The AAAS Early Career Award for Public Engagement with Science, established in 2010, recognizes early-career scientists and engineers who demonstrate excellence in their contribution to public engagement with science activities. A monetary prize of $5,000, a commemorative plaque, complimentary registration to the AAAS Annual Meeting, and reimbursement for reasonable hotel and travel expenses to attend the AAAS Annual Meeting to receive the prize are given to the recipient.

For the purposes of this award, public engagement activities are defined as the individual's active participation in efforts to engage with the public on science- and technology-related issues and promote meaningful dialogue between science and society.

The award will be given at the AAAS Annual Meeting.

For more information: http://www.aaas.org/aboutaaas/awards/public_engagement/

Source: NAI Newsletter

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Aspiring astrobiologists should report to Montana State University in Bozeman, Montanta on June 5-8th 2011 for AbGradCon 2011, the world's leading astrobiology conference for graduate students and early career scientists. Students and post-docs from a variety of fields are invited to participate in this event which will feature oral presentations, poster sessions, public outreach, and a field trip to Yellowstone National Park. For more information: http://www.abgradcon2011.org/

Source: NAI Newsletter

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale (IAS), UMR 8617

Studies on organic matter with a potentially prebiotic interest : from the Interstellar Medium to the Solar Nebula and the Oceans on Primitive Earth

The goal of this thesis is to compare the soluble organic phase from various meteorites and compare their compositions with our organic residues from the laboratory. Thus traditional contamination problems arising from weathering and poor manipulations will be greatly reduced. The main goal can be divided into three items (1) to analyze the soluble organic matter of meteorites according to their classification, (2) to evaluate once and for all if ice photo and thermo chemistry is important not only in ISM objects but also in the ecosphere of the Solar Nebula and on primitive telluric planets and finally (3) to propose to more specialized chemists a more realistic prebiotic "soup" possibly leading to the first autocatalytic molecules. Emphasis will be given to scenarios that are relevant to our knowledge of primitive Solar System and planetary evolution as IAS has an important scientific activity in these fields.

This subject is thus largely interdisciplinary (chemistry, physical-chemistry and astrophysics). The candidate (M/F), must be in possession of a MsC in any domain related to this interdisciplinary activity. Special attention will be given to experience in physical-chemistry and/or analytical chemistry. In any case, the candidate should have an experimentalist profile, ready to devote much time in the laboratory. IAS is an institute of fundamental research with application to space instrumentation, running and exploiting space instruments. About 200 people work there (around 80 scientists), an average of 15 Ph.D. students and 15 post-docs. The scientific environment within the laboratory and the Orsay Campus, not far from Paris, is truly exceptional.

For more information, please contact:

Louis d'Hendecourt
Equipe " Astrochimie et Origines "
Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale
Campus Universitaire d'Orsay
Bat 121 - 91405 Orsay Cedex
Tel : +33(0)1 69 85 86 40/+33(0)6 13 16 25 38
E-mail : Louis.DHendecourt@ias.u-psud.fr

or

Donia Baklouti
Equipe " Astrochimie et Origines "
Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale
Campus Universitaire d'Orsay
Bat 121 - 91405 Orsay Cedex
Tel : +33(0)1 69 85 87 88
E-mail : donia.baklouti@ias.u-psud.fr

Source: NAI Newsletter

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Release Date: July 9, 2010
Notices of Intent Due: August 6, 2010
Proposals Due: October 7, 2010
Identification Number: NNA10339208C

On July 9, 2010, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Center released a Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) for the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) Minority Institution Research Support (MIRS) Program. The full text of the CAN solicitation is available at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/.

The NAI MIRS Program is intended to help train a new generation of researchers in astrobiology and to increase diversity within the astrobiology community. This solicitation seeks proposals to continue the process of recruiting and retaining underrepresented groups in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers by involving faculty and students from Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) in astrobiology research.

Under this CAN, NASA Ames is soliciting proposals from accredited US institutions of higher education, non-profit higher education professional organizations, and consortia of those types of organizations and institutions, to administer the MIRS program. Proposals from MSIs and non-profit organizations serving underrepresented students are strongly encouraged. Other organizations, including for-profit organizations with a demonstrable capability to engage minority populations, are also eligible to propose.

The period of performance for the award resulting from this solicitation is a maximum of four years. NASA expects to award one Cooperative Agreement to take effect in early 2011. The estimated total value of the award is projected to be $0.8M - $1.0M.

Source: NAI Newsletter

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The 2010 Astrobiology Graduate Student Conference (AbGradCon) was held from June 14-18 this year in Taellberg, Sweden. Eighty-eight participants from 29 different countries attended the meeting, which brought together early-career scientists in the field of astrobiology. The conference schedule included oral sessions on exoplanets, astronomy and life, habitability, weird life, biosignatures and Mars, all of which were video streamed live via the web. There were also participant-led, discussion-oriented workshops on various topics within the field of astrobiology, covering topics ranging from future missions to rocky planets, to habitability, to the origin of life. The third day of the event included an excursion into the Siljan crater area, a known impact crater structure located close by. Participants traveled to various sites of geological interest within the impact structure to study the effects of impacts, and had the opportunity to observe strata that had been distorted by the impact, as well as to search for fossils in outcrops near the crater boundary. The AbGradCon tradition will be carried on in 2011, where it is currently planned to take place in Bozeman, Montana. For more information: http://www.abgradcon2010.org/

Source: NAI Newsletter

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Release Date: July 9, 2010
Notices of Intent Due: August 6, 2010
Proposals Due: October 7, 2010
Selection Announcement: December 21, 2010
Identification Number: NNA10339208C

On July 9, 2010, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Center released a Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) for the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) Minority Institution Research Support (MIRS) Program. The full text of the CAN solicitation is available at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/.

The NAI MIRS Program is intended to help train a new generation of researchers in astrobiology and to increase diversity within the astrobiology community. This solicitation seeks proposals to continue the process of recruiting and retaining underrepresented groups in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers by involving faculty and students from Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) in astrobiology research.

Under this CAN, NASA Ames is soliciting proposals from accredited US institutions of higher education, non-profit higher education professional organizations, and consortia of those types of organizations and institutions. Proposals from MSIs and non-profit organizations serving underrepresented students are strongly encouraged. Other organizations, including for-profit organizations, with a demonstrable capability to engage minority populations are also eligible to propose.

The period of performance for the award resulting from this solicitation is a maximum of four years. NASA expects to award one Cooperative Agreement to take effect on February 1, 2011. The estimated total value of the award is projected to be $0.8M - $1.0M.

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Canadian Space Agency is offering a Visiting Fellowship ("VF") opportunity for a postdoctoral researcher in astrobiology starting this Fall. Broad research areas include: Mars sedimentary mineralogy, Fe-Si biominerals, light- or laser-based astrobiology instrumentation, Mars analogue environments (including hydrothermal systems and lava tubes).

The position includes salary + research + travel (field and conference).

For information on the visiting fellowship program: http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/PD-NP/Laboratories-Laboratoires/index_eng.asp

Interested candidates should contact Richard Leveille directly.

Richard Leveille, Ph.D.
Planetary Scientist
Science and Academic Development
Space Science and Technology
Canadian Space Agency
6767, route de l'Aeroport, Saint-Hubert (Quebec) J3Y 8Y9
Tel : (450) 926-5154 | Fax: (450) 926-4766

Source: NAI Newsletter

Posted by Keith Cowing at 2:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences and the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University

The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences seeks applicants for a faculty position in biogeoscience, at the tenure track or tenured level. We seek applicants engaged in process-oriented research who will bring crucial new skills, such as use of molecular-level tools, innovative remote sensing techniques, new insight or methodology for understanding biogeochemical cycles, specialist knowledge of ecosystem energetics, and/or application of nano-scale techniques. Our ongoing research in fields related to biogeoscience includes study of biogeochemistry and geochemistry, paleoecology, ecophysiology, climate and paleoclimate, oceanography and paleoceanography, geologic carbon capture and storage, fluid-rock interaction, and the human dimensions of environmental change. Preference will be given to strong applicants who can integrate their work within this spectrum.

Minimum requirements for the position are demonstrated scientific creativity, specialist knowledge in both biology and geoscience, a Ph.D. in a biogeoscience-related field, and capability to teach at the undergraduate and graduate level. Application review will commence immediately and continue until the position is filled. For more information and to apply for this position please visit our online site at: https://academicjobs.columbia.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=53131 Questions can be addressed to Peter Kelemen (peterk@LDEO.columbia.edu), Chair of the Search Committee. Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.

Source: NAI Newsletter

Posted by Keith Cowing at 3:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI is pleased to announce the 2010 Selections for the Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research in Astrobiology.

1. Knicole Colon, U Florida, travel to Spain for her project, "From Hot-Jupiters to Super Earths: Characterizing Transiting Extrasolar Planets with GTC/OSIRIS".

2. Andrew Czaja, U Wisconsin, travel to Australia for a "Field Trip to Explore Archean and Proterozoic Geology of Western Australia".

3. Jason Huberty, U Wisconsin, travel to Australia, for the "Fifth International Archean Synposium Field Trip to the Pilbara Craton, including the Fortescue and Hamersley Basins".

4. Michele Knowlton, Arizona State U, travel to Yellowstone National Park to examine nitrogen fixation occurring within microbial mats.

5. Nancy McKeown, U California, Santa Cruz, travel to Arizona, for a "Spectral Study Of the Painted Desert, AZ, to "Characterize Clay Alterations Environments and Provide Implications for Astrobiology at Mawrth Valis, Mars, a Likely Mars Science Laboratory Landing Site".

6. Elizabeth Percak-Dennet, U Wisconsin, travel to Australia, "Linking Laboratory and Field Studies of the Mineralogical and Iron Isotope Composition of Banded Iron Formations in Western Australia".

7. Matthew Urschel, Montana State U, travel to Alberta, Canada to examine "Iron Reduction in the Subglacial Sediments of Robertson Glacier, Canada".

For more information: http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/funding/lewis-and-clark

Source: NAI Newsletter

Posted by Keith Cowing at 9:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI is pleased to announce the 2010 Selections for the Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research in Astrobiology.

1. Knicole Colon, U Florida, travel to Spain for her project, "From Hot-Jupiters to Super Earths: Characterizing Transiting Extrasolar Planets with GTC/OSIRIS".

2. Andrew Czaja, U Wisconsin, travel to Australia for a "Field Trip to Explore Archean and Proterozoic Geology of Western Australia".

3. Jason Huberty, U Wisconsin, travel to Australia, for the "Fifth International Archean Synposium Field Trip to the Pilbara Craton, including the Fortescue and Hamersley Basins".

4. Michele Knowlton, Arizona State U, travel to Yellowstone National Park to examine nitrogen fixation occurring within microbial mats.

5. Nancy McKeown, U California, Santa Cruz, travel to Arizona, for a "Spectral Study Of the Painted Desert, AZ, to "Characterize Clay Alterations Environments and Provide Implications for Astrobiology at Mawrth Valis, Mars, a Likely Mars Science Laboratory Landing Site".

6. Elizabeth Percak-Dennet, U Wisconsin, travel to Australia, "Linking Laboratory and Field Studies of the Mineralogical and Iron Isotope Composition of Banded Iron Formations in Western Australia".

7. Matthew Urschel, Montana State U, travel to Alberta, Canada to examine "Iron Reduction in the Subglacial Sediments of Robertson Glacier, Canada".

For more information: http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/funding/lewis-and-clark

Source: NAI Newsletter

Posted by Keith Cowing at 9:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Centro de Astrobiologia (CAB) is seeking an individual interested in applying for a Pre- doctoral Research Grant (Formacion de Personal Investigador del Instituto Nacional de Tecnica Aeroespacial program) to work on the topic, "Effects of Life on Planetary Atmospheres".

The successful applicant will conduct research at the Centro de Astrobiologia, CSIC, located in Torrejon de Ardoz, Madrid and will work closely with researchers from International Centers like CalTech, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Oxford University, and the NASA Astrobiology Institute.

CAB is an interdisciplinary research centre associated with the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI). Detailed information about the CAB and NAI can be found at www.cab.inta.es and http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/ respectively.

This work will involve the use and update of photochemical, geochemical, dynamical and radiative transfer models to study the effect of life on the atmosphere of our planet as well as its potential impact on other planetary atmospheres. The successful candidate will develop strategies for the characterization of life on spectra from planetary atmospheres. He/she will explore the evolution and limits of planetary habitability, identification of bio-signatures, and methods for the detection of life from within our Solar System and extrasolar planet spectra. As a result of this research the applicant is expected to complete a doctoral dissertation (PhD thesis).

The applicant for this PhD position should have a solid knowledge of physics and chemistry and an interest in planetary atmospheres as well as a good command of mathematics. Graduates in Theoretical, Applied Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geology, Chemical Engineering with Physics or an equivalent diploma before August 2010 with excellent grades are expected to apply. Basic knowledge of Fortran 90 and IDL are a plus. The candidate must have good communication skills and be able report clearly in written and spoken English.

For information and applications please send detailed curriculum vitae to Dr. F. Javier Martin-Torres (e-mail: javiermt@cab.inta-csic.es or Javier@gps.caltech.edu ), including grades obtained in various undergraduate courses. Letters of support from at least two academic referees who can comment on your suitability for postgraduate research training would be of great value (but they are not mandatory).

You will be advised as soon as possible as to whether or not the CAB is willing to support an application by you for pursuing this research. [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 5:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CURRENTLY ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE AUTUMN 2010 PROGRAM APPLICATION DEADLINE: June 14, 2010

The goal of the Lloyd V. Berkner Space Policy Internship program is to provide promising undergraduate and graduate students with the opportunity to work in the area of civil space research policy in the nation's capital, under the aegis of the National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council's (NAS/NRC's) Space Studies Board (SSB).

Established in 1958 to serve as the focus of the interests and responsibilities in space research for the NAS/NRC, the SSB provides an independent, authoritative forum for information and advice on all aspects of space science and applications, and it serves as the focal point within the NAS/NRC for activities on space research. It oversees advisory studies (including the on-going decadal surveys in astronomy and astrophysics, planetary science, life and microgravity sciences, and solar and space physics) and program assessments, facilitates international research coordination, and promotes communications on space science and science policy between the research community, the federal government, and the interested public. The SSB also serves as the U.S. National Committee for the International Council for Science Committee on Space Research (COSPAR).

The Lloyd V. Berkner Space Policy Internships, named after the first chair of the SSB, are offered twice annually. The SSB is now accepting applications from undergraduate and graduate students for its autumn 2010 program. The deadline for applications is June 14, 2010. Successful candidates will be contacted no later than July 2, 2010.

Visit http://sites.nationalacademies.org/SSB/ssb_052239 to learn more about the program and to get application information. [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This award recognizes one or more promising young scientists for outstanding contributions achieved during their Ph.D. or postdoctoral research. Nominees must be members of ISSOL at the time of the award. They should be engaged in experimental and/or theoretical studies in Astrobiology. The award consists of $5000 for support of professional expenses, a certificate, and public recognition at the ISSOL meeting. The awardee(s) will be providing an opportunity to present their work at the triennial meeting.

In order to be considered by the selection committee, nominations should be received by the deadline. As this award specifically recognizes scientific achievements during Ph.D. and postdoctoral research, eligibility is restricted to current Ph.D. students, those who have completed the requirements for a Ph.D. degree up to 12 months prior to the nomination as well as scientists who have completed not more than 3 years of postdoctoral research. Nominations should include a letter of nomination, a curriculum vitae, two supporting letters, and up to three reprints or preprints of the nominee's work.

DEADLINE for application for the inaugural award is December 15, 2010. http://issol.org/education-and-careers/stanley-l-miller-early-career-research-award/

Please send nominations in hard copy or electronic form to:

Janet Siefert Rice University Department of Statistics MS 138 Houston, Texas 77251-1892 Siefert@rice.edu [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 5:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In April 2010 a group of early-career astrobiologists (graduate students and postdocs) spent two days engaged in intensive brainstorming at the second Early-Career Astrobiology Research Focus Group (RFG). The goal of the RFG was to foster interdisciplinary collaborative work in a simulated proposal submission process. Students arrived at two airports near Houston, Texas on Friday April 23rd and gathered in vans to drive to the remote Crockett Family Resort located in Crockett, TX. Participants broke off into pre-assigned focus groups to spend the next two days planning, researching and presenting a novel and relevant proposal idea. On Sunday April 25th, after a day and a half of grant writing, reviewing, oral presentations and group discussions, the participants voted on the best proposals.

The RFG was a great success, exceeding all expectations. The 15 participants covered the full range of specialties relevant to astrobiology and represented different countries across North and South America, and Australia. Of the 15 participants 8 responded to our feedback survey. 50% of respondents had an 'excellent' experience, 25% had a 'very good' experience and the remaining 25% had a 'good' experience at the 2010 RFG. The RFG was highly successful in its original goal of strengthening interdisciplinary and international links between early-career astrobiologists (roughly 40% plan on continuing collaboration on their RFG proposal, while 25% plan on collaborating on their proposals depending on funding). Also as a result of the dedication and commitment shown by the participants, several original ideas for future research were generated.

The RFG workshop was entirely conceived and organized by early-career astrobiologists. The organizing committee for the second RFG consisted of lead organizers Jacob Haqq-Misra, (The Pennsylvania State University) and Julia DeMarines (University of Colorado at Boulder) with additional organizers Kennda Lynch (Colorado School of Mines) and Sarah Walker (Dartmouth). Jacob and Julia ran the workshop while other organizers participated in the focus groups. The NAI provided funding for the workshop, and both the organizers and participants would like to thank NAI, especially Melissa Kirven-Brooks, for their ongoing support of the early-career astrobiology community and for making the event possible.

The "RFG experience" began 1 week before the event, when the organizers put the participants into focus groups of 3 or 4 people who had similar research interests but different backgrounds, in order to ensure interdisciplinary collaboration. The groups were asked to initiate brainstorming and provide a two-sentence idea by breakfast of the first full day of the workshop. Each group was then given 12 hours to write the full proposal. The organizers peer-reviewed the proposals (as opposed to last year where participants peer-reviewed each other's proposals) to give as much time to the groups to work on their presentations. All participants presented their proposals and subsequently voted to rank the proposals. Voting was individual and secret.

A list of the winning proposals and all the workshop participants can be found at the website: http://sites.google.com/site/abscicon2010rfg/ [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 9:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dear colleagues, We are leading a group of early-career astrobiologists to update the first edition of the Astrobiology primer (Mix et al., Astrobiology, 2006). The astrobiology primer was created to provide a brief, but comprehensive, overview of the subject for those new to the field. It is aimed at graduate students, but we hope others will also find it useful. We would welcome your views on the proposed content. Please complete the survey linked to below. We are accepting completed survey through Tuesday, May 18th. The survey can be found at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NNVGSWH An outline of the primer can be downloaded here.

Thank you in advance for your time and your voice. Sincerely, Shawn Domagal-Goldman and Katherine Wright, Co-Lead Editors, Astrobiology Primer, Version 2.0

[Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 5:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Life in the Universe curriculum is a unique set of resources, for elementary and middle school teachers, designed to bring the excitement of searching for life beyond Earth into the classroom. The SETI Institute, with funding from NSF and NASA, developed these award winning classroom materials with a team of educators, curriculum developers, and scientists. The Life in the Universe curriculum explores many facets of how scientists are trying to answer the questions: Where did life come from? What is its future? Are we alone?

In the Life in the Universe curriculum, students explore conditions that support life on Earth, and the possible existence of life elsewhere. The curriculum draws upon the experience of SETI scientists, whose research encompasses the full spectrum of Astrobiology: astronomy, life sciences, Earth sciences, chemistry, physics, mathematics, engineering, and many other disciplines. The hands-on science activities were tested nationally in a variety of schools representing a broad range of students. Organized around story lines, these activities pose challenges that require students to investigate what is known about life on Earth.

For more information: http://www.seti.org/Page.aspx?pid=363

[Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 5:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI Research Scholarship Program offers research-related travel support for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Applicants are encouraged to use these resources to circulate among two or more NAI Teams, or participating institutions of the NAI, however any travel that is critical for the applicant's research will be considered. Recent Award: Erin Yargicolu, from the University of Illinois at Chicago, has been selected to collaborate with researchers at NASA Ames Research Center and to participate in a field investigation of microbial ecosystems associated with deeply sourced faults in the North Anatolian Fault Zone. We congratulate Erin and wish her a successful trip. For more information: http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/funding/nai-research-scholarships

[Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 6:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Applications are being accepted from astrobiology graduate students and postdocs for a winter school on the theme of "Water and the Evolution of Life in the Cosmos," in Hawaii, from Monday January 3rd to Monday January 17th 2011. This school will provide approximately 40 post-graduate participants with a broad but high-level introduction into astrobiology, emphasizing the origin and role of water in the emergence of life on our planet, and in the search for life elsewhere. It will be truly multidisciplinary, bringing together students and researchers from the diverse scientific backgrounds that contribute to our current understanding. Hawaii offers ideal resources for this training opportunity, from world-leading astronomical observing facilities through state of the art cosmochemistry simulation equipment to unique geologic environments in which extremophile life exists. Further information is available at http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/UHNAI/2011winterschool/

[Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 5:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI once again hosted the Student Poster Competition at the Astrobiology Science Conference (AbSciCon) 2010, held in League City Texas on April 26-29, 2010. Louis Lerman and Steve Benner from the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution (FfAME) provided a generous contribution in support of the competition, as they did for AbSciCon 2008.

Thirty posters were submitted to the competition, and four cash prizes were awarded.

The first place prize went to Jorge Nunez, a graduate student at Arizona State University, for his poster entitled The Multispectral Microscopic Imager (MMI) and the Mars Microbeam Raman Spectrometer (MMRS): An Integrated Payload for the In-Situ Exploration of Past and Present Habitable Environments on Mars. Jorge’s co-authors were J. D. Farmer (advisor), R. G. Sellar, S. Douglas, K. S. Manatt, M. D. Fries, A. L. Lane, Alian Wang, and D. L. Blaney.

Second place in the competition was awarded to Jennifer Glass, a graduate student at Arizona State University for her poster Signatures of Low-Mo Ancient Ocean May be Preserved in Cyanobacterial Genomes. Jennifer’s co-authors were Felisa L. Wolfe-Simon, A. T. Poret-Peterson and A. D. Anbar (advisor).

The third place winner was Eva Stueeken, a graduate student at the University of Washington, for her poster Selenium Biogeochemistry as a Planetary Deep-Time Redox Proxy. Eva’s co-authors were Julien Foriel, B. K.Nelson, and Roger Buick (advisor).

Fourth place in the competition was awarded to undergraduate student Dyana Lucas of the Native American Research Laboratory (NARL) at The University of Montana, for her poster Evidence for Local Adaptation in Extremophilic Crenarchaeal Systems: A SSV-Sulfolobus Study. Dyana’s co-authors were Manny Ceballos, and Michael Ceballos (advisor).

Congratulations to these four outstanding students for their achievement! [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 7:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NASA is accepting applications from science and engineering post-docs, recent PhDs, and doctoral students for its 22nd Annual Planetary Science Summer School, which will hold two separate sessions this summer (19-23 July and 2-6 August) at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. During the program, student teams will carry out the equivalent of an early mission concept study, prepare a proposal authorization review presentation, present it to a review board, and receive feedback. At the end of the week, students will have a clearer understanding of the life cycle of a robotic space mission; relationships between mission design, cost, and schedule; and the tradeoffs necessary to stay within cost and schedule while preserving the quality of science. Applications are due 1 May 2010. Partial financial support is available for a limited number of individuals. Further information is available at http://pscischool.jpl.nasa.gov [Source NAI newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This two week summer course will be held in Utrecht, The Netherlands at the Universiteit Utrecht from July 5-16, 2010.

Planet Mars has water ice near its surface, and dry rivers, deltas and gigantic canyons attest to past water flow on the surface. But how much water did flow on Mars? What was the past climate, and how long was the planet wet? Was there ever life on Mars and could life exist there in the future? This course focusses on Mars surface dynamics and landforms related to water. Topics include a general introduction to the Mars, comparison of terrestrial and Martian fluvial systems with a variety of landforms including impact craters, drainage patterns, rivers, deltas and canyons. Techniques employed in the course include image analysis, quantitative data analysis, laboratory experiments and physics-based modelling.

The aims of this course are (i) to introduce the student to planet Mars, (ii) to develop a thorough understanding of fluvial and deltaic morphodynamics on Earth and Mars, and (iii) to infer the implications for past hydrology and climate of Mars. We believe that a combination of dedicated lectures, literature and hands-on observation (image and elevation analysis), experimentation (creating self-organising landscapes with water and sand) and physics-based modelling (in a spreadsheet) by the student greatly enhances the acquired understanding of earth- and planetary science. The end product of this course will be an extended abstract on a case study in the style of the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.

For more information: http://www.utrechtsummerschool.nl/index.php?type=courses&code=H18 [Source NAI newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Applications are invited for a Post-doctoral Research fellowship in Cosmochemistry. The successful applicant will join an active research program that investigates a wide variety of topics, including: 1) the chronology of the early solar system, 2) the nature and origin of the presolar dust that provided the raw material for the solar system, 3) the isotopic and chemical compositions and origins of primitive chondritic components, 4) samples returned by the Stardust Mission to comet Wild 2, and 5) solar wind samples returned by the GENESIS Mission. The main analytical tools for this research are the petrographic microscope, scanning electron microscope, electron microprobe, scanning Raman microscope, and ion microprobe. Minimum qualifications include a Ph.D. in a discipline relevant to cosmochemistry and experience in one or more of the following areas: cosmochemistry, meteoritics, isotope geo- or cosmochemistry, secondary ion mass spectrometry. Previous experience with one or more of the following is required (training will be provided for the others): petrographic microscope, scanning electron microscope, electron microprobe, Raman microscope, or ion microprobe. Experience with isotopic measurements or meteorite petrography is desired. The successful candidate will participate in one or more of the above research projects and will receive training and will be expected to become an independent user of the Cameca ims 1280 ion microprobe at the University of Hawai'i. The Fellowship will be for an initial period of 1 year with renewal for up to 2 additional years based on performance and on the availability of support.

Continue reading "Post-doctoral Researcher Position in Cosmochemistry, University of Hawai'i at Manoa" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Scholarship application deadlines plus new information for Canadian students and a worldwide opportunity provided by the Harvard Origin of Life Initiative

Topic: Extrasolar Planets and Habitability
Location: Palacio de Magdalena, Santander, Spain
Dates: June 21-25, 2010

The ninth annual Summer School in Astrobiology, Extrasolar Planets and Habitability, organized jointly by the Spanish Centro de Astrobiología and the NASA Astrobiology Institute will be held at the Santander campus of Spain's national university, Universidad Internacional Menendez Pelayo (UIMP). 

The 2010 School lecturers are Dr. Jack Lissauer, NASA Ames Research Center, co-investigator on the Kepler space telescope mission; Professor Eduardo Martin, CAB and University of Central Florida, co-discoverer of the first brown dwarf; Professor Victoria Meadows, University of Washington, head of NAI's Virtual Planetary Laboratory (VPL); and Professor Michel Mayor, University of Geneva, co-discoverer of the first hot Jupiter, 51 Peg b.

The deadline for NAI applications is March 31. Scholarships covering travel costs, school fees, accommodations, and meals are provided by NAI for students of any nationality studying at U.S. institutions. See astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/UIMP/2010 for application details. CIFAR, the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research funds scholarships for 3-4 Canadian students. One or two additional scholarships sponsored by the Harvard Origin of Life Initiative are available on a worldwide basis. Applications for CIFAR, and Harvard scholarships should be made via NAI by April 14. See astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/UIMP/2010 for application details.

European students may apply for scholarship support provided by UIMP and the European Space Agency (ESA) through the UIMP website ( www.uimp.es ) at a later date.

The Summer School includes a week of lectures, round-table discussions, astronomical observations, and a half-day field trip to a site of astrobiological interest. Students completing the school receive a UIMP Diploma in Astrobiology. Accommodations and meals are provided on-site at the Palacio de la Magdalena ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palacio_de_la_Magdalena ).'

Posted by Keith Cowing at 9:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI is pleased to announce selections of the NASA Postdoctoral Program resulting from the November 2009 cycle.

1. William Brazelton - Advisor: Matthew Schrenk, The Carnegie Institution of Washington and East Carolina University Topic: Tracing Energy, Carbon, and Nitrogen Flow in Serpentinization-fueled Microbial Ecosystems

2. Gregory Fournier - Advisor Eric Alm, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Team Topic: Reconstructing the Evolution of Protein Synthesis: A Novel Compositional Approach for Studying Early Life and the Emergence of Complexity

3. Jennifer Kyle - Advisors: Linda Jahnke and Ken Stedman, NASA Ames Research Center and Portland State University Topic: Viral Preservation within Terrestrial Hot Springs

4. Felisa Wolfe-Simon - Advisors: Ariel Anbar and Ronald Oremland, Arizona State University and the USGS- Menlo Park Topic: Arsenic and Old Life: Novel Geo-biochemistry of Arsenic in Biological Systems

More information about the NPP can be found at http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/funding/nai-postdoctoral-fellowship-program/

Posted by Keith Cowing at 9:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In 2010, AbGradCon, the foremost astrobiology meeting for early-career researchers, will be held in Europe for the first time in its history (June 14-18). Graduate students and early-career postdocs from all over the world will come together in Taellberg, Sweeden to present their research in a comfortable environment, to learn of the latest developments in astrobiology, to network and to forge new collaborations. The meeting will comprise oral and poster presentations, half-day workshops and a one-day field trip to geologically instructive sites in the astrobiologically interesting Siljan impact crater. Attendees are encouraged from the very wide range of subjects pertinent to astrobiology. Financial assistance will be available to invited attendees. Abstract submission deadline: February 28, 2010. For more information: http://www.abgradcon2010.org

Posted by Keith Cowing at 7:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Location: Palacio de Magdalena, Santander, Cantabria, Spain
Dates: June 21-25, 2010
Deadline: Closing date for NAI scholarship applications - March 31, 2010.

Overview: A week of lectures from international experts, plus round-table discussions, student projects, night-sky observations, and a field trip to a nearby site of astrobiological interest. On-site accommodation and all meals are provided at the Santander campus of the Spanish National University, UIMP. Scholarships covering travel costs, school fees, accommodation and meals are provided by NAI for approximately 10 American students. Additional opportunities are available for students of other nationalities. For more information: http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/UIMP/2010

Source: NAI newsletter

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Location: The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Dates: June 6th to August 14th, 2010

Program details: There will be independent research under the guidance of one or more astrobiologists, a field trip to NASA and astrobiology-related sites around Washington, D.C., weekly seminars, laboratory tours, stargazing opportunities, discussion group, and a research symposium.

Expenses: Travel and living expenses will be covered and participants will receive, in addition, a stipend of $4000 for the summer.

Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents between their sophomore and senior years at a college or university other than Penn State (exceptional applicants between their freshman and sophomore years will be considered). Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Applicants should have a research interest in astrobiology and be contemplating a career in science. College graduates are not eligible.

Participants: Up to ten students will be selected from among the applicants. Application deadline: February 19, 2010 For more information: http://evo.bio.psu.edu/asp/

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Leroy Nelson and Scott Sandford take questions about both science and culture; The inter-cultural team facilitates educators learning the classroom activities.

On January 28-29, 2010, the "NASA and the Navajo Nation" project team hosted a large-scale workshop for educators across the Navajo Nation. Over 100 teachers participated, despite the worst snow storm in 25 years, some traveling hours through severe conditions. On the first day, the teachers heard background lectures from both a cultural expert and an astrobiologist, Scott Sandford from NASA Ames Research Center. On the second day, the team trained teachers on classroom use of the six activities in the So' Baa Hane' booklet, inter-cultural materials developed by the project in 2006.

Continue reading "NASA and the Navajo Nation Project Hosts Teacher Workshop" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NASA Astrobiology Institute is offering funding for students and postdocs to attend the Astrobiology Science Conference (AbSciCon) 2010 in League City, Texas, on April 26-29, 2010. Information about AbSciCon is available online at http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/abscicon2010.  Undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs are eligible to apply for funding.

The deadline for applications is Friday, March 5. Award decisions will be made and applicants notified by Friday, March 19.

More information and an application form is posted on the NAI website at http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/abscicon-student-funding.

Please direct any comments or questions to Wendy Dolci: Wendy.W.Dolci@nasa.gov

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The Astrobiology Summer Science Experience for Teachers, or ASSET, is being held July 18-24, 2010, at San Francisco State University. ASSET will feature presentations by leading astrobiology researchers from the SETI Institute, NASA and the California Academy of Sciences. Scientists will share the latest in astrobiology research on the origin of life on Earth, the extreme conditions in which life exists, Mars exploration, the formation of planetary systems around sun-like stars, and the search for life in the universe.

The 6-day workshop features a combination of cutting-edge science, inquiry-based teaching and learning, and leadership skills development to support teachers and teacher trainers.

Participants receive the entire Voyages Through Time curriculum and complementary astrobiology materials, developed by NASA's Astrobiology Institute, for use in their classrooms.

Applications are due Feb. 12, 2010.

For more information, visit http://www.seti.org/epo/ASSET.

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact Pamela Harman at 650-960-4523 or pharman@seti.org.

Posted by Keith Cowing at 11:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NASA has launched an initiative to use its out-of-this-world missions and technology programs to boost summer learning programs. NASA's Summer of Innovation supports President Obama's Educate to Innovate campaign for excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, education.

The Summer of Innovation program will work with thousands of middle school teachers and students during multi-week programs in the summer of 2010 to engage students in stimulating math and science-based education programs. NASA's goal is to increase the number of future scientists, mathematicians, and engineers, with an emphasis on broadening participation of underrepresented groups.

Continue reading "NASA Notice of Intent to Release Cooperative Agreement Notice Entitled Summer of Innovation Pilot" »

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Every summer, NAI teams and others host hands-on, in-the-field, in-the-lab workshops for educators. The workshops feature cutting edge astrobiology research delivered by astrobiology scientists and education professionals, as well as inquiry- and standards-based activities ready for your classroom. Below is the list of offerings for Summer 2010.

ASTROBIOLOGY SUMMER SCIENCE EXPERIENCE for TEACHERS (ASSET)
Dates: July 18 -24, 2010
Location: San Francisco, CA
Applications due: February 12, 2010
URL: http://www.seti.org/epo/ASSET
The ASSET experience will be intense and exciting, interactive and content rich, with presentations by leading astrobiology researchers from the SETI Institute, NASA, and the California Academy of Sciences. Participants receive the Voyages Through Time curriculum. All expenses covered by grant funds.

TELESCOPES: TOOLS FOR ASTRONOMICAL DISCOVERY AND THE SEARCH FOR LIFE ON OTHER PLANETS

Dates: July 26-30, 2010
Location: Pennsylvania State University
URL: http://teachscience.psu.edu/workshops/telescopes.html
Educators will build a simple telescope, utilize telescopes in distant object observations, and learn how modern telescope technology allows us to probe the most distant objects in the universe and may help us discover other habitable planets. [Source NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Microbial Diversity Summer Course of the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) welcomes applications from members of the Astrobiology community who are seeking to understand the microbial basis of life. The MBL Microbial Diversity course, offered in Woods Hole, MA, since 1971, provides graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and established investigators with an unequaled opportunity to explore the diversity of the microbial world. The course is immersive, integrative, inter-disciplinary, and international in nature. The curriculum consists of lectures by foremost investigators, laboratory exercises, advanced technical training, field work, and substantial participant directed original research. Participants in the course traditionally represent a diversity of backgrounds and the course is open to all scientists who have a strong interest in microbes and their activities. This year's course is made possible, in part, by support from the NASA Astrobiology Institute.

Dates: June 12 - July 28, 2010
Application Deadline: February 1, 2010
More info at: http://www.mbl.edu/education/courses/summer/course_micro_div.html [Source NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 11:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Application Deadline: February 1, 2010

Since 2006 the American Philosophical Society and the NASA Astrobiology Institute have partnered to promote the continued exploration of the world around us through a program of research grants in support of astrobiological field studies undertaken by graduate students, postdoctoral students, and junior scientists and scholars affiliated with a U.S.-based institution. We welcome applications by February 1, 2010 for field studies in all areas of research in astrobiology. For more information please see http://www.amphilsoc.org/grants/astrobiology [Source NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Pennsylvania State University will once again host the Astrobiology Summer Program (ASP), supported by the National Science Foundation and the NASA Astrobiology Institute. Undergraduates with an interest in astrobiology and contemplating a career in the sciences are encouraged to apply. We consider applicants from any college or university but you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Participants receive a stipend, travel, and living expenses, and conduct research for ten weeks at Pennsylvania State University under the guidance of astrobiology faculty mentors. Among the many exciting summer activities is a field trip to Washington, D.C, including NASA Headquarters, NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center, the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum and Udvar-Hazy Center. The application deadline is February 19th, 2010.

For more information, visit http://evo.bio.psu.edu/asp/ or contact Blair Hedges, sbh1@psu.edu. [Source NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Taellberg, Sweden - June 14-18, 2010.
Registration Deadline: May 1, 2010
Abstract submission Deadline: February 28, 2010

Conference Poster: http://www.abgradcon2010.org/attachments/049_abgradcon2010.pdf

In 2010, AbGradCon, the foremost astrobiology meeting for early-career researchers, will be held in Europe for the first time in its history. Graduate students and early-career postdocs from all over the world will come together to present their research in an informal environment, to learn of the latest developments in astrobiology, to network, and to forge new collaborations. The meeting will comprise oral and poster presentations, half-day workshops and a one-day field trip to geologically instructive sites in the astrobiologically interesting Siljan impact crater. Attendees are encouraged from the very wide range of subjects pertinent to astrobiology. Financial assistance will be available to invited attendees.

Further information is available at the conference website: http://www.abgradcon2010.org

[source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 5:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI Research Scholarship Program offers research-related travel support for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Applicants are encouraged to use these resources to circulate among two or more NAI Teams, or participating institutions of the NAI, however any travel that is critical for the applicant's research will be considered. There are two award cycles per year with deadlines of April 1 and October 1.

The NAI has selected the following students and postdoctoral fellows for awards in this cycle:

Mark Claire, University of Washington
Travel to Penn State University for collaboration with Jim Kasting
Advisors: Vikki Meadows, Jim Kasting

Noah Planavsky, University of California, Riverside
Travel to Northwestern Ontario in Spring 2010
Graduate Advisor: Tim Lyons

Dominic Papineau, Carnegie Institution of Washington
Travel to University of Hawaii to work with Gary Huss
Advisor: Marilyn Fogel

Meredith Perry, Pennsylvania State University
Travel to the Mojave Desert to examine Precambrian stromatolites
Advisor: Jane Dmochowski

For more information: http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/funding/nai-research-scholarships

[Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 3:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Established in 2006, the School of Earth and Space Exploration (SESE) is the focal point for earth and space science and engineering at Arizona State University, one of the largest and fastest growing institutions of higher learning in the United States. An essential part of the SESE mission is an effective integration of disciplines such as astrophysics, biogeochemistry, geology, geophysics, hydrology and engineering for scientific exploration.

Continue reading "Faculty Positions in Earth & Space Exploration at Arizona State University" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 5:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NAI's New York Center for Astrobiology held its first Teachers Academy at RPI on July 13-16, 2009. Nine high school science teachers from four local school districts collaborated with six NAI scientists to learn about topics in astrobiology. The participants represent disciplines across the sciences: biology, chemistry, earth science, forensic science, and physics. The goal of the Academy was to develop a learning module infused with astrobiology and aligned with New York State standards and NASA Astrobiology Science Goals. The teachers used science lectures, existing astrobiology curriculum materials, and consistent interaction with the scientists to develop their learning modules, which ranged in topic from the physiochemical limits to sustainable life, to colors of photosynthetic organisms on exoplanets, to nucleosynthesis of biologically-relevant elements. The teachers are implementing their modules in their classrooms this school year, and the Academy will be featured at the annual regional meeting of the Science Teachers Association of New York State in March, 2010. [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This summer, sixteen teachers from around the world convened with NAI's team at Montana State University for a week-long class called "Examining Life in Extreme Environments: Insights into Early Earth and Beyond." Students in the course gained an understanding of the relation of extreme environments to early Earth, learned about the latest research conducted in these areas, and worked on how to teach and discuss these topics within their own classrooms.

Continue reading "Teachers from Around the World Examine Life in Extreme Environments" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) Postdoctoral Scholars Program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) invites applicants to apply for two postdoctoral research positions at JPL in the Planetary Science Section of the Science Division. Each opportunity is supported by a NASA grant to two separate, small, collaborative teams. The successful candidates, while having their own projects, will be expected to work with team members in other institutions.

Continue reading "Two Post-doc Positions in Astrobiology Available at JPL, Caltech" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NASA announces a call for graduate fellowship proposals to the NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (NESSF) program for the 2010-2011 academic year. This call for fellowship proposals solicits applications from accredited U.S. universities on behalf of individuals pursuing Master of Science (M.Sc.) or Doctoral (Ph.D.) degrees in Earth and space sciences, or related disciplines. The purpose of NESSF is to ensure continued training of a highly qualified workforce in disciplines needed to achieve NASA's scientific goals. Awards resulting from the competitive selection will be made in the form of training grants to the respective universities.

The deadline for NEW applications is February 1, 2010, and the deadline for RENEWAL applications is March 15, 2010.

Continue reading "NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (NESSF) Program" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Taellberg, Sweden - June 14-18, 2010: In 2010, AbGradCon, the foremost astrobiology meeting for early-career researchers, will be held in Europe for the first time in its history. Graduate students and early-career postdocs from all over the world will come together to present their research in a comfortable environment, to learn of the latest developments in astrobiology, to network and to forge new collaborations. The meeting will comprise oral and poster presentations, half-day workshops and a one-day field trip to geologically instructive sites in the astrobiologically interesting Siljan impact crater. Attendees are encouraged from the very wide range of subjects pertinent to astrobiology. Financial assistance will be available to invited attendees. Further information is available at the conference website: http://www.abgradcon2010.org [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NAI's New York Center for Astrobiology held its first Teachers Academy at RPI on July 13-16, 2009. Nine high school science teachers from four local school districts collaborated with six NAI scientists to learn about topics in astrobiology. The participants represent disciplines across the sciences: biology, chemistry, earth science, forensic science, and physics. The goal of the Academy was to develop a learning module infused with astrobiology and aligned with New York State standards and NASA Astrobiology Science Goals.

The teachers used science lectures, existing astrobiology curriculum materials, and consistent interaction with the scientists to develop their learning modules, which ranged in topic from the physiochemical limits to sustainable life, to colors of photosynthetic organisms on exoplanets, to nucleosynthesis of biologically-relevant elements. The teachers are implementing their modules in their classrooms this school year, and the Academy will be featured at the annual regional meeting of the Science Teachers Association of New York State in March, 2010. [Source: NASA Astrobiology]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This summer, sixteen teachers from around the world convened with NAI's team at Montana State University for a weeklong class called "Examining Life in Extreme Environments: Insights into Early Earth and Beyond." Students in the course gained an understanding of the relation of extreme environments to early earth, learned about the latest research conducted in these areas, and worked on how to teach and discuss these topics within their own classrooms.

Continue reading "Teachers from Around the World Examine Life in Extreme Environments" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Applications for the US to Australia Fellowship Program close on October 31st. The program offers fellowships of up to AU$25,000 to American researchers or students wishing to undertake advanced research or study in Australia. Through these Educational Fellowships, the Association encourages intellectual collaboration and innovation, building on the strong social and economic partnerships between Australia and the United States.

Fields of study/research supported by the fellowships:

* Medicine
* Life sciences (particularly in oceanography/marine sciences and stem cell research)
* Science
* Engineering
* Mining

General Requirements:

* Applicant's research or study must be at a graduate level or above.
* Proof of acceptance into an Australian educational institution is required.
* Applicant must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.
* The Fellowships are intended to support part of the costs of one year of research/study in Australia (applicants must submit a complete budget).
* Applicants should devote full time to their research or study.

Deadline: 31 October 2009

Further Information: http://www.americanaustralian.org/usa_to_aust_apps/

Please send inquiries & applications to: ustoa@aaanyc.org

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In July a group of early-career astrobiologists (graduate students and postdocs) spent two days engaged in intensive brainstorming at the first ever Early-Career Astrobiology Research Focus Group (RFG). The goal of the RFG was to foster interdisciplinary collaborative work in a simulated proposal submission process. At the end of two days of grant writing, peer-reviewing, oral presentations and group discussions, the participants voted on the best proposals.

The RFG was an outstanding success, exceeding all expectations. The 30 participants covered the full range of specialties relevant to astrobiology, and represented 7 different countries across North and South America, Europe and Australia. Not only was the RFG successful in its original goal of strengthening interdisciplinary and international links between early-career astrobiologists (9 out of 10 participants thought that having participated in the RFG would definitely help them to work more effectively in an interdisciplinary way in the future) but as a result of the dedication and commitment shown by the participants, several highly original ideas for future research were generated. Over ninety per cent of the participants thought that the ideas that were produced would definitely (50%) or possibly (42%) affect the direction of their future research, and two-thirds of participants wanted to continue collaboration on their ideas.

Continue reading "Report on the Meeting of the First Early-Career Astrobiology Research Focus Group (RFG)" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The next application deadline for the NASA Postdoctoral Program is November 1, 2009. The program provides opportunities for Ph.D. scientists and engineers to perform research on problems largely of their own choosing, yet compatible with the research interests of NASA and the member teams of the NASA Astrobiology Institute. The NAI currently supports the research of 10 such postdoctoral fellows in NAI labs. For more information see http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc. [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 25-27, 2009 in Frascati, Italy - The NASA Mars Program Office has announced that travel funding will be made available for as many as 5 students who are U.S. citizens or legal residents, with Mars-related interests, to attend the Workshop on Methane on Mars: Current Observations, Interpretation and Future Plans, November 25-27, 2009 in Frascati, Italy. An application must be submitted by September 28, 2009, to be considered for this funding. NASA Headquarters will make the selections and students will be notified no later than October 15, 2009. Reimbursable costs include registration fees, transportation (airfare, mileage to/from airport, parking, rental car) and lodging/per diem. In most cases, actual expenses will exceed the funding provided.

Continue reading "Student Travel Grants - Workshop on Methane on Mars" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 9:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A postdoctoral position in microbial ecology with secondary emphases in evolutionary ecology, information theory and/or modeling is available at the Marine Biological Lab, Woods Hole. This NSF-funded project seeks to determine the principles governing how energy and matter flow through biological systems using laboratory microcosms as experiment systems. In addition, the project will advance a mathematical framework for modeling biogeochemistry orchestrated by microbial communities using a distributed metabolic network representation constrained by thermodynamics. We are seeking an individual with expertise in molecular microbial ecology with an interest in theoretical ecology or systems biology. Approximately 10% of the successful applicant's time will be devoted to program outreach that involves development of educational web resources as well as dissemination of project results. Funding support is available for 2.5 years.

Continue reading "Postdoc Position Available at the Marine Biological Lab, Woods Hole" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 9:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI has selected three new postdoctoral fellows, Siobhan Wilson, Sanchaya Gupta, and Nancy Akerman as they join NAI teams through the NASA Postdoctoral Program. Nancy Akerman will work with Julie Huber at the Marine Biological Laboratory (Carnegie Insitution of Washington Team), to examine "Habitability in Extreme Environments: Microbial Function and Activity in Deep and Shallow Marine Hydrothermal Systems". Sanchaya (Neal) Gupta will work with both the MIT and CIW teams on the research topic, "Polymeric Biosignatures in Organismic Fossils and Environmental Controls on their Preservation", working with Roger Summons and George Cody. Siobhan (Sasha) Wilson will be working with David Bish at Indiana University, on a project entitled, "Hydrated Sulfate Minerals: a Habitat for Martian Microorganisms?" The next application deadline for the NASA Postdoctoral Program is November 1, 2009. See http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc/ for more information. Source: NAI Newsletter

Posted by Keith Cowing at 9:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Weary of catching planes, burning up fossil fuels, and spending lots of time and money to attend meetings? Take heart! Virtual worlds are shaping up as possible venues for online meetings--and astrobiology graduate students are leading the way in exploring their potential. On July 17-18, 2009, early-career astrobiologists met at the University of Washington in Seattle for the 6th annual Astrobiology Graduate Student Conference (AbGradCon), and simultaneously in the virtual world Second Life. Students presented talks that were streamed live into Second Life and participated in a real-world and virtual world "mixed reality" poster session. Social media such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter were also used for sharing information before, during and after the conference. MORE

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The ASP is looking for a creative person with good knowledge of astronomy and experience in K-12 education to work on a number of existing and developing programs in astronomy education. Current duties include coordinating Project ASTRO (a program that links volunteer astronomers with 4th - 9th grade teachers), managing a web-based quarterly newsletter for teachers, conducting training programs for school districts interested in hands-on astronomy, helping with grant writing, and assisting with other initiatives in education.

More detailed information about the position and specific instructions for applying can be found at the Society's web site at: http://www.astrosociety.org/about/career.html

More information about the education programs of the 120-year old international society, headquartered in San Francisco, can be found at: http://www.astrosociety.org/education.html

Posted by Keith Cowing at 11:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Lassen Astrobiology Student Internship Program, a collaboration between NAI's Ames team, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and Red Bluff High School, will wrap up its first year of activity in August. Nine high school students and their chemistry teacher, with training from NAI scientists and under the supervision of a park ranger, have made eight field trips to various sites within the park throughout the course of the school year. They monitored field sites and made seasonal measurements of temperature, pH, and water chemistry of the hydrothermal features. PBS station KNPB, Reno, NV, interviewed the students while sample collections were underway. A feature presentation about the program was aired in June.

Continue reading "Students Monitor Hydrothermal Features in Lassen Volcanic National Park" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 4:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This summer, NAI's new team at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (also known as "The New York Center for Astrobiology") played a major role in hosting the 2009 ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp. The camp is a free, academic program of The Harris Foundation, named for Bernard A. Harris, MD, an accomplished NASA astronaut, physician and entrepreneur, and the first African American to walk in space.

Continue reading "Summer Camp: The Quest for Life" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 4:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Josep Comas i Sola International Astrobiology Summer School, held annually in Santander, Spain, has become a tradition in the astrobiology community, as this summer marked its seventh year. The week-long program for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows provides lectures from international experts, round-table discussions, student projects, night-sky observations, and a half-day field trip to a nearby site of astrobiological interest.

Continue reading "Josep Comas i Sola International Astrobiology Summer School" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 4:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 5, 2009 11:00 AM Pacific - Please join us as this year's students present the results of their summer's research. The 2009 Summer Undergraduate Internship in Astrobiology is a ten-week internship in astrobiology held each year at Goddard Space Flight Center.

Continue reading "GSFC Summer Student Presentations" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 4:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI is pleased to announce its selections for the 2009 NAI-Minority Institution Research Support (NAI-MIRS) program. The MIRS program provides summer sabbaticals, follow-up support, and travel opportunities for faculty and students from minority serving institutions.

This year the following two faculty members have been selected to lead new research in astrobiology.

Dr. Rakesh Mogul, from the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona will work with Kasthuri Venkateswaran, at JPL, on the characterization of Acinetobacter radioresistens 50v1, an extremophile isolated from the Mars Odyssey Spacecraft.

Dr. Aaron Cavosie, from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, will work with John W. Valley, at the Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, on developing methods to identify impact evidence from the early Earth: Isotopic and structural characteristics of detrital shocked zircon from the Vredefort Dome (South Africa).

For more information on the MIRS program, visit http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/funding/nai-minority-institution-research-support

[Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI and the American Philosophical Society (APS) jointly sponsor graduate students, postdocs, and junior scientists for field studies through the Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research in Astrobiology. For more information see http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/funding/lewis-and-clark

We are very pleased to present the young investigators selected for 2009:

Continue reading "2009 Selections Announced for the NAI/APS Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"Microbial Bingo" was the name of the game in a recent outreach event for more than 50 junior high-aged girls from across Montana. The girls came to Montana State University's astrobiology laboratories this Spring for "That's Hot! Investigating the Edge of Life" as part of the national program called Expanding Your Horizons. The girls learned about MSU's research in Yellowstone National Park, and how astrobiology might give us new insights into the early earth as well as life on other planets. The girls then became scientists themselves, using observational data in a race to fill bingo cards by identifying "mystery" micro-organisms.

Expanding Your Horizons is a national program designed to introduce girls to careers in science, math, technology and engineering. It was started in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1974.

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) is soliciting applications for its Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. Two-year fellowships are available in any U.S. laboratory carrying out space-related biomedical or biotechnological research that supports the NSBRI's goals. NSBRI research addresses and seeks solutions to the various health concerns associated with long-duration human space exploration.

Applicants must submit proposals with the support of a mentor and institution, and all proposals will be evaluated by a peer-review panel. The program is open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or persons with pre-existing visas obtained through their sponsoring institutions that permit postdoctoral training for the project's duration.

Detailed program and application submission information is available on the NSBRI Web site at www.nsbri.org/Announcements/rfa09-01.html . Notices of intent and applications must be submitted through the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES). Notices of intent are due July 7, 2009, and the application deadline is August 4, 2009.

Replies to this announcement email will go unanswered. Questions may be directed to David A. Watson, Ph.D., NSBRI Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, email: postdoc@www.nsbri.org, or phone: 713-798-7412.

Posted by Keith Cowing at 11:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NASA is accepting applications from science and engineering post-docs, recent PhDs, and doctoral students for its 21st Annual Planetary Science Summer School, which will hold two separate sessions this summer (20-24 July and 3-7 August) at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. During the program, student teams will carry out the equivalent of an early mission concept study, prepare a proposal authorization review presentation, present it to a review board, and receive feedback. At the end of the week, students will have a clearer understanding of the life cycle of a robotic space mission; relationships between mission design, cost, and schedule; and the tradeoffs necessary to stay within cost and schedule while preserving the quality of science. Applications are due 1 May 2009. Partial financial support is available for a limited number of individuals.

Further information is available at http://pscischool.jpl.nasa.gov .

[Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 11:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Location: Palacio de Magdalena, Santander, Cantabria, Spain
Dates: June 22-26, 2009

The NAI has extended the deadline for applications to the annual Summer School sponsored by the NAI and the Centro de Astrobiologia (CAB) at Santander on Spain's Cantabrian coast. The topic of the School this year is "Earth's Extremophiles and Extraterrestrial Habitability." Lecturers include John Baross of the School of Oceanography, University of Washington; Michael Madigan of the Department of Microbiology, Southern Illinois University, and Ricardo Amils of the CAB.

Continue reading "2009 Santander Summer School: NAI Scholarship Deadline Extended to April 24th" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 11:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NASA/NAI Postdoctoral Program (NPP) provides talented postdoctoral scientists with opportunities to engage in Institute-related research and serves as a source of future astrobiology talent and leadership. The NAI has selected four outstanding postdoctoral fellows to join NAI laboratories through the NPP November 2008 opportunity.

Continue reading "NASA/NAI Postdoctoral Program Selections" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI-MIRS Program provides opportunities for researchers, from qualified minority serving institutions, to initiate joint partnerships with researchers in the field of astrobiology. The NAI-MIRS program provides support for 8 - 10 week sabbaticals, follow-up funding, and travel opportunities for faculty and students from minority institutions. The application deadline for 2009 is March 16th.

For more information, visit http://www.nai-mirs.org .

[Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Investigating Astrobiology Research Topics Through Scientific Inquiry

July 6 - 11, 2009
Application Form: http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/UHNAI/epo/alii-appform.cfm
Deadline - March 27, 2009

This workshop, designed for secondary science teachers, will emphasize lectures and activities led by scientists, state-of-the-art lab tours, and professional development with the use of learning cycles for concept development. Teachers will review and do activities from the Voyages Through Time curriculum, and other NASA materials aligned with 2061 Benchmarks. Registration fee is $50. Two University of Hawai'i graduate education credits will be offered for an administrative fee of only $110. A limited number of teachers from the continental US will receive a subsidy of $750 for room and board to defray expenses. Accepted Hawai'i teachers will be fully subsidized.

[Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Location: Palacio de Magdalena, Santander, Cantabria, Spain

Dates: June 22-26, 2009

The seventh annual summer school in Astrobiology, organized jointly by the Spanish Centro de Astrobiologia and the NASA Astrobiology Institute will be held at the Santander campus of Spain's national university, Universidad Internacional Menendez Pelayo (UIMP).

Continue reading "2009 Santander Summer School: Earth's Extremophiles and Extraterrestrial Habitability" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The next Astrobiology Graduate Student Conference (AbGradCon) will be held July 17 - 20 2009 at the University of Washington in Seattle. The primary objective of AbGradCon is to bring together, in a unique setting, the early-career astrobiologists (graduate students and post-doctoral fellows within 2 years of finishing their Ph.D.) who will lead astrobiology research in the years to come. The conference is unique in that it is a student-led meeting, from the organization, to the presentations. AbGradCon strives to remove the "pressures" of typical scientific meetings, by providing a relaxed atmosphere in which presentations and round-table discussions are fostered, along with numerous social activities. AbGradCon will also be hosted in the virtual world of Second Life at the NASA CoLab Sun Amphitheater.

Abstract submission deadline is March 15 2009: http://tinyurl.com/abgradconAPPLY

For more information: http://tinyurl.com/abgradcon09

[Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Gerald A. Soffen Memorial Fund is pleased to announce the first of two 2009 Travel Grant application opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing studies in the fields of space science and engineering.

The Travel Grants, in the amount of $500, enable student recipients to attend professional meetings to present their research. The first 2009 Travel Grant application deadline is April 1, 2009. Jerry Soffen, a biologist by training, led a distinguished career at NASA, including serving as the Project Scientist for Viking and as an architect for the NASA Astrobiology Institute. The Travel Grant continues Jerry's dedication to educating and involving future generations in space science and engineering pursuits. The electronic application materials and instructions are located on the Soffen Fund website:

http://nasa-academy.org/soffen/travelgrant/

Questions regarding the application or application process may be sent to: travelgrant@nasa-academy.org

[Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Life in Extreme Environments Educator Conference, hosted by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Education Office, was held on January 24-25, 2009 in JPL's von Karman auditorium. E/PO Leads from NAI's teams at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, JPL-Titan, and JPL-Icy Worlds participated in producing the event. Eighty-one educators attended. The program included an introduction to astrobiology, as well as more detailed presentations outlining astrobiology research into extrasolar planet habitability, pre-biotic chemistry, spectral "bio"signatures, and planetary protection. NAI educational materials were distributed.

Continue reading "Life in Extreme Environments Educator Conference" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 9:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI Postdoctoral Fellowship Program provides opportunities for Ph.D. scientists and engineers of unusual promise and ability to perform research on problems largely of their own choosing, yet compatible with the research interests of NASA and the member teams of the NASA Astrobiology Institute. The next award cycle that the NAI will be participating in will be the March 1, 2009 application deadline. For additional information about the program see http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc .

[Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 9:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Iceland, 29 June to 13 July 2009

Deadline: Applications due March 1, 2009

The NASA Astrobiology Institute and the Nordic Astrobiology Network will conduct a summer school on the role of water in the evolution of life in the cosmos - in Iceland on the above dates. The school is intended for students and post-docs in astrobiology-related subjects (biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, geosciences etc.)

Continue reading "NORDIC-NASA Astrobiology Summer School" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Arizona State University Astrobiology Team invites applications for a full-time postdoctoral Research Scientist (non-tenure track) position in Microbial Ecology/Physiology. The successful candidate will have a leading role in the research emphasis "The Stoichiometry of Life" which is aimed at understanding the fundamental relationships between the elemental composition of microbes and their environment, through investigations in the field, the laboratory, and the genomic and geologic records of the history of life. For more information: http://astrobiology.asu.edu/Astrobiology/Opportunities/Entries/2009/1/30_Postdoctoral_Fellowship_in_Microbial_Ecology_Physiology.html

[Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Penn State will once again host the Astrobiology Summer Program (ASP), supported by the National Science Foundation and NASA Astrobiology Institute. Undergraduates with an interest in astrobiology and contemplating a career in the sciences are encouraged to apply. Participants receive a stipend, travel, and living expenses, and conduct research for ten weeks at Pennsylvania State University under the guidance of astrobiology faculty mentors. Among the summer activities are field trips to NASA Headquarters, NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center, the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum and Udvar-Hazy Center. The application deadline is February 15th, 2009. For more information, visit http://evo.bio.psu.edu/asp/ or contact Blair Hedges, sbh1@psu.edu.

[Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NASA Planetary Biology Internship Program provides opportunities each year for nine or 10 interns to undertake research at NASA research centers, NASA-sponsored laboratories, and academic institutions. The pursuit of such studies is expected to broaden the base of this new science by encouraging people in many different fields to take part.
 
Graduate students accepted in the PBI program will be expected to carry out research with a NASA-sponsored investigator for eight weeks, usually during the summer months. Typical programs in which interns may become involved include: global ecology and remote sensing; microbial ecology and bio-mineralization; advanced life support; and origin and early evolution of life.
 
Applications are due March 2, 2009. For more information, visit http://www.mbl.edu/education/courses/other_programs/pbi.html . Please e-mail questions about this opportunity to Michael Dolan at pbi@geo.umass.edu.

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dear Colleagues,

The American Institutue for Astronautics and Aeronautics (AIAA) is again organizing a Congressional Visit Day, to occur this year on March 17 - 18 in Washington, DC. As in recent years, the ASGSB will have representatives in the delegation that fans out across Capitol Hill, visiting key congressional offices to educate staffers involved with senators and representatives with interests and committee assignments that are relevant to NASA activities. It is especially effective to have young, informed, enthusiastic and articulate students representing current and future activities in the space life sciences. We are fortunate that the AIAA is inviting student participation in the delegation.

I write to invite nominees for ASGSB Student Delegates for CVD on March 17-18. Transportation and expenses will be covered for one, or possibly two ASGSB students. Please send your nominations, along with a CV for each student to my assistant, Ms. Barbara Grinder, bgrinder (at) indiana.edu.

Best wishes,

Jeffrey R. Alberts
President, ASGSB

Posted by Keith Cowing at 9:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Applications are invited for an Origins Institute (OI) Astrobiology Postdoctoral Fellowship to commence on, or after Sept. 1, 2009 for an initial period of 2 years, with the possibility of renewal for a third year. The OI is involved in a wide range of astrobiological research including several major national and international collaborative efforts (see our website http://origins.mcmaster.ca/ ). Funds will also be available to cover travel and research expenses.

Areas of interest include: the formation and delivery of biomolecules to terrestrial planets; the formation, physical properties, and characterization of SuperEarths and terrestrial exoplanets; phylogenetics and prebiotic conditions related to the RNA world and the evolution of the earliest organisms; microbiology in extreme environments on Earth including polar microbiology and microbial energetics in extreme environments; and the interpretation of biosignatures as the basis of understanding early life on Earth and as the foundation for the search for life on Mars. OI researchers are working at several Mars analogue sites and are associated with solar system exploration for signatures of microbial life. The OI has a strong complement of faculty members in a number of related fields and the OI Astrobiology Postdoctoral Fellow will have many opportunities to collaborate with OI faculty and OI collaborative research programs.

Continue reading "Origins Institute, McMaster University: Astrobiology Postdoctoral Fellowship" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 11:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Immediate openings for enthusiastic Post-doctoral Fellows in the Department of Biochemistry at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. The aim of our laboratory is to understand the molecular interactions that the ribosome makes with different regulatory factors at various stages of the translation cycle (Cell (2005) 123(7) 1255-66; Science (2006) 313(5795) 1935-42; RNA (2007) 13(6) 817-23; Nature Structural & Molecular Biology (2007) 14(8) 733-7). Our group primarily uses the structural biology technique of X-ray crystallography in addition to complementary biochemical and biophysical techniques to address function in vitro.

Continue reading "NASA Graduate Student Researchers Program: Post-doctoral Research Fellow in Translation Regulation" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Our group is investigating bacterial spore viability in extreme environments. We currently focus on the following specific areas: (1) development of an endospore viability assay based on dipicolinic acid detection, (2) investigation of the microbial ecology of desert soils, permafrost, and Antarctic ice, (3) development of field-instrumentation for deployment in extreme environments. This works relates to NASA s strategic goals of investigating past or present habitable environment on Mars or other worlds by focusing on the boundary conditions for life in extreme environments on Earth. Deadline: Feb 1, 2009 http://fellowships.hq.nasa.gov/gsrp/research/detail.cfm?oppID=784

Source: [NASA Graduate Student Researchers Program (GSRP)]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Observations of the surface of the inner planets, the satellites and rings of the outer planets, asteroids and comets across the spectral range from ultraviolet through active and passive microwaves; studies of meteorites and cosmic dust; theory and modeling relevant to the origin and evolution of the solid bodies of the solar system; development of approaches to the detection and characterization of solar systems around other stars. Deadline: Feb 1, 2009 http://fellowships.hq.nasa.gov/gsrp/research/detail.cfm?oppID=186

Source: [NASA Graduate Student Researchers Program (GSRP)]

NASA Graduate Student Researchers Program: Bacterial Spore Viability in Extreme Environments

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., has released a Cooperative Agreement Notice to solicit proposals to administer the Education Associates Program. The EAP is a unique self-sustaining program dedicated to workforce development education. The program allows NASA scientists and managers to tap higher education institutions for students and faculty in a quick turn-around process. It provides participants hands-on experience with NASA scientists, engineers and program managers on a range of NASA projects and missions. Students receive academic credit for the experience. Through this program, NASA demonstrates its commitment to attract students into NASA's education pipeline and provides competency-building research and education opportunities for faculty, with a special emphasis on those from underrepresented and underserved groups. The EAP will provide opportunities to students majoring in fields related to NASA's science and technology interests and to faculty in STEM disciplines.

Continue reading "NASA Ames Office of Education Announces New Cooperative Agreement Opportunity" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NASA Ames has developed a nanosensor technology for high sensitive and low power chemical sensing using nanostructure, single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT's), combined with silicon-based micro fabrication and micromachining process. Due to large surface area, low surface energy barrier and high thermal and mechanical stability, nanostructured chemical sensors offer higher sensitivity, lower power consumption and a more robust solution than most state-of-the art systems making them attractive for space and defense applications, as well as a variety of commercial applications. Leveraging the micromachining technology, the light weight and compact sensors can be fabricated, in wafer scale for mass production, with high yield and at low cost. Such sensors have drawn attention from the space community for global weather monitoring, space exploration, life search in the universe, and launch pad fuel leak detection and in-flight cabin monitoring and engine operation monitoring.

Continue reading "NASA Graduate Student Researchers Program: Chemical sensors development for space and terrestrial applications" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 9:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We are developing the remote sensing techniques based on combined Raman spectrometer and UV fluorescence instrument suite for biogenic organics detections and characterizations. Our key step is to target the optimal instrument performance based on the systematic laboratory investigation and field- testing. Our measurement goals are: (1) ppm to ppb detection limits for organic molecules from natural samples without exaction or any preparation, (2) characterization of types of organic compounds based on complementary Raman and fluorescent signatures at sufficient detail to indicate possible biological origin. We will also incorporate the ultra sensitive spectroscopy technique for trace detection using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy. The effort includes laboratory instrument technique and field instrument design with fiber optical probes. Deadline: 5:00 PM EST February 1, 2009. http://fellowships.hq.nasa.gov/gsrp/research/detail.cfm?oppID=651

Posted by Keith Cowing at 9:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Comets are the deep freezers of dust and ices extant in the early solar nebula at the time of the formation of the giant planets. Astromineralogy is the study of the chemical and structural properties of the dust grains. Studying the dust mineralogy in comets and protoplanetary disks, and, in particular, the amorphous and crystalline silicates, probes the relative abundances of interstellar grains and grains thermally altered or condensed in the inner hot regions of disks, respectively. Research combines analysis and modeling of Spitzer and ground-based spectroscopy of comets as well as radiative transfer modeling of protoplanetary disks to further our understanding of the thermal processing and radial transport of dust in protoplanetary disks at the early epochs of planetesimal formation. Deadline: 5:00 PM EST February 1, 2009. http://fellowships.hq.nasa.gov/gsrp/research/detail.cfm?oppID=30

Posted by Keith Cowing at 9:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This research focuses on the general circulation and climate system of Mars. There have been 7 successful spacecraft missions to Mars in the past 10 years returning valuable new data about the thermal structure of the atmosphere, the seasonal cycles of dust, water, and carbon dioxide, and the nature of the surface and subsurface. Our group interprets these data using a Mars General Circulation Model. We use the model to simulate the observations and determine what physical and dynamical processes are responsible for them. The model includes a full surface heat budget, a cloud microphysics package, a two-stream radiation code for gases and aerosols, a level-2 boundary layer scheme, mass conserving tracer transport algorithms, and CO2 condensation/sublimation physics. Topics we are currently studying include coupling between the present day dust, water, and CO2 cycles, the effect of orbital changes on past climates, and the nature of the early Martian atmosphere when surface pressures were thought to be higher than they are today. The goal of this work is to understand how the Martian atmosphere and climate system have evolved through time. Deadline: Feb 1, 2009 http://fellowships.hq.nasa.gov/gsrp/research/detail.cfm?oppID=33

Posted by Keith Cowing at 9:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Members of the Astrochemistry Laboratory propose and carry out measurements, observations and modeling of key rates and/or fundamental quantities that control important chemical processes in astrophysical and planetary environments or that yield the chemical and isotopic compositions of solar system bodies. Members also perform simulations of natural processes or synthesize simplified analog samples of natural materials in order to better understand the unexpected consequences of natural events or to record the spectroscopic properties of well characterized samples for comparison with observations. Deadline: Feb 1, 2009 http://fellowships.hq.nasa.gov/gsrp/research/detail.cfm?oppID=672

Source: [NASA Graduate Student Researchers Program (GSRP)]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We are engaged in developing the near-infrared camera (NIRCam) and mid-infrared instrument (MIRI) of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and are planning on using these instruments to observe transiting exoplanets. This work is being done in conjunction with exoplanet theorists and other JWST team members and should predict what scientific results will be possible with JWST. We are also investigating direct imaging coronagraphic exoplanet missions and are developing a state-of-the-art Phase Induced Amplitude Apodization coronagraph testbed in our Ames Coronagraph Experiment Laboratory. Deadline: February 1st, 2009 http://fellowships.hq.nasa.gov/gsrp/research/detail.cfm?oppID=848

Source: [NASA Graduate Student Researchers Program (GSRP)]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Our group’s work focuses on characterizing microbial ecology and biogeochemistry in natural ecosystems that are relevant in an astrobiological context. We are particularly interested in understanding how the distribution and activities of microbial populations are shaped by energy flow. http://fellowships.hq.nasa.gov/gsrp/research/detail.cfm?oppID=850 Deadline: 5:00 PM EST February 1, 2009.

Source: [NASA Graduate Student Researchers Program (GSRP)]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This amendment announces an additional proposal opportunity for Education and Public Outreach supplemental awards. Principal Investigators (PIs) of selected Science Mission Directorate (SMD) research investigations may propose for Education or Outreach awards as supplements to their research award. Two different pathways are offered: $15K education pathway proposals and $10K outreach pathway proposals.

Continue reading "ROSES-08 Amendment 33: Additional Proposal Opportunity for ROSES Education and Public Outreach Supplemental Awards" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Academy is a summer research internship that focuses on leadership, team building, and conducting applied research with NASA scientists in science, information technology and engineering. The program is a 10 week immersive summer internship for undergraduate juniors, seniors and first year graduate students. The internship includes a stipend from the State Space Grant Office up to $5000, housing, food stipend, transportation and travel expenses.

An abstract of each project at NASA Ames Research Center is available at http://academy.arc.nasa.gov/. Applications will be accepted through January 26, 2009.

Source: NAI Newsletter

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The SETI Institute is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2009 REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) program in Astrobiology. Undergraduate students in fields such as astronomy, biology, geology, chemistry, and physics are invited to apply to spend 10 weeks in the San Francisco Bay area working on a scientific research project in the field of astrobiology. Students receive a stipend, travel, and living expenses. Applications are due by February 2, 2009.

For more information, visit http://www.seti.org/reu or contact Cynthia Phillips, phillips@seti.org, 650-810-0230.

Source: NAI Newsletter

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The next Astrobiology Graduate Student Conference (AbGradCon) will be held July 17 - 20 2009 at the University of Washington in Seattle. The primary objective of AbGradCon is to improve the future of astrobiology research by bringing together in a unique setting the early-career astrobiologists (graduate students and post-doctoral fellows within 2 years of finishing their Ph.D.) who will lead such research in the years to come. The conference is unique in that it is a student-led meeting, from the organization to the presentations. AbGradCon strives to remove the "pressures" of typical scientific meetings by providing a relaxed atmosphere in which presentations and round-table discussions are fostered along with numerous social activities. AbGradCon will also be hosted in the virtual world of Second Life at the NASA CoLab Sun Amphitheater.

For more information: http://tinyurl.com/abgradcon09

Source: NAI Newsletter

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Astrobiology Careers page is a compilation of career opportunities available to astrobiologists. It is available at http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/careers/ If you would like to add an opportunity to this page, please email Estelle Dodson at Estelle.Dodson@nasa.gov

Source: NAI Newsletter

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Universities Space Research Association's Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) in Houston, Texas, is accepting applications for the position of Senior Staff Scientist. The successful applicant will perform outstanding basic scientific research in the lunar and planetary sciences, attract funding for their personal research activities, present research results in publications in refereed journals and at conferences, likely have an active role in space missions, participate in the academic community for his/her field, support NASA through activities on committees and panels, and contribute to the dissemination of lunar and planetary science information throughout the academic community and to the general public. He/she will have mentoring roles for junior scientists, postdoctoral fellows, university as well as school-age students, and will work to identify, pursue and secure new funding opportunities for the Institute and for USRA.

Continue reading "Senior Staff Scientist Position at the Lunar and Planetary Institute" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NAI - Nordic Summer School: "Water, Ice and the Origin of Life in the Universe"

Iceland, 29 June to 13 July 2009

The NASA Astrobiology Institute and the Nordic Astrobiology Network will conduct a summer school on the role of water in the evolution of life in the cosmos - in Iceland on the above dates. The school is intended for students and post-docs in astrobiology-related subjects (biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, geosciences etc.) The school will be organized in three sections:

* An introductory lecture course
* Excursions to several places in Iceland of astrobiological interest (hot springs, glaciers, geysers, Mars-like environments)
* A lab course on the geochemistry and extremophile community of hot springs (no previous experience in microbiological lab work and field research needed)

Continue reading "Nordic Summer School: "Water, Ice and the Origin of Life in the Universe"" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Many opportunities and programs are available to students at NASA Centers. For more information about these opportunities, please see: http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/careers/student-opportunities-centers

Source: NAI Newsletter

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The pilot-test of an NAI-supported curriculum entitled Astrobiology: An Integrated Science Approach will help kick-off the State of Maine's new Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Initiative. This initiative is the subject of a press conference to be given by Maine's Governor, The Honorable John E. Baldacci, on November 17th.

The curriculum was developed with significant input from the NAI Ames Team led by Dave Des Marais, who will speak at the press conference. Much of the team's research in astrobiology is captured in the curriculum.

Continue reading "Astrobiology Curriculum Pilot To Kick-Off Maine STEM Initiative" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A new collaboration between NAI and the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) enabled the production of a special astrobiology-themed event at this year's NABT 2008 Professional Development Conference, held in Memphis, TN, October 15-18th. ASM's K-12 Committee Chair graciously invited NAI to join them in making astrobiology the theme of the day-long event that ASM hosts at NABT each year. E/PO Leads from NAI's MBL and IPTAI teams, in collaboration with exobiology researcher Brad Bebout from NASA Ames, joined several astrobiologists from ASM's ranks in sharing lectures and classroom materials about microbial life in extreme environments. NABT supported the event by advertising it in their newsletter and highlighting it in the conference program.

Continue reading "NAI Teams with ASM to Share Astrobiology at National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) Conference" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Scientists from the NAI Ames Team have teamed with rangers from Lassen Volcanic National Park to create the Lassen Astrobiology Internship Program. Ten high school sophomores from the rural areas around the park will hike - and later on in the year, snowshoe - to three locations within the Park several times throughout the 2008-09 school year, collecting water samples and other data at various locations. The samples will be analyzed, and the data provided to researchers on the NAI Ames Team to increase their knowledge about the microbial populations in the diverse hydrothermal areas and extreme environments within the Park.

Continue reading "NAI ARC Team Initiates New Education Project with Lassen" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NASA Graduate Student Researchers Program (GSRP) is an Agency-wide fellowship program (also called GSRP Training Grants in what follows) for graduate study leading to masters or doctoral degrees in the fields of science, mathematics, and engineering related to NASA research and development. This twelve month award strongly encourages a research experience at the NASA center extending the GSRP Fellowship.

Continue reading "Applications Being Accepted for NASA Graduate Student Researchers Program (GSRP)" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research in Astrobiology, a partnership between NAI and the American Philosophical Society (APS), is now accepting applications for astrobiological field studies for 2009. Graduate students, postdoctoral students, and junior scientists and scholars are eligible to apply for travel and related expenses, up to $5000. For more information, please see http://www.amphilsoc.org/grants/astrobiology.htm

Source: NAI Newsletter

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The next Astrobiology Graduate Student Conference (AbGradCon) will be held July 17 - 20 2009 at the University of Washington in Seattle. The primary objective of AbGradCon is to improve the future of astrobiology research by bringing together in a unique setting the early-career astrobiologists (graduate students and post-doctoral fellows within 2 years of finishing their Ph.D.) who will lead such research in the years to come. The conference is unique in that it is a student-led meeting, from the organization to the presentations. AbGradCon strives to remove the "pressures" of typical scientific meetings by providing a relaxed atmosphere in which presentations and round-table discussions are fostered along with numerous social activities. AbGradCon will also be hosted in the virtual world of Second Life at the NASA CoLab Sun Amphitheater.

For more information: http://tinyurl.com/abgradcon09

Source: NAI Newsletter

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI-MIRS Program provides opportunities for researchers from qualified minority institutions to initiate joint partnerships with NAI researchers in the field of astrobiology. The NAI-MIRS program provides summer sabbaticals, follow-up support, and travel opportunities for faculty and students from minority institutions. The application deadline for summer 2009 is March 16. For more information, visit http://www.nai-mirs.org.

Source: NAI Newsletter

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Starting January 1, 2009, a new 4-year program will investigate hydrothermal systems on the Mid-Cayman Spreading Center (MCSC) under NASA's ASTEP program - a joint collaboration between Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) and Duke University Marine Laboratory (DUML). The results of the work will be used to plan astrobiological exploration of any planetary body that can host hydrothermal circulation (for example, Europa).

Continue reading "2 PhD Student and 2 Postdoctoral Researcher Positions- Hydrothermal Activity on the Mid-Cayman Spreading Center" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NASA announces a call for graduate fellowship proposals to the NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (NESSF) program for the 2009-2010 academic year. This call for fellowship proposals solicits applications from accredited U.S. universities on behalf of individuals pursuing Master of Science (M.Sc.) or Doctoral (Ph.D.) degrees in Earth and space sciences, or related disciplines. The purpose of NESSF is to ensure continued training of a highly qualified workforce in disciplines needed to achieve NASA's scientific goals. Awards resulting from the competitive selection will be made in the form of training grants to the respective universities.

Continue reading "NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (NESSF) Program" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dina Bower: Advisor: Andrew Steele, Carnegie Institution of Washington, NAI CIW Team Topic: Experimental Investigations on the Effects of Diagenesis on the Formation of Fe,Ti-oxides (Pseudorutile) in Microfossils: Using Minerals as Biosignatures in Ancient Rocks

Mark Claire: Advisor: Jim Kasting, Pennsylvania State University and NAI VPL Team
Topic: Biogenic Sulfur - From Biospheres to Biosignatures

Source: NAI Newsletter

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI supports postdoctoral fellows hosted at NAI teams through the NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP). The NPP provides talented postdoctoral scientists and engineers with valuable opportunities to engage in ongoing NASA research programs and serves as a source of talent to ensure the continued quality of the NASA research workforce. The deadline for the next round of applications is November 1. For more information on the program, please see http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/funding/nai-postdoctoral-fellowship-program/ and http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc .

As a reminder, all current NAI advisors, from CAN 3 and CAN 4 teams, are eligible as advisors to host postdoctoral fellows.

Source: NAI Newsletter

Posted by Keith Cowing at 7:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NASA Exoplanet Science Institute announces the introduction of the Sagan Postdoctoral Fellowship Program and solicits applications for fellowships to begin in the fall of 2009.

The Sagan Fellowships support outstanding recent postdoctoral scientists to conduct independent research that is broadly related to the science goals of the NASA Exoplanet Exploration area. The primary goal of missions within this program is to discover and characterize planetary systems and Earth-like planets around nearby stars.

Continue reading "Carl Sagan Postdoctoral Fellowships in Exoplanet Exploration" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 6:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI supports postdoctoral fellows hosted at NAI teams through the NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP). The NPP provides talented postdoctoral scientists and engineers with valuable opportunities to engage in ongoing NASA research programs and serves as a source of talent to ensure the continued quality of the NASA research workforce. The deadline for the next round of applications is November 1. For more information on the program, please see http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/funding/nai-postdoctoral-fellowship-program/ and http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc. [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 6:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tune in for the all new 'Astrobiology Rap', written by Jonathan Chase for the latest Astrobiology Magazine European Edition (AMEE) -- the Nordic Invasion.

Jon is an early career researcher in science communication. Multi-talented, Jon has undergraduate degrees in both Aerospace Engineering, and Science and Science Fiction. As a post-graduate practitioner in communicating science, Jon is actively involved in a number of science communication activities.

Continue reading "Astrobiology Rap (Video)" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 3:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Please join us as this year's students present the results of their summer's research. The 2008 Summer Undergraduate Internship in Astrobiology is a ten-week internship in astrobiology held each year at Goddard Space Flight Center.

Date/Time: Wednesday, August 6, 2008 11am Pacific

Continue reading "Goddard Center for Astrobiology Summer Student Presentations" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 5:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2008 Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research in Astrobiology:

Continue reading "NAI/APS Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research Recipients Announced" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 3:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI congratulates the faculty sabbatical awardees for the NAI MIRS program for 2008. They are:

Dr. Prabhakar Misra, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Howard University, who will be working with Dr. Paul Mahafft at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, on a project entitled "Spectroscopy and Analytical Protocols for Organic Molecules of Relevance to the Origin of Life on Mars and Earth."

Dr. Erik Melchiorre, Associate Professor of Geology, California State University, San Bernardino, who will work with Drs. Karen Meech, Mike Mottl and Jim Cowen at the University of Hawaii, at Manoa. His study is entitled, "Planetary Habitability and the Origins of Life: Evaluation of Mineralogical Evidence for Extremophile Colonization within Terrestrial Subduction Zones. "

For more information about the NAI MIRS program see http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/funding/nai-minority-institution-research-support [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 3:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Applications are due on July 1, 2008 for the NASA Postdcoctoral Program. The NAI will also be participating in the next cycle of applications, due November 1. More information can be found at http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/funding/nai-postdoctoral-fellowship-program/ [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 3:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The application deadline has been extended to Tuesday May 27 for 3 NAI scholarships to graduate students or postdocs, studying in the US, to attend the 2008 MedILS Summer School on Life in Extreme Conditions. This session, held from August 3 - 9 in Split, Croatia, will provide a venue to share current knowledge and develop new ideas and research projects around the topic of life in extreme conditions. The main focus of the school is on the evolution and maintenance of life in habitats such as eternal ice, hydrothermal vents, the bottom of the ocean, salt lakes, or other planets. Leading international lecturers will inform the participants about the latest developments and theories.

Continue reading "Last Chance for NAI Scholarships to the Summer School on Life in Extreme Conditions" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Video games and virtual worlds are a great way to inspire kids' interest in science and technology. The President's Commission on Implementation of US Space Exploration Policy reports that "...video and simulation games are not only a multi-billion dollar industry, they are proving to be effective as learning devices for people of all ages" ... "The potential for converting hobbies and amusements to more educational pursuits is enormous."

Continue reading "Astrobiology Meets the Video Game: Spore" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 2:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The competition was fierce! Of 37 posters representing the full gamut of astrobiology research areas, six finalists moved into second round judging, and four awards were made. Please join NAI in thanking our judges and congratulating this year's winners:

Continue reading "NAI Student Poster Competition at AbSciCon 2008" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI is offering 3 scholarships to graduate students or postdocs, studying in the US, to attend the 2008 MedILS Summer School on Life in Extreme Conditions. This session, held from August 3 - 9 in Split, Croatia, will provide a venue to share current knowledge and develop new ideas and research projects around the topic of life in extreme conditions. The main focus of the school is on the evolution and maintenance of life in habitats such as eternal ice, hydrothermal vents, the bottom of the ocean, salt lakes, or other planets. Leading international lecturers will inform the participants about the latest developments and theories.

Continue reading "Summer School on Life in Extreme Conditions" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As part of its celebration of the 50th anniversary of its founding, the Space Studies Board (SSB) has expanded the scope of the Space Policy Intern program it has operated since 1992 by initiating the Lloyd V. Berkner Space Policy Internships. The goal of the program is to provide promising undergraduate and graduate students with the opportunity to work in the area of civil space research policy in the Nation's capital, under the aegis of the SSB.

Continue reading "Autumn 2008 Lloyd V. Berkner Space Policy Internship at the National Research Council's Space Studies Board" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yuri's Night is an international celebration held on April 12 every year to commemorate the launch of the first human, Yuri Gagarin, into space and the launch of the first U.S. Space Shuttle. NAI Central staff, along with several Astrobiology graduate students who were in town for AbSciCon, co-hosted an exhibit with Electronic Arts (EA) at Yuri's Night 2008 at Ames Research Center, which drew a crowd of over 7,000 people.

Continue reading "NAI Central and Astrobiology Grad Students Participate in Yuri's Night Exhibit" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NASA is accepting applications from science and engineering post-docs, recent PhDs, and doctoral students for its 20th Annual Planetary Science Summer School, which will hold two separate sessions this summer (21-25 July and 4-8 August) at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. During the program, student teams will carry out the equivalent of an early mission concept study, prepare a proposal authorization review presentation, present it to a review board, and receive feedback. At the end of the week, students will have a clearer understanding of the life cycle of a space mission; relationships between mission design, cost, and schedule; and the tradeoffs necessary to stay within cost and schedule while preserving the quality of science.

Applications are due 1 May 2008. Partial financial support is available for a limited number of individuals. Further information is available at http://pscischool.jpl.nasa.gov.

Posted by Keith Cowing at 6:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics invites applications for a post-doctoral researcher in the area of Mars geology, starting summer 2008. Researchers in the disciplines of geology/geomorphology, geochemistry, geophysics, hydrology, or astrobiology that study the history of water on the Red Planet are encouraged to apply.

Potential applicants are welcome to contact Brian Hynek

(hynek@lasp.colorado.edu) for additional information and to discuss research interests. Send a curriculum vitae, up to 3 articles that are published or in submission, a brief research proposal (up to 2 pages), and the names and contact information of three references.

Applications for this position will be accepted until the position is filled. Submit application materials via e-mail to: HRADS@lasp.colorado.edu or mail to LASP, University of Colorado at Boulder, 392 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309-0392. In your correspondence, please include the code PDAM0208.

All final applicants being considered for employment are subject to a background investigation including a criminal history check and if necessary, motor vehicle histories check. The University of Colorado at Boulder is committed to diversity and equality in education and employment.

Posted by Keith Cowing at 6:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI is very pleased to announce the selection of three NAI Fellows, who will receive awards through the NASA Postdoctoral Program.

The three Fellows are:

Daiki Horikawa, Advisor: Lynn Rothschild, NAI's SETI Institute Team, Tolerance of tardigrades to extremes: Implications for the existence of multicellular organisms in extraterrestrial environments.

Olivia Mason, Advisor: Jim Cowen, NAI's University of Hawaii Team, Phylogenetic and functional diversity of microorganisms associated with crustal fluids

Steven Mielke, Advisor Nancy Kiang, NAI's VPL - University of Washington Team, Molecular-Environmental Limits of Terrestrial Photosynthesis: Implications for Extrasolar Biosignatures

We welcome the new Fellows to the NAI.

The deadline for the next NAI opportunity for NPP Fellowships is July 1, 2008. For additional information about the program see http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc .

Posted by Keith Cowing at 6:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This could be your 90 seconds of fame! NAI is forming a partnership with the American Society of Microbiology's MicrobeWorld radio program, http://www.microbeworld.org, and we're looking for NAI scientists to be subjects of these short segments. They are broadcast on numerous radio stations across the country in the style of NPR's "Earth and Sky" series, and are also are available as podcasts (downloads are in the hundreds of thousands per year). If you're interested, please contact NAI's E/PO Coordinator, Daniella Scalice, daniella.m.scalice@nasa.gov.

Posted by Keith Cowing at 6:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Calling all students who are presenting posters at AbSciCon 2008! You're invited to enter your poster in the NAI Student Poster Competition. First prize is $1500, Second prize is $1000, and Third prize is $500! The DEADLINE TO ENTER IS MONDAY, MARCH 17TH. Judges will be recruited from the astrobiology community, and winners will be announced at the start of the afternoon plenary session on Thursday, April 17th. Information on eligibility requirements and online registration can be found here: http://nai.nasa.gov/postercompetition/. NAI is pleased to be continuing this astrobiology community event! Contact Daniella Scalice at NAI Central with questions: daniella.m.scalice@nasa.gov

Posted by Keith Cowing at 6:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI-MIRS Program provides opportunities for researchers from qualified minority institutions to initiate joint partnerships with researchers in the field of astrobiology. The NAI-MIRS program provides summer sabbaticals, follow-up support, and travel opportunities for faculty and students from minority institutions. The application deadline for summer 2008 is March 7th. For more information, visit http://www.nai-mirs.org.

[Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The SETI Institute is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2008 REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) program in Astrobiology. Undergraduate students in fields such as astronomy, biology, geology, chemistry, and physics are invited to apply to spend 10 weeks in the San Francisco Bay area working on a scientific research project in the field of astrobiology. Students receive a stipend, travel, and living expenses. Applications are due by February 1, 2008. For more information, visit http://www.seti.org/reu or contact Cynthia Phillips, phillips@seti.org, 650-810-0230.

Poster can be downloaded from: http://www.seti.org/pdfs/reuposter-2008.pdf

[Source: NAI newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Chris Impey from the University of Arizona is the author of the new book "The Living Cosmos: Our Search for Life in the Universe." Published by Random House in December, the book has been met with critical acclaim, especially in this review from the LA Times: http://www.latimes.com/features/books/la-et-book28dec28,1,1847735.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

[Source: NAI newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Every semester, NAI sponsors an online course for teachers in astrobiology through the National Teacher Enhancement Network at Montana State University. Teachers login to the course at a time of day that best fits their schedule; it's necessary to connect at least 4 times a week, giving a commitment of 9-12 hours each week to stay current and successfully complete this 3 credit course. This semester's course runs from January 21 - May 2, 2008. For more information, go to: http://btc.montana.edu/courses/aspx/nten.aspx?TheID=162

[Source: NAI newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Upcoming Summer Astrobiology Workshops for Teachers
Astrobiology Summer Science Experience for Teachers (ASSET)
Application Deadline: February 15th
Workshop Dates: 27 July - 2 August, 2008
Workshop Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Website: http://www.seti.org/asset/

Astrobiology Laboratory Institute for Instructors (ALI'I)
Application Deadline: March 28th
Workshop Dates: 13-18 July, 2008
Workshop Location: Honolulu, HI
Website: http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/UHNAI/epo/alii.htm

Earth's History: Interactions between Life and the Environment
Application Deadline: ongoing
Workshops Dates: 22-27 June, 2008
Workshop Location: Penn State University
Website: http://teachscience.psu.edu/earths_history.html

Evolution: How Important Is It to a Good Science Education
Application Deadline: ongoing
Workshops Dates: 13-18 July, 2008
Workshop Location: Penn State University
Website: http://teachscience.psu.edu/evolution.html

[Source: NAI newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In recognition of the pioneering role Stanley L. Miller played in our understanding of the origins of life, ISSOL, The International Astrobiology Society, shall present at each triennial meeting a Stanley L. Miller Award for outstanding contributions by a young scientist (under the age of 37) to origins of life research. The award is based on scientific merit without regard to nationality. The recipient will be honored during the awards banquet at the close of each triennial meeting. The next ISSOL meeting will be held in Florence from August 24-29, 2008 (http://www.dbag.unifi.it/issol2008/).

Continue reading "ISSOL Seeks Nominations for New Stanley L. Miller Award" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Application Deadline - March 7, 2008

The NAI-MIRS Program provides opportunities for researchers from qualified minority institutions to initiate joint partnerships with researchers in the field of astrobiology. The NAI-MIRS program provides summer sabbaticals, follow-up support, and travel opportunities for faculty and students from minority institutions. The application deadline for summer 2008 is March 7th. For more information, visit http://www.nai-mirs.org. [Source: NAI newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI is pleased to sponsor travel scholarships for four graduate students (senior level) or postdoctoral fellows (with less than two years of postdoctoral training) to attend the Third International Polar and Alpine Microbiology Conference, to be held in Banff, Alberta, Canada, May 11-15, 2008. See the conference website for more details: http://www.polaralpinemicrobiology.com/. Each award will provide up to $2000 to defray the cost of economy airfare from US or Canadian cities and local travel, registration and up to four nights lodging at the workshop venue (shared room, if at all possible). Travel funds will be awarded on a competitive basis.

Continue reading "NAI Travel Scholarships Available for the International Conference on Polar and Alpine Microbiology" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Application Deadline - February 15, 2008

The Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research in Astrobiology, a partnership between NAI and the American Philosophical Society (APS), is now accepting applications for astrobiological field studies for 2008. Graduate students, postdoctoral students, and junior scientists and scholars are eligible to apply for travel and related expenses, up to $5000. For more information, please see http://www.amphilsoc.org/grants/astrobiology.htm

[Source: NAI newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NASA Science Mission Directorate to Sponsor NASA Academy of Program, Project, and Engineering Leadership (APPEL) Mission Principal Investigator Training Course

Beginning in 2008, the NASA Science Mission Directorate (SMD) will be sponsoring a series of offerings of a one-week Mission Principal Investigator (PI) Training Course to help mission PIs lead NASA science missions more effectively.

Continue reading "NASA offers Mission PI Training Course" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Since we cannot put stars in a laboratory, astrophysicists had to wait till the invention of computers before becoming laboratory scientists. For half a century now, we have been conducting experiments in our virtual laboratories. However, we ourselves have remained behind the keyboard, with the screen of the monitor separating us from the world we are simulating. Recently, 3D on-line technology, developed first for games but now deployed in virtual worlds like Second Life, is beginning to make it possible for astrophysicists to enter their virtual labs themselves, in virtual form as avatars. This has several advantages, from new possibilities to explore the results of the simulations to a shared presence in a virtual lab with remote collaborators on different continents.

Piet Hut (IAS, Princeton) Comments: 10 pages, 2 figures, Conference proceedings for IAUS246 'Dynamical Evolution of Dense Stellar Systems', ed. E. Vesperini (Chief Editor), M. Giersz, A. Sills, Capri, Sept. 2007 Subjects: Astrophysics (astro-ph)

Full story

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Oceans and Life on Planets: Remote Exploration of Seafloor Microbial Activities

In the spirit of the interdisciplinary nature of astrobiology, the course is open to graduate students in oceanography and/or microbiology, as well as to other graduate students in science and engineering who wish to pursue an intensive learning experience. Deadline for applications: 31 January 2008.

Continue reading "Summer Course for Grad Students at Friday Harbor Marine Biology Lab (University of Washington)" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This two-year position is jointly funded by the NASA Astrobiology Institute's Virtual Planetary Laboratory (VPL) and the Astrobiology Program (AP) at the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle. The Virtual Planetary Laboratory, based at the University of Washington (http://vpl.astro.washington.edu), is an interdisciplinary research team of 40 members at 22 institutions. The VPL team undertakes interdisciplinary modeling research on the formation of habitable planets; their interaction with their parent star; the environments of the Early Earth; the plausible range of habitable extrasolar terrestrial environments; and the nature and detectability of remotely-sensed biosignatures.

Continue reading "Astrobiology Postdoctoral Position at the University of Washington" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 11:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Spaceward Bound is an educational program designed to train the next generation of space explorers. Students participate in the exploration of scientifically interesting but remote and extreme environments on Earth as analogs for human exploration of the moon and Mars.

Continue reading "Apply Today for Upcoming NASA Opportunities: Spaceward Bound Fieldwork Opportunity for Students" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UCLA has launched an initiative to grow the Geosciences under the theme "Surface envelopes of Earth and planets: Processes and interactions" (see EOS, November 27, p. 534). The Department of Earth and Space Sciences and the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics seek a talented and creative scientist with experience and interests in research and teaching in one or more of the biogeosciences (geobiology, geomicrobiology, paleobiology, astrobiology, biogeochemistry) for appointment as an Assistant or Associate Professor.

Continue reading "Astrobiology Faculty Position at UCLA" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 11:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

AbGradCon 08, an astrobiology conference for early-career astrobiologists, will take place on 13-14 April 2008 in Santa Clara, CA, USA (immediately before AbSciCon). AbGradCon is open to graduate students studying subjects relevant to astrobiology, and to those who have received their PhD in such subjects within the previous two years. Registration will be free and will be open shortly. There will be some funding available for travel grants. For more information, visit the AbGradCon website at http://people.ku.edu/~dimitra/agc08/agc08.html [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NAI Central is pleased to announce the news that its recent proposal to the NASA Science Mission Directorate E/PO Program entitled "NASA and the Navajo Nation 2: The Moon" has been selected for funding. This award will enable the continued collaboration with leaders and educators from the Navajo Nation toward the production of educational materials which bring together astrobiology science and Navajo cultural knowledge, in particular of the Moon. For more information, please contact Daniella Scalice, daniella.m.scalice@nasa.gov.

[Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The next application deadline for NAI applicants to the NASA Postdoctoral Program is Nov. 1. For more information, please see http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc/ [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Penn State will continue its summer program for undergraduates with renewed funding (three years) from the National Science Foundation. Each summer the program supports 10 students from universities and colleges across the U.S., between their freshman and senior years, to conduct research with astrobiologists for 10 weeks at Penn State (early June to early August). Activities also include a behind-the-scenes field trip to NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Headquarters, the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, as well as weekly seminars, discussion groups and a research symposium. The program covers the cost of travel, room, and meals and provides a $4,000 stipend. For further information see http://evo.bio.psu.edu/asp/.

Source: NAI Newsletter

Posted by Keith Cowing at 7:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As noted in the Spring 2007 newsletter, nominations for the following ASGSB awards are due no later than 5 PM PST, October 1, 2007.  Please note that the individual selected must be at the meeting to receive the award.

Previous winners of the awards can be found at http://www.asgsb.org/awards.html

1. Thora W. Halstead Young Investigator Award: This award honors a young scientist who exemplifies Thora's drive and enthusiasm for science, and who has made significant contributions to the field of space biology.

2. Orr Reynolds Distinguished Service Award: This award is made to an individual for distinguished service to the Society "above and beyond the call of duty."

3. Founder's Award: This award is the highest honor given by the Society. It is made to a member of the Society for distinguished scientific contributions to and leadership in the field of gravitational and space biology.

The final recipients of these awards are chosen by the Awards Committee, in consultation with the current President and the Executive Director. Nominations from the Society's membership are very strongly encouraged and may be submitted to Chair Emily Holton or to the Executive Director.

Nominations should be accompanied by the name and professional address of the candidate and a short Curriculum Vitae, along with a paragraph outlining why the candidate is particularly deserving of the award. The most direct mechanism for submissions is by e-mail to Dr. Emily Holton, Chair, Awards Committee, eholton@mail.arc.nasa.gov

Emily Morey-Holton, Ph.D.
Chair, Awards Committee

Posted by Keith Cowing at 3:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Lerner Publishing Group has just released a new "Cool Science" title for 4-8th grade readers called "Astrobiology." From early imaginings about life on the Moon to modern observations of Mars, Europa, and Titan, this book gives an easy to follow, historical context for the search for life elsewhere. http://tinyurl.com/38ase7 The book's author, "Dr. Fred" Bortz, engages students directly through school visits and other events. Learn more at his website: http://www.fredbortz.com/ [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Robotics Alliance Project website will host an online course for college students on Aug. 6. The course prepares students to design space communication in the inner solar system. Experts in academia and government will provide over a dozen lectures. The format includes live web broadcasts, chat windows for Q and A, collection of mathematical communication programs, archival of events, student bulletin boards, and online finals. The students ask questions in chat windows and a robotics expert answers these questions globally through the web stream.

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"In July 2007 several hundred students will get look over the shoulder of space researchers at a remote research base in the Canadian arctic. The place: Devon Island, a place many call "Mars on Earth". Our team will visit Devon Island to conduct 5 days of webcasts and other instructional activities spanning the period of 16-20 July 2007. Our team consists of 4 individuals: veteran astronauts William Readdy and Leroy Chiao, horticulturist/space researcher Matthew Reyes, and space biologist Keith Cowing (who is also the team lead for this project)."

More information

Posted by Keith Cowing at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"In July 2007 several hundred students will get look over the shoulder of space researchers at a remote research base in the Canadian arctic. The place: Devon Island, a place many call "Mars on Earth". Our team will visit Devon Island to conduct 5 days of webcasts and other instructional activities spanning the period of 16-20 July 2007. Our team consists of 4 individuals: veteran astronauts William Readdy and Leroy Chiao, horticulturist/space researcher Matthew Reyes, and space biologist Keith Cowing (who is also the team lead for this project)."

More information

Posted by Keith Cowing at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On Monday, June 18, 2007, astrobiologist Robert Hazen of the Carnegie Institution and George Mason University, will provide insights into the emergence of life on our planet--and perhaps others--during a Directorate for Biological Sciences Distinguished Lecture at the National Science Foundation (NSF) in Arlington, Va.

Continue reading "Astrobiologist Robert Hazen lecture at NSF on the origin of life" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NAI is offering ten full-funded scholarships for students who wish to attend the 2007 International Summer School in Astrobiology, Santander, Spain, July 2-6. The topic for this year's school is "Mars Exploration: The next ten years." The summer schools are co-sponsored by the Spanish Centro de Astrobiologia and the NASA Astrobiology Institute. The application deadline is May 31. For more information, please see: http://nai.nasa.gov/UIMP/MarsExpl [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 3:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI Minority Institution Research Support (MIRS) Program is pleased to announce the selection of two faculty sabbatical research awards to Abel Mendez, from the University of Puerto Rico, Arecibo, and to Don Walter from South Carolina State University. The NAI-MIRS program, which is funded by the NAI, provides opportunities for researchers, from qualified minority serving institutions, to initiate joint partnerships with researchers in the field of astrobiology.

Continue reading "NAI Announces Two MIRS Sabbatical Awards" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 3:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Irene Schneider from NAI's Penn State Team is spending two weeks at the Mars Desert Research Station in a simulated expedition to the Red Planet. The last of the 2006-2007 season's missions, the team's focus is "Emergency Preparedness" and includes simulation and protocol development for EVA (Extravehicular Activity) emergencies, radiation poisoning prevention, EVA radiation emergency protocols and an emergency air quantity/location study. Learn more at: http://live.psu.edu/story/23541 [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We're getting AbGradCon back on track! The next installment of AbGradCon (The Astrobiology Graduate Conference) will be held July 14 & 15, 2007 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The goal of AbGradCon is to foster communication and collaboration within the broad astrobiology-related graduate student and postdoc community, and to give early graduate students a chance to practice speaking in a collegial atmosphere. AbGradCon 2007 @ Bioastronomy is being organized in cooperation with the IAU Bioastronomy Symposium being held July 16 - 20, one of the largest astrobiology-related conferences of 2007.

Continue reading "AbGradCon 2007 @ Bioastronomy" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Applications are due May 15, 2007, for NASA's 19th Annual Planetary Science Summer School, which will hold two sessions this summer, July 23-27 and August 6-10, at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California.

Continue reading "NASA Planetary Science Summer School- APPLICATIONS DUE MAY 15" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Herb Thier, Ph.D., E/PO lead for NAI's UC Berkeley Team, has recently been selected as a scholar by the Fulbright Senior Specialists Program. Dr. Thier will work with the staff of the Clore Garden of Science, part of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, to design activities for teachers to enhance their field trips to the museum, as well as deliver a short course on science education curriculum development to graduate students at the Department of Science Teaching. Congratulations Herb! [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NAI graduate student Irene Schneider from Jim Kasting's group at Penn State has been selected by NASA/Mars Society as crew physicist for the upcoming expedition 61 for the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS). MDRS Crew 61/Spaceward Bound Crew Five is a two week mission simulation carried out in the dessert of Utah where NASA, in collaboration with The Mars Society, runs simulations for future manned missions to the red planet. There she will be developing and helping implement the first EVA emergency radiation protocols. Congratulations Irene! [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

From Hawai'i to Massachusetts, workshops offering hands-on, in-the-field, in-the-lab experiences for teachers are being held this summer by NAI teams and others. The workshops feature cutting edge astrobiology research delivered by scientists and education professionals, as well as inquiry- and standards-based activities ready for the classroom. Many offer stipends and/or education credits. Click here for offerings from NAI's Teams at MBL, Penn State, University of Hawai'i, and the SETI Institute, as well as the Lunar and Planetary Institute. http://nai.nasa.gov/teachers/index.cfm#7 [source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Continuing the Spaceward Bound series of field expeditions, in March a team of 40 teachers will be traveling to the Mojave Desert and working side-by-side with NASA scientists who search for life in extreme environments that closely approximate what they expect to find on other planets. Why the Mojave -- an inhospitable, sun-drenched spot in the California Desert? This natural setting presents scientists with opportunities to study environments that are analogous to what explorers will find on the Moon and Mars.

Continue reading "Spaceward Bound Phase III - Expedition: Mojave 2007" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI Minority Institution Research Support (MIRS) Program provides opportunities for researchers from qualified Minority Institutions to initiate joint partnerships with researchers in the field of astrobiology. The NAI-MIRS program provides summer sabbaticals, follow-up support, and travel opportunities for faculty and students from Minority Institutions.

Continue reading "NAI Minority Institution Research Support Program Application Deadline - April 2nd" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI Postdoctoral Fellowship Program provides opportunities for Ph.D. scientists and engineers of unique promise and ability to perform research on problems largely of their own choosing, yet compatible with the research interests of NASA and the member teams of the NASA Astrobiology Institute. The next award cycle in which the NAI will participate has a March 1, 2007 application deadline. For additional information about the program see http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc . [Source: Astrobiology Institute Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Astrobiology Summer Institute for Undergraduate Science Majors - June 25-29, 2007, University of Washington, Seattle

This June the University of Washington alumni team is sponsoring a week-long Astrobiology Summer Institute aimed at underrepresented minorities in the sciences. All expenses are paid for undergraduate science majors who are finishing their 2nd or 3rd year. Deadline for applications is ideally 15 Feb., but those received a week or two late may still be eligible for consideration.

Continue reading "Astrobiology EPO, Undergrads, Grads, Postdocs" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research in Astrobiology, a partnership between NAI and the American Philosophical Society (APS), is open to field studies in any area of interest to astrobiology. Grants may be used for travel and related expenses, including field equipment, up to $5,000. Applications will be reviewed by a committee that includes members of the NAI, the APS, and the wider science community as needed.

Continue reading "NAI Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research in Astrobiology Application Deadline - March 15th" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NASA Science Mission Directorate (SMD) first introduced the concept of Student Collaboration (SC) investigations in the Announcement of Opportunity (AO) for the Discovery Program 2006 (NNH06ZDA001O). The SC investigations might involve development of an instrument, investigation of scientific questions, analysis and display of data, development of supporting hardware or software, and/or other aspects of the mission. These activities might also involve flight, suborbital, or ground systems.

Continue reading "Call for Interest: NASA Student Collaboration Program Definition Team" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The SETI Institute is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2007 REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) program in Astrobiology. Undergraduate students in fields such as astronomy, biology, geology, and physics are invited to apply to spend 10 weeks in the San Francisco Bay area working on a scientific research project in the field of astrobiology. Students receive a stipend, travel, and living expenses. Applications are due by February 2, 2007.

Continue reading "2007 REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) Accepting Applications" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Live from the International Polar Year! Webinar with the Oden Expedition

"Join Teachers Ute Kaden and Allan Miller live from the Oden Icebreaker en route to Antarctica! The webinar interface, HorizonWimba, allows presentation of powerpoint slides over the Internet during a conference call, and includes other useful functions such as online chat and polling features. To take full advantage of the webinar you will need telephone and Internet access. If you do not have Internet access, however, you can simply join the conference call."

PolarTrec Forum

Allan Miller's Journal

Posted by Keith Cowing at 1:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

With this amendment to ROSES-2006, NASA establishes a new program element in Appendix E.5 entitled "History of the Scientific Exploration of Earth and Space." The primary objective of the History of the Scientific Exploration of Earth and Space (HSEES) program element is to engage, inform, and inspire diverse public audiences by sharing historical knowledge about NASA's scientific exploration of the Earth and space and by communicating NASA's unique contributions to the advancement of Earth and space science during the past 50 years. An essential component of communicating to the public is accurate, complete, well-written histories about the scientific exploration of space.

Continue reading "ROSES-06 Amendment 19: New proposal opportunity for History of the Scientific Exploration of Earth and Space" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 9:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NASA announces a call for graduate fellowship proposals to the NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (NESSF) program for the 2007/2008 academic year. This call for fellowship proposals solicits applications from accredited U.S. Universities on behalf of individuals pursuing Master of Science (M.Sc.) or Doctoral (Ph.D.) degrees in Earth and space sciences, or related disciplines.

Continue reading "NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (NESSF) program" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In July 2006, Arizona State University launched the School of Earth and Space Exploration (SESE) as part of a university-wide initiative in transdisciplinary research and education. SESE faculty are explicitly organizing their research efforts around "grand challenges" in the earth and space sciences, such as:

Continue reading "Faculty Positions in Science and Engineering: Arizona State University" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Within a climate of changing structure, leadership, and definition of Education and Public Outreach (E/PO) at NASA, NAI's E/PO Coordinator, Daniella Scalice, delivered a session on NAI's "NASA and the Navajo Nation" project this week at the 118th Annual Meeting of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP), co-hosted with the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, MD.

Continue reading "NAI Contributes to Discussions on Diversity at Astronomical Society of the Pacific Meeting" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 11:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Editor's note: I have spent the last few days as a participant in the NASA Next Generation Exploration Conference at NASA ARC - a fascinating assembly of young space professionals and students from around the U.S. - and the world. This has been a refreshing break from the cynicism I usually encounter as I "watch" NASA. These folks see their future in space - and they are determined to make it happen. A moment ago I made an offer to all participants to post anything they might wish to send me about this conference - and what they'd like to see come from it.

More at A Bright Ray of Hope, NASA Watch

Posted by Keith Cowing at 6:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Join us for the final two segments of the 2006 NAI Student Seminar Series on Friday August 11th and Friday August 18th at 12:00pm PDT (9:00am HT/1:00pm MDT/2:00pm CDT/3:00pm EDT). In this ninety minute program broadcast by NAI, students will be presenting their summer research from University of Rhode Island, University of Arizona and the SETI Institute. For more information, please contact Estelle Dodson, kdodson@mail.arc.nasa.gov

Continue reading "Astrobiology EPO, Undergrads, Grads, Postdocs The Student Seminar Series Continues" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 11:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI has awarded $4000 to support student participation in "Changes in Ocean and Atmospheric redox state and the evolution of life" session of the 2006 GSA Annual Meeting.

Continue reading "NAI Student Travel Funds Available for 2006 GSA Annual Meeting" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 7:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Join NAI for the Polycom and WebEx broadcast of the second annual Summer Student Seminar Series. The talks will be given on Friday, July 28th and Friday August 11th at 12:00pm PDT (9:00am HT/1:00pm MDT/2:00pm CDT/3:00pm EDT.)

Continue reading "Second Annual Summer Student Seminar Series Begins July 28" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 7:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In October, 2005, NAI began an innovative, pilot project focused on creating educational materials that weave together NASA science and Navajo cultural teachings. To mark the end of the project and the beginning of new collaborations, NAI is hosting a "Sustainability Seminar" in Window Rock, Arizona - the seat of the Navajo Nation - on August 10-11, 2006.

Continue reading "NAI Hosts "NASA and the Navajo Nation" Sustainability Seminar August 10-11" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 7:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NAI Postdoctoral Fellowship Program Accepting Applications: Deadline August 1
A reminder applications are now being accepted for the August 1 cycle of the NAI Postdoctoral Program, administered by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU).

Continue reading "Astrobiology EPO, Undergrads, Grads, Postdocs" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 7:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"We drove a half hour out of town to the first transect site. The teachers separated and went with different scientist to collect samples of the rocks and soil. Our sampling tools consisted of sterile spoons, plastic gloves and zip-lock baggies. The scientists are all passionate about their work here and the teachers are excited to be doing real science along side the scientists. We were still working out the kinks of cooperation and communication. We kept hearing the term "herding cats", which was a good description of the progress of our group."

Daily field reports are listed below:

Continue reading "NASA Quest Spacewardbound Field Reports" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 8:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 24 - August 11, 2006, Honolulu, Hawaii. The University of Hawaii Astrobiology Institute (UH-NAI) is hosting the Computational Astrobiology Summer School from July 24 until August 11, 2006. This is an excellent opportunity for graduate students in computer science and related areas to learn about astrobiology, and to carry out substantial projects related to the field.

Continue reading "Computational Astrobiology Summer School" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI will be video broadcasting a two-part series of seminars presented by students conducting research this summer with various NAI teams. Last year's series was a great success with high quality research, professionally presented.

Continue reading "NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) to Host Virtual Summer Student Seminar Series" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Minority Institution Research Support (MIRS) Program is pleased to announce the selection of Michael Ceballos of Salish Kootenai College (Pablo, Montana) to participate in a faculty sabbatical in virology with Ken Stedman of Portland State University, co-chair of the NAI Virus Focus Group and Forest Rohwer, of San Diego State University. The MIRS program, funded by NAI, provides opportunities for researchers, from qualified minority serving institutions, to initiate joint partnerships with researchers in the field of astrobiology.

Continue reading "NAI Congratulates New Minority Institution Research Support Selectee: Michael Ceballos" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Led by the E/PO Leads from NAI's University of Arizona, teachers from across the country convened in Alberta, Canada this past weekend for a two day professional development experience focused on astrobiology science and the latest research in pedagogy, curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

Continue reading "Astrobiology Summer Workshops for Educators Kick Off in Canada" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 11:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dave Goldberg at Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, and his colleague Howard Shuman, Professor of Microbiology at Columbia University, have funding and an immediate opening for a summer student / intern at Columbia on a microbiology project involving subseafloor samples. If you have a student who is looking for an interesting summer job, please contact Dave directly at 845-365-8674 or goldberg@ldeo.columbia.edu [Source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 11:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Center for Meteorite Studies at Arizona State University is pleased to announce the 40th Anniversary of the Nininger Award for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing research in meteoritical sciences.

Continue reading "ASU Award for Students Pursuing Research in Meteoritical Sciences" »

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Live TV of NASA Explorer School Teachers at Atacama Desert Moon/Mars Analog Research Site, NASA ARC Quest

"What are seven NASA Explorer School teachers doing in the Atacama desert in Chile? They are studying side-by-side with NASA scientists who search for life in extreme environments, closely approximating what they expect to find on other planets. Why the Atacama -- an inhospitable, seemingly lifeless, sun drenched spot that is probably the driest place on Earth? This natural environment on Earth poses some of the same challenges for human explorers as would a seemingly lifeless planet."

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) Postdoctoral Fellowship Program soliciting applications

"The National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) is soliciting applications for its Postdoctoral Fellowship Program.  Two-year fellowships are available in any U.S. laboratory carrying out space-related biomedical or biotechnological research that supports the NSBRI's goals.  NSBRI research addresses and seeks solutions to the various health concerns associated with long-duration human space exploration."

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NAI is very pleased to announce that it will be accepting applications for the August 1 cycle of the NAI Postdoctoral Program, administered by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU).

Continue reading "NAI Postdoctoral Fellowship Program Accepting Applications" »

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Session 1: July 24 - July 28, 2006 (18 participants)
Session 2: July 31 - August 4, 2006 (18 participants)
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California

Applications are due May 15, 2006, for NASA's 18th Annual Planetary Science Summer School, which will hold two sessions this summer, July 24-28 and July 31 -August 4, at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California. Science and engineering post-doctoral and graduate students with a strong interest in careers in planetary exploration are encouraged to apply. Preference is given to U.S. citizens.

Continue reading "Planetary Science Summer School" »

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Why the USA and NASA need astrobiology, Neville J. Woolf

"Last year the NASA Astrobiology Institute held an internal meeting to explore the range of research of Institute members. There were no specialist sessions. And the audience stayed for all the talks, astronomy, geology, biology and education. The success was jointly an activity of speakers who were learning to express their work without jargon, and an audience that was receptive to the range of topics. This is an ongoing learning experience. Astrobiology does not yet have all the educational answers, but it is headed in a direction that the United States needs, not only at the graduate level, but for undergraduates and high school students too."

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