 2020.
The 2020 ESPD PhD Thesis Prize will be awarded to a young researcher whose PhD thesis/viva was defended in 2019.
The 2020 ESPD Early Career Prize will be awarded to a young researcher whose PhD was awadered after 01/01/2016 (with possible extension).
The 2020 ESPD Senior Prize will be awarded to a distinguished senior scientist for a life-long prolific career.
Further information about eligibility, documents to be included in the nomination package, and submission process for each prize can be found on the ESPD prizes webpage:
https://www.eps.org/members/group_content_view.asp?group=85203&id=641304#CallPrize
Primo Congresso della Space Weather Italian Community (SWICo)
Dal 12 al 13 febbraio 2020 si terrà il “Primo Congresso della Space Weather Italian Community (SWICo)” presso la sede dell’ASI a Roma (https://swico2020.roma2.infn.it/). Il Congresso tratterà dello Space Weather sia negli aspetti scientifici che in quelli applicativi e organizzativi. Durante il convegno si terrà anche l’Assemblea Nazionale SWICo. Il convegno è aperto anche a ricercatori e tecnologi non aderenti a SWICo e sono incoraggiati la presenza e il contributo di studenti e dottorandi. La deadline per la sottomissione di abstract e iscrizioni on-line è il 16 dicembre 2019.
Doctoral Researcher in Solar Physics at AIP
The Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) invites applications for a Doctoral Researcher in Solar Physics (f/m/d). The position is within the project »From Flux Emergence to Decay –A High-resolution Study of Sunspots« supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG).
https://www.aip.de/en/career/jobs/jobs-1/doctoral-researcher-in-solar-physics-f-m-d/
The focus of the doctoral research project is the growth and decay of sunspots using state-of-the-art multi-wavelength and multi-instrument high-resolution data in combination with state-of-the-art data handling techniques. During the doctoral studies,the successful candidate will develop expertise in solar observations, imaging and near-infrared spectropolarimetry, high-resolution imaging, spectral inversion techniques, and analysis of data from solar space missions.
We are seeking a highly motivated student with a Master degree in physics or astronomy & astrophysics with good/very good grades according to the German grading scheme for higher education. A good command of spoken and written English and basic programming skills are desirable. Genuine interest or some experience in solar physics research, astronomical observations will be highly beneficial. The doctoral student will be registered at University of Potsdam, which also grant the doctoral degree.
The appointment is a fixed-term contract for three years. The salary is based on the German public service scale (75% working time, TV-L E13), which includes employer contributions to medical and dental insurance, maternity leave and retirement benefits.
As an equal opportunity employer AIP considers individuals for employment according to their skills, abilities and experiences. Preference will be given to handicapped persons with equal competence. Women are especially encouraged to apply.
Applications for and inquiries about the doctoral position should be send to Dr. Meetu Verma preferably via e-mail to bewerbung_2019-19@aip.de. To apply, please send a single PDF file containing curriculum vitae including publications,transcripts,motivation letter including statements on education, skills and experience. If applicable, please attach separately the copies of Bachelor and/or Master Thesis. Applicants should also arrange for two letters of recommendation to be sent. Review of applications will begin 2019 October 1, and continue until the position is filled
Summer School Programme ‘Solar spectropolarimetry: From virtual to real observations’
SOLARNET is pleased to announce the call for its Summer School Programme ‘Solar spectropolarimetry: From virtual to real observations’ to be held between September 9-14, 2019, at Università della Svizzera italiana, in Lugano, Switzerland
More information on: http://solarnet-project.eu/Solar-spectropolarimetry-From-virtual-and-real-observations
Application deadline: June 30, 2019
Contact: solarnetschool1@leibniz-kis.de
Call accouncement – SOLARNET Summer School for Solar Observers – A week above the clouds
Dear Colleagues,We want to draw your attention towards the *SOLARNET Summer School for Solar Observers – A week above the cloudss* which will be held at the Observatorio del Teide in August 5-9, 2019.Our purpose is to instruct students and young postdocs in the capabilities and operation of the German solar facilities at the observatory, by giving them the opportunity to
– run real observations at GREGOR, the largest solar telescope in Europe
– calibrate data by learning how to use the existing data pipelines, Python and deep learning techniques
– learn how to complement ground-based observations with space-based observations
– experience the observers’ life up the mountain for a weekthrough different lectures and experimental activities (programme in SOLARNET webpage available soon).
Due to restrictions in accommodation, the number of participants is limited to 12.To register, please send an email to nbello@leibniz-kis.de with a brief statement of interest indicating your field of research and why you want to participate in the school.Registration deadline: June 15, 2019.
SOLARNET Mobility of Young and Experienced Researchers Programme Announcement (1st Call)
The SOLARNET Mobility Evaluation Committee (MEC) is pleased to announce the 1st Call for Proposals of Mobility Programme of Young and Experienced Researchers (Deadline: May 31st, 2019).
SOLARNET (http://solarnet-project.eu/home) aims to bring together and integrate the major European research infrastructures in the field of high-resolution solar physics, in order to promote coordinated research and development. In this regard, SOLARNET will support the mobility of early stage researchers (ESRs) as well as experienced researchers as part of the networking activities foreseen in the project. This task is supervised by the MEC, which evaluates and selects the submitted applications. This first Call is related to stays to be carried on during the period September 1st, 2019 – February 29th, 2020. Detailed information about the Young and Experienced Researchers Mobility Programme can be found at http://solarnet-project.eu/Mobility-Programmes and in the attached file below:
VINCENZO FERRARO AWARD 2019 for young scholars in Space Physics
The Vincenzo Ferraro Association intends to pay tribute to Prof. Vincenzo C.A. Ferraro, originally from Sorrento peninsula (Campania, Italy), an astrophysicist and pioneer in plasma physics, in order to encourage studies in the field of space physics.
With this in view, the Vincenzo Ferraro Association, represented by President Maddalena Ferraro, establishes for the year 2019 a “Vincenzo Ferraro” Prize to be assigned, after evaluation by a qualified scientific panel, to a young scholar in the physics of space plasmas with particular reference to his/her doctoral thesis.
Admission to this prize is reserved to students of Italian and foreign universities who have obtained a PhD degree in Physics or equivalent in Italy or abroad after September 1, 2014 with a thesis on topics relevant to the study of space plasmas.
All the details can be found in the attached official announcement.
Scientific long-term exchange – NAWA Ulam Programme
The aim of the Ulam Programme is to increase the internationalisation of Polish HEIs and scientific institutions. The Programme will allow both recognised and promising scientists with at least the doctoral degree, to visit Poland in order to strengthen the scientific potential of Polish entities and to participate in their scientific activities, primarily research projects and didactics. The Programme will allow to invite scientists from all around the world representing all fields of science to the Polish institutions of science and higher education. HEIs, scientific and research institutes will have the opportunity to invite specialists from their priority areas to Poland – they will make a significant contribution to the research conducted by a given institution, strengthen didactics or support the institution in applying for prestigious grants.
The Programme will facilitate a gradual increase in the number of foreign scientists involved in scientific research and teaching in Poland and also enable or deepen international contacts with foreign institutions.
Authorised applicants
An application under the Programme shall be submitted by an individual scientist who holds a doctoral degree awarded in a country other than Poland, does not hold Polish citizenship and has not lived, worked or studied in Poland since at least 2017. The condition of not being a Polish citizen does not apply to persons who are Polish citizens and whose full cycle of doctoral studies has been financed by the Polish government, as these persons are entitled to participate in the Programme,
The Programme is open to scientists representing all fields of science.
Activities implemented in the framework of the Programme
As part of the Programme, possible visits are those whose objective include:
- completing the first or a subsequent post-doctoral fellowship;
- conducting scientific research, including in cooperation with Polish scientists or research teams;
- obtaining materials for research or a scientific publication;
- conducting didactic classes at the host
Scholarship timeframes and financing
Foreign scientists may stay in Poland for 6 to 24 months, and they may be accompanied by members of their family, and in the case the Programme participant is a disabled person, by their assistant.
Scientists visiting Polish scientific institutions under the Programme will receive a monthly Scholarship for the duration of their stay and a mobility allowance, which will allow them to cover the travel costs.
Visit under the scholarship may not take place earlier than 1 October 2019 or later than 31 May 2020.
Deadline for submitting the proposals
The call for applications under the Programme will be held from 22 January to 23 April 2019 until 3:00 PM Central European Time (UTC +01:00) in an electronic form exclusively via the ICT system of the Agency.
More info at https://nawa.gov.pl/en/scientists/program-im-ulama/call-for-proposals
NSO (Boulder) – Community Science Program Post Doc – 2 Research Associate
1 – The NSO is seeking a post-doctoral research associate to work on the validation of science (level-2) data products in the solar chromosphere, in preparation for the first light of the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) of the National Science Foundation (NSO).
The NSO has initiated an effort – funded by the National Science Foundation and led by Dr. Han Uitenbroek – that includes the inversion of spectro-polarimetric observations of the chromosphere with the DKIST, using the newly developed Departure coefficient driven Spectro-polarimetric Inversion with Response functions (DeSIRe) code. DeSIRe solves the Non-Local Thermodynamic (NLTE) problem of the magnetized chromosphere taking into account the line polarization induced by the Zeeman effect. It is expected that scattering polarization and the Hanle effect will also contribute importantly to the polarization of chromospheric signals (the so-called “NLTE of the 2nd kind”), especially above the quiet Sun and for near-the-limb observations. The complexity of the forward model for the scattering polarization in the magnetized chromosphere, unfortunately, makes it very hard to design efficient and reliable inversion schemes that could be used for routinely processing the very large data output that are expected of the DKIST.
Given the present lack of viable tools for inversion of chromospheric signals affected by scattering polarization, a useful first step is to validate the inversion products of DeSIRe and quantify the “errors” caused by neglecting scattering polarization and the Hanle effect. This can be done by using a forward model that includes scattering polarization in order to synthesize the spectral line polarization produced by DeSIRe-inverted atmospheres, and compare it with the original observations. The forward model that we identified for this task is the HanleRT code, which was developed at the High Altitude Observatory of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (HAO-NCAR), also in Boulder. The successful candidate will work under the joint supervision of Dr. Roberto Casini (HAO) and Dr. Han Uitenbroek (NSO), and will be located at HAO. He/she will learn the physics of scattering polarization and the Hanle effect, polarized radiative transfer, and the application of both the DeSIRe and HanleRT code. The main deliverable of this appointment is the development of a data pipeline between the two codes, which will be capable of producing “synthetic maps” of the solar chromosphere using HanleRT, to be compared with the DKIST observations, starting from inverted data products from DeSIRe. An additional outcome will be the conception of a numerical/statistical approach to quantify the errors on the DeSIRe-inverted atmospheres based on the variance between the real and synthetic observations.
The appointment is initially for one year, renewable for a second year, contingent upon satisfactory performance and availability of funds.
Requirements: PhD in Physics, Astrophysics, or related sciences; proficiency in Fortran 90, and OpenMPI; experience with data visualization methods and tools (e.g., IDL, Python VTK) and high-performance computing will be necessary. Basic knowledge of C is desirable.
Please apply on the AURA Company Website, using the link: recruiting2.ultipro.com/SPA1004AURA/JobBoard/57b96f30-6a4b-42cc-8f73-d417a17b54e9/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=02d19fb6-3616-447e-a91f-783a3d6dfa2c
The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA) operates several observatory centers (including the National Optical Astronomy Observatory, the National Solar Observatory (NSO), Large Synoptic Survey Telescope and the Gemini Observatory) in the United States and Chile under cooperative agreements with the National Science Foundation.
2 – The NSO is seeking a post-doctoral research associate to work on the validation of science (level-2) data products in the solar corona, in preparation for the first light of the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) of the National Science Foundation (NSF).
The successful applicant will work with senior scientists to develop a pipeline which will deliver scientifically valuable data for the community, with special emphasis on spectro-polarimetry with at least two of the DKIST first-light instruments. The work will include the development of synthetic models of polarized light from the solar corona, analysis of infrared data from existing instruments such as HAO’s CoMP, and, eventually, unique data from DKIST instruments. The associate will develop skills in cutting edge theoretical and observational solar physics, with direct access to some of the first data from DKIST. The work will be done mostly at NSO’s HQ in Boulder, Colorado, but will likely require travel to Hawaii, and international travel. The corona presents special challenges, and DKIST is the largest coronagraphic community facility devoted to measuring the coronal magnetic field. DKIST therefore offers the opportunity to work with data that break through previous barriers with significant potential for new understanding. The skills developed during the two-year appointment will be attractive to future employers at universities and elsewhere.
The main deliverable of this appointment is the development of data pipelines that will be capable of inverting spectro-polarimetric observations of the Corona into physical values of the coronal magnetic field that can be made available to the solar community.
The successful candidate will work under the joint supervision of Dr. Philip Judge (HAO) and Dr. Han Uitenbroek (NSO), and will be located at NSO. The appointment is initially for one year, renewable for a second year contingent upon satisfactory performance and availability of funds.
Requirements: PhD in Physics, Astrophysics, or related sciences. Experience with data visualization methods and tools (e.g., IDL, Python VTK) and high-performance computing is highly desirable.
Please apply on the AURA website, using the link recruiting2.ultipro.com/SPA1004AURA/JobBoard/57b96f30-6a4b-42cc-8f73-d417a17b54e9/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=5000a579-af12-471a-a453-22d52927e061 The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA) operates several observatory centers (including the National Optical Astronomy Observatory, the National Solar Observatory (NSO), Large Synoptic Survey Telescope and the Gemini Observatory) in the United States and Chile under cooperative agreements with the National Science Foundation.
