C-DEBI Newsletter – September 15, 2016

Publications & Press

Science Magazine – News: Deep-sea drilling expedition to look for life’s limits in scalding environments
Featuring C-DEBI scientists Jan Amend, Bo Barker Jørgensen, Beth Orcutt, Kai-Uwe Hinrichs, Victoria Orphan and Steve D’Hondt.

ScienceNews: Bacteria display qualities that a mother would love
Featuring C-DEBI scientist Steve Finkel.

Chicago Tribune: Looking for aliens on ocean worlds: ‘You’d be in denial to believe there isn’t life out there’
Featuring C-DEBI scientists Julie Huber, John Priscu and Pete Girguis.

Proposal Calls

ASLO: Call for Nominations for the Ramón Margalef Award for Excellence in Education
In 2008, ASLO initiated a new award for Excellence in Education to recognize excellence in teaching and mentoring in the fields of limnology and oceanography. This award is targeted toward aquatic scientists at any stage in their careers and will be presented to the candidate who best exemplifies the highest standards of excellence in education. The Excellence in Education award will be presented annually. While this award is intended for individuals, under exceptional circumstances the Awards Committee may consider a pair/team. Nominations must be received by October 14, 2016 to be considered.

NSF: Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Program Solicitation
The purpose of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is to help ensure the vitality and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) or in STEM education. The GRFP provides three years of support for the graduate education of individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant research achievements in STEM or STEM education. NSF especially encourages women, members of underrepresented minority groups, persons with disabilities, veterans, and undergraduate seniors to apply. Application deadlines: October 22-28, 2016.

NSF-OCE: Call for expressions of interest regarding provision of marine seismic capabilities to the U.S. research community
OCE is seeking written expressions of interest regarding new financial and/or managerial models that would provide the marine seismic capabilities to meet the expected needs of academic research scientists. The expressions of interest may be oriented towards but not limited to one or more of the examples presented, may or may not involve to varying degrees R/V Langseth, and should be cognizant of potential environmental compliance issues. Additionally, the expressions of interest should reflect that OCE anticipates spending an average of ~$8M per year for ship support and ~$2M for technical support, funding permitting, supporting seismic infrastructure that can achieve the scientific goals currently met by the capabilities provided by R/V Langseth. Please submit written responses by November 11, 2016.

The Hydrographic Society Of America: Student Scholarships
The Southeast Chapter of The Hydrographic Society of America will be awarding four (4) $1,000 scholarships this year to students enrolled full-time (12 credits/semester), in a two year, four year or a graduate program and demonstrates a keen interest in pursuing a career hydrographic surveying or related fields or a High school senior who has applied and accepted in a fulltime U.S. college or university located in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama or Florida with accreditation recognized by the U. S. Department of Education, and who also demonstrates a keen interest in pursuing a career in hydrographic surveying or related fields. Additionally, the National THSOA scholarships are available to full-time students seeking a 2-year, 4-year, or graduate degree in Hydrographic Surveying, Ocean Mapping, Geomatics, Ocean Sciences, Geographic Information System (GIS), Ocean Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or other related field. Application deadlines: November 15, 2016.

NSF: ADVANCE: Increasing the Participation and Advancement of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Careers (ADVANCE) Program Solicitation
There are three program tracks. All projects are expected to build on prior ADVANCE work and gender equity research and literature to broaden the implementation of organizational and systemic strategies to foster gender equity in STEM academic careers. 1) The Institutional Transformation (IT) track supports the development of innovative organizational change strategies to produce comprehensive change within one non-profit two-year or four-year academic institution across all STEM disciplines. IT projects are also expected to contribute new research on gender equity in STEM academics. Projects that do not propose innovative strategies may be more appropriate for the Adaptation track. 2)The Adaptation track supports the adaptation and implementation of evidence-based organizational change strategies, ideally from among those developed and implemented by ADVANCE projects. Adaptation awards may support the adaptation and implementation of proven organizational change strategies within a non-profit two-year or four-year academic institution that has not had an ADVANCE IT award. 3) The Partnership track will support partnerships of two or more non-profit academic institutions and/or STEM organizations to increase gender equity in STEM academics. Letter of intent due date: December 14, 2016.

NSF: Arctic Sciences Program Solicitation
The National Science Foundation (NSF) invites investigators at U.S. organizations to submit proposals to the Arctic Sciences Section, Division of Polar Programs (PLR) to conduct research about the Arctic region. The goal of this solicitation is to attract research proposals that advance a fundamental, process, and systems-level understanding of the Arctic’s rapidly changing natural environment and social and cultural systems, and, where appropriate, to improve our capacity to project future change. The Arctic Sciences Section supports research focused on the Arctic region and its connectivity with lower latitudes. The scientific scope is aligned with, but not limited to, research challenges outlined in the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (https://www.nsf.gov/geo/plr/arctic/iarpc/start.jsp) five-year plans. The Arctic Sciences Section coordinates with programs across NSF and with other federal and international partners to co-review and co-fund Arctic proposals as appropriate. The Arctic Sciences Section also maintains Arctic logistical infrastructure and field support capabilities that are available to enable research. Proposals accepted anytime.

NSF: Call For Nominations for the Alan T. Waterman Award
Complete nomination packages, consisting of nominations and four letters of reference, are due by October 21, 2016.

IODP-USSSP: Apply to Sail

• Expedition 372, Creeping Gas Hydrate Slides and Hikurangi LWD, November 2017 – January 2018
  Application deadline: October 1, 2016
• Expedition 375, Hikurangi Subduction Margin, March – May, 2018
  Application deadline: October 1, 2016

NSF: Integrated Earth Systems (IES) Program Solicitaiton
Full proposal deadline: November 14, 2016.

IODP-USSSP: Proposals for Pre-Drilling Activities and Workshops
The U.S. Science Support Program (USSSP) accepts proposals on a rolling basis for pre-drilling activities and semi-annually for workshops, related to the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP).

Employment

University of Southern Mississippi: Postdoctoral Research Position in Marine Microbial Ecology
The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory at the University of Southern Mississippi (gcrl.usm.edu) is seeking a qualified and highly motivated individual for a postdoctoral research scientist position in the laboratory of Dr. Leila Hamdan. The research will be related to the study of marine microbial communities in the deep sea, focusing on the biodiversity surrounding shipwreck ecosystems. Highly successful candidates would have experience with microbiology and biogeochemistry, with specific knowledge and expertise in molecular biological techniques (DNA extraction, amplification, sequencing). Experience and proficiency in bioinformatics and statistical analysis is highly desired and needed for this position. Applicants must have a Ph.D. in coastal or marine sciences, environmental microbiology or similar field. The main job responsibilities will be data analysis and manuscript preparation. Fieldwork is not a requirement of the position, but opportunities are available to participate in, and design at sea studies in the Gulf of Mexico, onboard USM’s research vessel Point Sur. Excellent written and oral communication skills are needed, as well as a commitment to developing peer-reviewed manuscripts. The position is for immediate hire. Review of applicants will begin immediately and proceed until the position is filled.

Dartmouth: Tenure-Track Assistant Professorship in Microbial Ecology
The Department of Biological Sciences at Dartmouth College seeks applicants for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Microbial Ecology. We seek highly qualified candidates who investigate important questions relating to the ecology of microbes and their interactions with other organisms. Candidates must have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree. We seek a colleague who will supervise an independent, extramurally funded research program; provide research training for graduate and undergraduate students; teach introductory ecology and other courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels; and contribute to Dartmouth’s recently expanded cross-departmental graduate program in Ecology, Evolution, Ecosystems and Society. Dartmouth also offers many other relevant opportunities for research and graduate training, including the Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program and the Microbiology & Molecular Pathogenesis Program. For further information about the department and graduate programs, see http://biology.dartmouth.edu. Application review will begin on September 15, 2016 and continue until the position is filled.

LUMCON: Faculty Positions
The Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium for Research and Education (LUMCON) seeks to hire at least three new Assistant Professors in the first phase of multi-year faculty expansion. We seek candidates in the following areas of coastal science: fisheries ecology, coastal hydrology/physical oceanography, plant ecology, biological oceanography, microbial ecology, and marine chemistry. Candidates should have notable research achievements, demonstration of funded research, or potential for funded research, and a commitment to education and outreach. Review of applicants will begin September 15, 2016 and will continue until position is filled.

University of Calgary: Four Postdoctoral Research Associate Vacancies
All applications due September 23, 2016.

University of New Hampshire: Associate or Full Professor of Estuarine Science
Review of applications: August 15, 2016 until position filled.

Moore Foundation: Program Fellow, Marine Microbiology Initiative