The ECORD Summer School this year (September 13-17, 2021) will combine in-person sessions with asynchronous teaching, group activities, and exercises from the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) world. The Summer School introduces the interpretation and applications of downhole logs and physical property data primarily from the IODP. The School explores the relevance and unique insights of these data for a range of fields, including paleoclimatology, sedimentology, hydrogeology, and broader geological and ecological processes such as sediment provenance and water column productivity. The Summer School is open to applicants from all career stages and geoscience backgrounds. However, the course is tailored for individuals who are early in their career and/or would like to introduce and make use of more physical properties data in their research and/or; would like to get more involved in IODP in some capacity, either through accessing and using data or sailing on an IODP research expedition. Applications due August 2, 2021.
The Marine Geology and Geophysics Program within the Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE) in the Directorate of Geosciences (GEO) announces a nationwide search for a Program Director (Rotator) with experience and expertise in the general fields of paleoceanography, sedimentary and/or nearshore processes, or marine geochemistry. The MG&G Program supports research on all aspects of the geology and geophysics of ocean basins and margins and those of the Great Lakes. The person selected for this position will work with the other Program Directors who oversee the MG&G Program to balance the award portfolio across the broad range of disciplines supported by the Program. The Program Director’s core duties and responsibilities will be administering the merit review process, proposal recommendations, and coordinating and working with other programs in NSF and other Federal agencies and organizations. The deadline for applications is August 2, 2021.
Our next virtual meeting features plenary speaker Jackie Goordial (University of Guelph) who will present “Squeezing DNA from a rock: DNA extractions from low biomass settings” on Friday July 9 (10:30AM – 12:00PM Pacific). The virtual meeting series is held monthly during the first week of each month, with a regular rotation of science workshops and professional development workshops. Each workshop will contain about 90 minutes of programming, including invited speakers to give plenary tutorials and presentations, breakout icebreaker and discussion sessions, and plenary Q&A sessions. Register in advance for the meeting on July 9, 2021.
The U.S. Science Support Program (USSSP) is seeking scientists to participate on a variety of IODP panels, boards, and committees. There are three open calls for participation, on the U.S. Advisory Committee for Scientific Ocean Drilling (USAC), the Science Evaluation Panel (SEP), or the JOIDES Resolution Facility Board (JRFB). Deadline to apply: July 23, 2021.
The hackweek model has emerged in the data science community as a powerful tool for fostering exchange of ideas in research and computation by providing training in modern data analysis workflows. In contrast to conventional academic conferences or workshops, hackweeks are intensive and interactive, facilitated by three core components: tutorials on state-of-the-art methodologies, peer-learning, and on-site project work in a collaborative environment. OceanHackWeek is a small hands-on, interactive hybrid in-person and virtual workshop focused on data science and oceanography that will be held during August 3-6, 2021. Join us for four days of tutorials, data exploration, software development and community networking! The in-person event will take place at the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, in East Boothbay, Maine, as an all-day workshop. For the virtual event, formal daily activities will take place over a period of up to 3 hours per day. Application deadline: June 14, 2021.
How to Build Capacity for a Thriving Research Lab at a PUI (Primarily Undergraduate Institution)
Our next virtual series meeting features plenary speakers Rika Anderson (Carleton College) who will present “Conducting research with undergraduates at a small liberal arts college” and Terry McGlynn (California State University Dominguez Hills) who will present “How to develop an undergraduate research lab with long-term sustainability”. Register in advance of the meeting on Friday June 4 (10:30AM – 12:00PM Pacific). The virtual meeting series is held monthly during the first week of each month, with a regular rotation of science workshops and professional development workshops. Each workshop contains about 90 minutes of programming, including plenary presentations by invited speakers, a community building breakout session, and a plenary Q&A session.
The NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER), also known as NOAA Ocean Exploration, is soliciting proposals to conduct or support ocean exploration resulting in outcomes that provide or enable initial assessments about unknown or poorly understood regions of U.S. waters. Proposals should support the ocean exploration topical priorities or spatial priorities in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) identified in the “Report on the Workshop to Identify National Ocean Exploration Priorities in the Pacific”. Proposals should also support the National Strategy for Mapping, Exploring, and Characterizing the United States Exclusive Economic Zone. Proposals for the ocean exploration and marine archaeology themes must be for projects in unknown or poorly understood areas as referenced in the national strategy’s implementation plan and within the U.S. EEZ in the Pacific Ocean. The Pacific priorities workshop report stresses the active awareness of the cultural context in which ocean exploration is often conducted. Recognizing the unique and numerous Pacific communities as partners and stakeholders enhances the overall impact of the ocean exploration enterprise through wider public support, a more diverse workforce and community of practitioners, and incorporation of traditional knowledge systems throughout the process. Applicants should consider including the interests of tribal nations and Indigenous peoples within targeted exploration areas and engaging these communities in a meaningful way. OER is soliciting proposals focused on any one of the following three themes: ocean exploration, marine archaeology, and technology. Register for a webinar about the funding opportunity on May 26, 2021, at 1 p.m. EDT. Required pre-proposals are due June 21, 2021.
From May 14-27, 2021, NOAA Ocean Exploration will lead the 2021 Technology Demonstration on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer from Cape Canaveral, Florida, to Norfolk, Virginia. The expedition provides an opportunity to test several technologies that will allow the ocean exploration community to explore deeper, farther, and more comprehensively than previously possible. Expeditions like this are vital for the advancement of ocean exploration technologies that will benefit partners and the broader field of ocean exploration alike in our collective mission to explore, map, and understand the vast ocean realm. During the 2021 Technology Demonstration, 24-hour-a-day operations will focus on field engineering trials of WHOI’s new Orpheus class of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), piloting NOAA Ocean Exploration’s environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling protocols, regular CTD rosette casts, and acoustic mapping of the seafloor and water column with the new EM 304 multibeam and deepwater sonar suite. Watch the live stream May 14-27, 2021.
The Spring 2021 NSF Virtual Grants Conference is designed to give new faculty, researchers, and administrators key insights into a wide range of current issues at NSF. NSF program officers will be providing up-to-date information about specific funding opportunities and answering attendee questions. Registration is now open, and the webinar is free of charge.
Our next virtual meeting features plenary speakers Rika Anderson (Carleton College) who will present “Conducting research with undergraduates at a small liberal arts college” and Terry McGlynn (California State University Dominguez Hills) who will present “How to develop an undergraduate research lab with long-term sustainability” on Friday June 4 (10:30AM – 12:00PM Pacific). The virtual meeting series is held monthly during the first week of each month, with a regular rotation of science workshops and professional development workshops. Each workshop will contain about 90 minutes of programming, including invited speakers to give plenary tutorials and presentations, breakout icebreaker and discussion sessions, and plenary Q&A sessions. Register in advance for the meeting on June 4, 2021.
As part of the HOV Alvin 6500m upgrade, the deep submergence science community is seeking applicants to participate in the NSF sponsored HOV Alvin Science Verification Expedition (SVE). The primary objective of the SVE is to test and validate the submarine systems used for science operations. Opportunistic science will also be accomplished on the expedition, including the operation of a night program using an autonomous CTD/lander for water sampling, acoustic monitoring, and imaging at hadal depths. The SVE will take place in October following Navy certification of the submarine for diving to 6500m depth. The expedition will depart from San Juan, Puerto Rico and will conduct ~5 dives at targets that may include seaward and landward trench surfaces, potential methane seeps, and fault exposures in the trench. The expedition will then transit to the Mid-Cayman Spreading Center, where ~5 dives will be conducted on targets that may include high-temperature hydrothermal vents, volcanic features, detachment fault surfaces, and transform faults. We are seeking a diverse group of participants that span disciplinary fields, both with and without previous Alvin experience. Because the at-sea participation may be limited due to COVID-19 restrictions, the SVE will have both ship-based and shore-based, via a high-bandwidth ship to shore connection, participation. The deadline for applications is May 28, 2021.
During the summer of 2021, we are running a series of workshops engaging three communities in envisioning broadening the impact of scientific ocean drilling in the coming decades. These workshops will strive to chart the future course of science communication and outreach for scientific ocean drilling. The series of workshops will explore STEM education and science communication, engaging workshop participants as collaborators, while paying special attention to issues related to diversity and inclusion. This effort is in direct support of the 2050 Framework for Scientific Ocean Drilling and its call to “communicate far-reaching scientific ocean drilling knowledge to the broader community.” We are seeking a diverse group of participants across many demographics, experience/levels, geographic locations and career areas for the three workshops “Engaging the Public”, “Informing Policymakers, and “Preparing the Next Generation.” Deadlines to apply are May 17, June 21, and July 1, 2021.
The Marine Geology and Geophysics (MGG) Program within the Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE) in the Directorate of Geosciences (GEO) at the National Science Foundation has announced a nationwide search for a permanent Program Director with experience and expertise in marine geophysics. The MGG Program supports research on all aspects of the geology and geophysics of ocean basins and margins and those of the Great Lakes. The person selected for this position will work with the other Program Directors who oversee the MGG Program to balance the award portfolio across the broad range of disciplines supported by the Program. The Program Director’s core duties and responsibilities will be administering the merit review process, proposal recommendations, and coordinating and working with other programs in NSF and other Federal agencies and organizations. The deadline for applications is June 28, 2021.
To continue expansion and scaling efforts from NSF’s Geosciences Opportunities for Leadership in Diversity (GOLD) Program and related activities to broaden participation in the geosciences, and to develop unique approaches for greater inclusion in the geoscience education and research community, NSF welcomes submission of the following types of proposals: Early-Concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) Proposals, Conference Proposals, and Research Coordination Networks (RCNs). Proposals must be received by June 1, 2021.
C-DEBI finalist Sabrina Elkassas (MIT-WHOI) will tell her story live in the Reach Out Science Slam Finals on May 4 (7-8 PM Eastern) to a panel of expert science communicator judges. Check out her inspirational promo video, then watch her and 5 other early career researchers from around the country compete to tell the best science story in just 3 minutes and cast your votes for the Audience Choice Winner! Register for the Finals May 4, 2021.
The School of Geography is seeking a high-calibre Lecturer in any area of physical geography or environmental science that complements and enhances existing research strengths in the School’s Earth Surface Science research theme. The School is particularly interested to grow our expertise in contemporary climate science and/or climate change mitigation and adaptation. The successful applicant will benefit from our world-class field, laboratory and geospatial computing facilities. The successful candidate will have an excellent research record with a developing international reputation; teaching experience appropriate to career stage, including experience and enthusiasm for field-based teaching; and passion and commitment to delivering an outstanding student experience to a diverse student population at both undergraduate and taught postgraduate level. The closing date for applications is May 12, 2021.
How curious are you about the deepest depths of the ocean? Within months the human-occupied submersible Alvin will be able to explore 99% of the ocean floor. Learn about what could be discovered from the latest Alvin upgrade. Hear from speakers Bruce Strickrott (Alvin program manager), Patricia “Trish” Gregg (marine volcanologist), and Peter Girguis (marine biologist) about how the iconic sub enables scientific discovery in the far reaches of Earth’s ocean. Register in advance for the webinar on April 28, 2021 (7:30PM Eastern).
Our next virtual meeting features plenary speaker Roland Hatzenpichler (Montana State University) who will present “Next-generation physiology: Why and how to measure microbial phenotypes under (close to) in situ conditions” on Friday May 7 (10:30AM – 12:00PM Pacific). The virtual meeting series is held monthly during the first week of each month, with a regular rotation of science workshops and professional development workshops. Each workshop will contain about 90 minutes of programming, including invited speakers to give plenary tutorials and presentations, breakout icebreaker and discussion sessions, and plenary Q&A sessions. Register in advance for the meeting on May 7, 2021 (10:30AM – 12:00PM Pacific).
This one-hour gathering is a Q&A session to inform the IODP community. It’s your chance to ask questions about IODP and JR through 2024! Panelists Clive Neal (JRFB), Brad Clement (JRSO), Marta Torres (USAC), Jamie Allan (NSF), and Carl Brenner (USSSP) will answer questions about scheduling and operations of the JOIDES Resolution through 2024, and provide information about the outlook for activities and support within the current IODP (to 2023/2024). We welcome questions from everyone in the IODP community and anyone interested in IODP. All topics related to the JR through 2024 are fair game – and you can send a question even if you can’t attend the live event by emailing the USSSP Office at usssp@ldeo.columbia.edu,. A recording will be posted on the USSSP page. Register in advance for the meeting on April 28, 2021 at 11 AM Pacific / 2 PM Eastern Time.
A key aspect of Convergence Accelerator projects is the innovation curriculum that requires a significant time investment and frequent participation of all partners such as academia, industry, non-profit, government, and other sectors under the guidance of coaches. The curriculum includes a team science and human-centered design approach that rapidly moves projects towards deliverables in both Phase I and Phase II that will have broad scale national impact. This solicitation for FY 2021 invites proposals for the following Track Topic among others: Networked Blue Economy (Track E). This track aims to create a smart, integrated, connected, and open ecosystem for ocean innovation, exploration, and sustainable utilization. Letter of Intent Due Date for Phase I Full Proposals: May 5, 2021.
Apply to host an Ocean Discovery Lecturer for the 2021-2022 academic year. The Ocean Discovery Lecture Series (formerly the Distinguished Lecturer Series) brings discoveries of the International Ocean Discovery Program to academic research institutions, museums, and aquaria. The 2021-2022 lecturer topics range from climate history, ocean circulation, ice sheet dynamics, marine magnetics to geomicrobiology and more; including C-DEBIer Karen Lloyd (University of Tennessee, Knoxville) on “The mysterious deep subsurface biosphere: What sustains one of the largest, slowest ecosystems on Earth?”. Application deadline: May 15, 2021.
The University of Southern California will host the first virtual Southern California Geobiology Symposium on May 20-21 (through Zoom and Gathertown). The SoCal Geobiology Symposium is an annual student-organized symposium for scientists interested in astrobiology, climate science, ecology, geochemistry, geology, microbiology, oceanography, and paleobiology. We welcome scientists from all levels of academia and both those living in Southern California and from around the world. Undergraduates, graduate students, and post-docs are encouraged to submit abstracts for posters or talks to share their research; selection will prioritize those from the rotating SoCal Geobio host institutions (USC, Caltech, and UC Riverside). Registration and abstract submission deadline: April 23, 2021.
Submit a proposal for general scientific sessions, Union and special sessions, town halls, and scientific workshops to help shape discussions at the AGU Fall Meeting 2021 and within the Earth and space sciences community. This year’s Fall Meeting (December 13-17) is planned to be a hybrid in-person (New Orleans) and online meeting. Deadline: April 14, 2021.
The Bioinformatics Virtual Coordination Network (BVCN) presents “Holistic Bioinformatic Approaches used in Microbiome Research”, a step-by-step open access conference showcasing state-of-the-art bioinformatics pipelines for microbiome research to be held June 7-11, 2021. This online conference will bring together early career researchers from across the globe who are equally committed to reducing entry barriers into bioinformatics for researchers, and who would like to exchange and share their research and bioinformatics experiences in a step-by-step format with a global and interdisciplinary audience. The BVCN was established to facilitate entry of researchers in environmental and biomedical sciences into computational biology. To further this goal, this upcoming conference is designed to provide a platform for showcasing bioinformatic projects from inception to publication. The holistic analysis of data intensive projects may contain many steps that are not covered in the tutorials or documented in the methods section of publications – our speakers will try and capture these elements in their presentations. Registration is due April 14, 2021.
C-DEBI semi-finalists Sabrina Elkassas (MIT-WHOI) and Rachel Weisend (Texas A&M Corpus Christi) will tell their stories live in the Reach Out Science Slam Semi-final Round #2 on April 13 (7-8 PM Eastern) to a panel of expert science communicator judges. Watch them and 17 other early career researchers from around the country compete to tell the best science story in just 3 minutes and cast your votes to help decide who will make it to the Finals Event on May 4. Register for the Semifinals April 6, 13, and 20.
The College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences (CEOAS) at Oregon State University is pleased to re-open the search for four (4) research-focused, tenure-track, open rank professor positions, who maintain or have the potential to maintain sea-going research programs. This is a cluster hire that promotes interdisciplinary research across four focus areas: Biological Oceanography, Chemical Oceanography, Physical Oceanography, and Marine Geology and Geophysics. Applications to more than one position is suggested for candidates with interdisciplinary focus. Given the extensive delay in this hiring action we are inviting new applicants as well as encouraging previous applicants to update their application materials. We seek faculty members who will develop and maintain vigorous, externally funded, sea-going research programs. We particularly welcome applications from individuals with interests that complement or strengthen existing CEOAS research areas, and will instigate new and innovative college- and university-wide, national and international oceanographic research programs. Review of applications will begin on April 16, 2021 and continue until April 30, 2021.
The U.S. National Committee for the Ocean Decade has issued a call for submission of “Ocean-Shots”, defined as an ambitious, transformational research concept that draws inspiration and expertise from multiple disciplines and fundamentally advances ocean science for sustainable development. The goal is to spark transformative research for potentially “disruptive” advances that will open avenues for progress toward Decade goals. The second call for submissions is due July 1, 2021.
Join us Monday, April 5, 2021 (10:30AM – 12:00PM Pacific Time) for the inaugural C-DEBI Virtual Meeting on New Tools in Bioinformatics. Building on the enthusiasm of our first virtual annual meeting in 2020, we continue to bring the C-DEBI community together through a virtual meeting series. These virtual events will be held monthly during the first week of each month, with a regular rotation of science workshops and professional development workshops. Each workshop will contain about 90 minutes of programming, including invited speakers to give plenary tutorials and presentations, breakout sessions, and plenary Q&A sessions.
This meeting on new tools in bioinformatics will include plenary speakers:
Dr. Ben Tully, University of Southern California
EukMetaSanity: A customizable workflow for the gene prediction and annotation of Eukaryotic genomes
Dr. Jake Weissman, University of Southern California
Estimating maximal microbial growth rates from cultures, metagenomes, and single cells via codon usage patterns
Megan Mullis, Texas A&M Corpus Christi, will present “Outwit, Outplay, Outlast: A microbial tale of survival within the marine deep subsurface” in the next Networked Speaker Series live on March 18, 2021, 9:30am HAST/ 12:30pm PST / 3:30pm EST.
Abstract: Microbes play fundamental roles in ecosystem function through mediating biogeochemical cycles, yet we know very little about how microbes interact and what drives community diversity. The marine deep subsurface hosts a massive reservoir of microbial biomass that can be actively surviving (or even thriving) harsh conditions, such as high pH, low nutrients, or extreme temperatures. There are various methods to analyze microbial community diversity and functionality within the marine subsurface including culture-independent and -dependent methods. The studies presented here utilize this two-pronged approach to investigate microbial diversity, functionality, and specific survival mechanisms within two marine subsurface environments. The Mariana Forearc sediments were sampled through use of the International Ocean Discover Program Expedition 366 from December 2016 – February 2017. Sediments were extracted for total RNA as a proxy for microbial activity and sequenced using Illumina NovaSeq. These metatranscriptomes were analyzed for microbial diversity and metabolic capabilities and indicates microbial life is persisting through partial denitrification (nirKS) and anaerobic methane oxidation (pmoABC). The western flank of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (commonly referred to as North Pond) sediments were sampled via push cores aboard the R/V Atlantis in October 2017. We utilized a novel method of high-throughput single-cell sorting using Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) to cultivate individual cells from shallow North Pond sediments. Individual cells from sediment slurries were sorted into a modified artificial seawater medium and extracted for whole genome sequencing using Illumina MiSeq. I will present novel methodology and genome characterizations from Idiomarina abyssalis strain KJE, Marinobacter salarius strain NP2017, and Marinobacter salarius strain AT3901.
We are happy to be able to offer the Global Environmental Microbiology course in summer 2021. Our plan is to host this course in-person at the University of Southern California (University Park Campus) and on Santa Catalina Island from Sunday, June 13 through Friday, July 2. However, if we cannot host the course in-person, we will offer a highly modified version of the course online from Monday, June 14 through Friday, July 2. We hope to know in mid-spring 2021 if it will be possible to hold the program in-person. Applications are closed.
Researchers and scientists are needed to make the most of our exploration by transforming the data and samples collected into discoveries! You can participate live via telepresence with Exploration Vessel Nautilus as we explore the Eastern Pacific Ocean along the US West Coast and within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Registration is now open for Ocean Exploration Trust’s Scientist Ashore Program to receive full access to planning calls and detailed information about each of our 2021 expeditions. Researchers from all sectors, undergraduate, community college, and graduate students, and early career scientists are encouraged to register. The general public, including educators and students of all ages, are encouraged to watch our live stream and send in questions to our team on watch. Registration as a Scientist Ashore will allow you to engage with science teams in the planning and at-sea phases of our programs and receive updates from the field during expeditions. To receive details on an introductory webinar in late-February, register by February 18, 2021.
The 2021 nomination period is open for AGU honors, including the Asahiko Taira International Scientific Ocean Drilling Research Prize. The Taira Prize is given annually in recognition of outstanding, transdisciplinary research accomplishment in ocean drilling to an honoree within 15 years of receiving their Ph.D. The Taira Prize is generously funded through the International Ocean DISCOVERY Program and is given in partnership between AGU and the Japan Geoscience Union (JpGU). It is presented at the AGU Fall Meeting. An extended nomination period aims to increase selection and diversity among the nominees and to allow more time for nominators to develop multiple nomination packages. Deadline: April 15, 2021.
The University of Southern California Wrigley Institute proudly announces our upcoming 2021 Delta Murphy Distinguished Lecture. Join three pathbreaking scientists to discuss their unique experiences overcoming inequitable obstacles, and to address the critical importance of diverse voices leading the scientific enterprise: Rita Colwell, PhD – Former Director, National Science Foundation; Professor, University of Maryland; Dawn Wright, PhD – Chief Scientist, Esri; Oceanographer; and Hope Jahren, PhD – Author, ‘Lab Girl’; Professor, University of Oslo. This event will be moderated by Dr. Carly Kenkel, Gabilan Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, USC, and co-sponsored with the USC Marine and Environmental Biology Department (MEB), and the USC Environmental Studies Program (ENST). Register in advance for the webinar on March 11, 2021 at 12-2pm PST.
Join us during Women’s History month for one or more of the weekly seminars and panels in celebration of 20 years of NSF ADVANCE and 30 years of the NSF Division of Human Resource Development. This series includes some of the many outstanding faculty and administrators who have spent thousands of hours researching faculty gender equity, developing interventions based on the science, and implementing and evaluating systemic change strategies within their institutions over the last 20 years. Register for the online series March 3-31, 2021.
Goldschmidt is the foremost annual, international conference on geochemistry and related subjects, organized by the European Association of Geochemistry and the Geochemical Society. The European Association of Geochemistry and the Geochemical Society believe that, with the appropriate safety measures in place, it should be possible to hold a safe and rewarding meeting at the Lyon Congress Centre. The Organizing Committee has therefore decided that Goldschmidt2021 will be in a hybrid format, combining an onsite meeting for delegates who can travel, with an online meeting for those who cannot, while aiming to promote as much interaction as possible between the two types of delegates. We also know that it is very difficult to predict what the situation will be like in July and, should a physical conference in Lyon ultimately not be possible, we may need to move to a fully online meeting. Abstract submission deadline: February 26, 2021.
Predicting Transformation of Living Systems in Evolving Environments. Full proposal deadline: May 10, 2021.
The Heising-Simons Foundation is a family foundation based in Los Altos and San Francisco, California. The Foundation works with its many partners to advance sustainable solutions in climate and clean energy, enable groundbreaking research in science, enhance the education of our youngest learners, and support human rights for all people. The Heising-Simons Foundation is seeking a new Science Program Officer who will help manage the Foundation’s science grantmaking. This is an opportunity to learn about many fields and sub-fields within the sciences and grantmaking. The Program Officer will identify and work with prospective and existing grantees, monitor grantee progress, and explore new grantmaking areas. The primary areas of support with the Science program are astronomy and cosmology, climate change science, fundamental physics, women in physics and astronomy, and, beginning in 2021, work to increase the number of black, indigenous, and people of color in physics and astronomy in the U.S. During the COVID-19 pandemic, all Heising-Simons Foundation staff are working remotely. The Foundation will re-evaluate workplace flexibility when offices reopen later in 2021.
The Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) is an independent marine research, education, and community institution located in Portland, Maine. The Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) at the GMRI will lead a multidisciplinary team of world-class scientists conducting marine research to better understand and steward the Gulf of Maine ecosystem from its physical dynamics to its human communities. The CSO will apply a systems approach to develop scientific priorities, conduct research, pioneer collaborative solutions to global ocean challenges, and help shape the conversation around climate change and ecosystem sustainability at the local, national, and international levels. Equally important, the successful candidate will be joining an entrepreneurial and energetic management team that embraces a collegial and collaborative culture around strategic planning, organizational policy development, and decision-making, and strives to achieve applied solutions and knowledge transfer through innovative, out of the box thinking. Applications due March 31, 2021.
Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) is a public college of engineering, management, science, and transportation, located in the quintessentially New England coastal village of Castine, Maine. The Academy is one of six state-supported maritime colleges in the United States. The Corning School of Ocean Studies at MMA seeks applicants for an Assistant Professor of Oceanography with a strong background in marine geoscience, with expertise in geological oceanography or coastal geology. The successful candidate will enthusiastically embrace working with students in a classroom, field, or laboratory setting, including on a coastal research vessel. Teaching expectations include Physical Geology and Geological Oceanography. Other teaching responsibilities may include Physical Oceanography, Introduction to Ocean Science, and additional courses and electives dependent on the successful candidate?s area of expertise and department needs. Mentoring undergraduates in independent research and full participation in service activities is expected. Candidates with demonstrated teaching excellence, commitment to undergraduate education, and experience in marine geological research, applied marine geology, and coastal marine management are encouraged to apply. Review of applications will begin March 15, 2021.
The postdoctoral scientist will assume a leading role in the first systematic, lineage-resolved analyses of the coding potential for chemoautotrophy and will contribute to studies of horizontal gene transfer and phage-host interactions in the aphotic ocean. They will be advised by Dr. R. Stepanauskas and will be engaged in an international group of collaborating scientists. The position is offered for a period of three years. Candidates must have a PhD degree in a relevant field and experience in microbial genomics and bioinformatics. Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to work harmoniously in a collaborative research environment are crucial. Bigelow Laboratory is an inclusive community of scientists from around the world that welcomes and supports diverse opinions and cultures. The postdoctoral scientists at Bigelow Laboratory have access to professional training programs, opportunities for undergraduate student mentoring and teaching, and generous employment benefits. The Laboratory was established in 1974 and is located on the scenic coast of East Boothbay, Maine, USA, in a modern, LEED-certified research and education campus. For full consideration, the application should be received by March 14, 2021.
The JOIDES Resolution Facility Board (JRFB) is issuing a request for information (RFI) to understand the international scientific community’s intent to propose to the 2050 Science Framework. Responses to the RFI will be considered by the JRFB in consultation with the other Facility Boards, funding agencies, and the IODP Forum, and they will inform planning on a potential future drilling program. Submissions to the RFI require completing an online form in the Proposal Database System (PDB) that asks about science goals that would be addressed by your future proposal, the region that would be studied, and some additional planning information. You may submit more than one response. Submit by June 10, 2021 for consideration by the JRFB.
Expressions of Interest are requested from eligible U.S. institutions to provide a multi-decadal drilling vessel, possibly through the National Science Foundation (NSF) Major Multi-User Research Facilities process as described in the NSF Major Facilities Guide, to support the science needs and enable new science discovery as defined in the recently completed Exploring Earth by Scientific Ocean Drilling 2050 Science Framework. The 2050 Science Framework is based on workshop-derived input from the American scientific community and international workshops held in Europe, Japan, China, Australia, South Korea, and India. All totaled, over 800 participants defined the need for a multi-decade program with a globally ranging scientific drillship to address critical global geoscience problems in the oceans and explore areas of the Earth otherwise inaccessible for sampling or observation. NSF seeks innovative solutions to future scientific ocean drilling and is ready to consider a wide array of possible strategies, including new build, provision of major vessel systems (such as a drilling system) installed on a new hull, or modification to an existing vessel. Expressions of Interest should be provided by May 1, 2021.
The International Ocean Discovery Program – JOIDES Resolution Science Operator (IODP–JRSO) at Texas A&M University (TAMU) is currently accepting applications to fill several temporary Marine Technician positions (TAMU title: Program Aide). IODP Marine Technicians are required to sail on the Research Vessel JOIDES Resolution, which operates worldwide on two-month long scientific drilling expeditions. Employee shifts at sea are 12 hours a day, 7 days a week for each expedition. The technicians assist with core handling and curation and work in one of the laboratories on the ship, which cover a range of geoscience specialties including core description, physical properties, downhole logging, paleomagnetism, geochemistry, microbiology, microscopy, paleontology, underway geophysics, and making thin sections. The employee must be able to pass a seagoing physical exam and must be able to obtain and hold a passport and appropriate visas. The positions require at least a Bachelor’s degree with two years of relevant experience or a Master’s degree in a relevant field. These temporary positions have proven to be a great stepping stone to the full-time Marine Technician positions.
The Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO) at the University of Rhode Island invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor within the broad specialization of chemical oceanography or marine chemistry, including research on the human impact on the Earth’s oceans. We seek applications from researchers who specialize in chemical oceanography or marine chemistry, particularly with a focus on carbon cycling. The new hire will enter the vibrant research community at URI and the many neighboring academic institutions within New England. We invite individuals with a strong commitment to research, excellent teaching and mentorship at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The search is open until filled; first consideration will be given to applications received by February 28, 2021.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) is uniquely dedicated to merging science, engineering, and marine operations for the purpose of developing state-of-the-art instruments, methods, and systems for advancing scientific research in the ocean. MBARI’s Strategic Plan and Technology Roadmap set forth institutional priorities related to a series of interconnected scientific and engineering challenges that MBARI is uniquely poised to address. Applications are invited for a Principal Investigator in science or engineering to develop a research program focusing on marine microbiology, and to interact with ongoing MBARI programs that focus on the development of novel observational and analytical methods to advance our understanding of the interplay between abiotic and biotic systems in the sea. The successful candidate will be responsible for conceiving and executing original research, applying novel methods to the study of microbial processes and diversity, and for the development of technology and analytical methods in support of the objectives of the Institute. Although the position will remain open until filled, we will begin reviewing applications on March 1, 2021, and expect to begin interviewing promising candidates in April 2021.
The Geology & Geophysics Department at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) invites qualified candidates to apply for a tenure-track scientific-staff position with primary expertise in understanding processes related to mass, heat and/or biogeochemical exchange between the seafloor and ocean. Candidates’ interests may span a wide range of seafloor settings, including across active and passive plate boundaries. Candidates should have experience and/or strong interest in active sea-going research programs, including the use of deep submergence vehicles and related technologies. Applicants should upload to the appropriate application fields a cover letter, curriculum vitae (CV), three-page research statement, names of four references, copies of up to three relevant publications, and an up to one-page statement that speaks to past and/or potential contributions to and experience with diversity, equity and inclusion. Review of applications will begin on March 1, 2021.
We are seeking a highly motivated bioinformatician who will develop computing solutions in support of microbial ecology and evolution research programs and the operation of Bigelow Laboratory’s Single Cell Genomics Center (SCGC). The SCGC is a global leader in microbial single cell genomics technology development and has been serving as an engine for discoveries in microbial ecology, evolution, bioprospecting, and human health since 2009. Qualified candidates will have a BS degree or higher in computer science or life sciences with a computational focus, plus two years of relevant, post-degree experience. Candidates must be proficient in Python and R and have experience with Linux and shell scripting. Candidates must have experience working with next generation sequencing data and applicable bioinformatics algorithms and tools. Qualified individuals must be able to work both independently and harmoniously in a team of researchers with diverse backgrounds. Candidates must have strong communication skills and follow best practices in code documentation and general record keeping. Experience building bioinformatics workflows using tools such as nextflow or snakemake and/or experience with database management and/or Laboratory Information Management Systems is a plus. Review of applications will begin February 15, 2021, and the search will continue until the position is filled.
The Center for Dark Energy Biosphere Investigations (C-DEBI), headquartered at the University of Southern California (USC) and funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), is offering an all-expense paid, three-week, intensive introductory aquatic microbiology course called Global Environmental Microbiology (GEM).
We are recruiting early career undergraduates interested in a STEM career from 2- and 4-year colleges:
- to join us at the University of Southern California and Santa Catalina Island
- from June 13 through July 2, 2021
- for lectures, discussions, labs, fieldwork, networking, career panels and more
- focusing on aquatic microbes and their ecology
- taught by Drs. John Heidelberg and Eric Webb
- paid for by C-DEBI, including travel, room, board, and course expenses
HOWEVER, if we cannot offer an in-person program in summer 2021, we will offer a highly modified online version of the course: Summer OnLine Interactive/Discussion-Global Environmental Microbiology (SOLID-GEM).
We strive to recruit participants that reflect the diversity of students at the community college and university level with varied science learning and life experiences. We encourage students from groups underrepresented in STEM fields and first-generation college students to apply.
Application Deadline: February 25, 2021 at 5:00pm PST
For questions and comments, contact Gwen Noda at gnoda@usc.edu.
The URoL:MIM program defines a microbiome as a community of microorganisms with more than one type of organism, including bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists, and viruses that inhabit a particular habitat. The habitat can be a living host or a particular environment, broadly defined to include the biological, chemical, physical, and/or social state, settings, or conditions. The URoL:MIM Program is focused on the causal and mechanistic understanding of the structure and function of these microbiomes and the connections, interactions, and interdependencies within and among the microbiome, the host, and the environment (biological, chemical, physical, and social). The major objective of URoL:MIM is to develop an integrated understanding of how microbiome organisms communicate and interact with each other, with their hosts, and with their environments, across various spatial and temporal scales. This includes mechanisms underlying how the microbiome affects the phenotypes of organisms and their robustness, resilience, and adaptability. How the underlying relationships among the microbiomes, hosts, and physical, social, and built environments ultimately emerge as properties that affect phenotype of the microbiome, the host, or both is of interest. Full proposal deadline: February 23, 2021.
We are seeking a 36-month PDRA to work on a joint NERC-NSF funded project ‘Sensors Under Snow: Seasonal Processes in the Evolution of Arctic Soils (SUN SPEARS)’. The PDRA will develop a novel microbial-biogeochemical model for Arctic soils. The overall aim is to improve the understanding of how seasonal processes contribute to the long-term development of Arctic soils, by linking soil biogeochemical, microbial, geophysical and hydrogeological processes in a mechanistic model. The model will address how soils form following glacier retreat, quantify ecosystem and biogeochemical dynamics, and simulate the future fate of Arctic soils following large-scale ice retreat and climate warming. These activities are linked to the main SUN SPEARS project, which will monitor High-Arctic glacier forefield soils year-round via geophysical sensors and measurement of soil microbial and biogeochemical processes. Model development and calibration will make use of field datasets that will be collected during fieldwork campaigns throughout 2021 and 2022. The PDRA will therefore work within a multidisciplinary team (biogeochemistry, modelling, geomicrobiology, geophysics) and thus develop an interdisciplinary skill set. There may be opportunities for the PDRA to participate in fieldwork in Svalbard. The closing date for applications is January 15, 2021.
Arctic temperatures are warming faster than nearly everywhere else on Earth, with some models projecting that continued warming could produce an ice-free Arctic Ocean in a few decades. The rapid and wide-scale changes occurring in response to this warming portend new opportunities and unprecedented risks to natural environments; social and cultural systems; economic, political and legal systems; and built environments of the Arctic and across the globe. Gaps in scientific observations and the prevalence of interdependent social, natural, and built systems in the Arctic make it challenging to predict the region’s future. Understanding and adapting to a changing Arctic requires creative new directions for Arctic-related research, education, workforce development, and leveraging of science, engineering, and technology advances from outside the Arctic. Navigating the New Arctic (NNA) embodies an important forward-looking response by the Foundation to these profound challenges. NNA seeks innovations in fundamental convergence research across the social, natural, environmental, computing and information sciences, and engineering that address the interactions or connections among natural and built environments and social systems, and how these connections inform our understanding of Arctic change and its local and global effects. This solicitation requests proposals that fall within one of three tracks: NNA Planning Grants, dedicated to developing convergence research questions and teams to tackle projects of larger scope in the future; NNA Research Grants, aimed to support creative projects on fundamental research that address convergent scientific and engineering challenges related to the rapidly changing Arctic; and NNA Collaboratory Grants, designed to support collaborative teams undertaking research and training initiatives on critical themes of a broad scope related to the New Arctic. Full Proposal Deadline: March 5, 2021.
The UNOLS Deep Submergence Science Committee (DeSSC) invites you to attend their fall meeting, Friday, December 4, 2020 at 1pm EST. Ocean scientists and students interested in deep submergence science are encouraged to attend the DeSSC meeting. Registration via the website is required.
The Quantitative and Computational Biology (QCB) section in the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences at the University of Southern California invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in any area of computational biology. The ideal candidate’s research program will take mathematical, computational, and/or statistical approaches to questions in biological or biomedical research. Priority will be given to applicants on the basis of the originality of their work and promise for establishing a strong independent research program. The anticipated start date is August 16, 2021, and applicants must have received a Ph.D. (or equivalent) degree by time of appointment. Review of applications will begin December 15, 2020, and continue until the position is filled.
The Department of Biological Sciences in the University of Southern California Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences invites applications for multiple tenure-track Assistant Professor positions. We seek accomplished and innovative researchers in all areas of biology. We especially encourage applications from candidates whose scholarship bridges the research interests across the sections of our department, namely Human and Evolutionary Biology, Marine and Environmental Biology, Molecular and Computational Biology, and Neurobiology (https://dornsife.usc.edu/bisc/). Review of applications will begin December 15, 2020.
Finding a safe operating space for humankind requires understanding how the Earth system reacts to environmental perturbations. Motivated by this need, the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Southern California seeks exceptional researchers for a tenure-track faculty position(s) at the assistant professor level in the area of global environmental change (broadly defined). We welcome applications from scholars investigating environmental perturbations and their effects using observations (in situ or remotely-sensed), modeling, theory, and/or experiments. We are particularly interested in candidates studying the atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere and/or biosphere, including their interactions and evolution, as well as their connections to the solid Earth. Evaluation of applications will begin on December 20 2020, and continue until the position is filled.
Attending the 2020 AGU Fall Meeting, December 1-17, online? Check out these deep biosphere-related sessions:
- B018 – Chemolithotrophs as extreme ecosystem engineers; how microbial communities and environments influence each other under non-standard conditions
- B028 – Evaluating the role of the deep biosphere in the global carbon cycle: novel methodologies and tools from field sampling to lab scale investigations
- B077 – Coupled Elemental Cycles in Microbial Metabolism I Posters
- B091 – Investigating the Role of the Extreme Biosphere in the Global Element Cycles: How Microbial Communities and Environments Influence Each Other in the Deep Subsurface and Beyond II Posters,
B098 – Investigating the Role of the Extreme Biosphere in the Global Element Cycles: How Microbial Communities and Environments Influence Each Other in the Deep Subsurface and Beyond I - B095 – Soils in the Anthropocene: Mechanisms of Stabilization and Change III Posters
- B111 – Geovirology: Viruses in Earth’s Biomes and Their Impacts on Microbial Ecology and Biogeochemistry II Posters,
B124 – Geovirology: Viruses in Earth’s Biomes and Their Impacts on Microbial Ecology and Biogeochemistry I - B113 – Advances in Understanding and Predicting Microbial Functions in Earth System Processes Under Climate Change II Posters
- H081 – Reactive Transport in Real Rocks: From the Pore to the Field Scale I
- H160 – Fluids in the Earth’s Crust: From Depth to Surface I
- OS016 – Seafloor Cold Seeps Dynamics: Local to Global Impacts of Methane Emission and Gas Hydrates on the Marine Environment I Posters
- OS024 – The Science Behind the Framework for Scientific Ocean Drilling Through 2050 II Posters,
OS026 – The Science Behind the Framework for Scientific Ocean Drilling Through 2050 I - OS043 – Hydrocarbon (Methane or Oil) and Carbon Dioxide Seepage into Marine, Lacustrine, and Terrestrial Environments: Emissions and Impacts on Local to Global Scales I Posters
- P055 – The New Mars Underground (and Beyond) 3.0 III Posters,
P057 – The New Mars Underground (and Beyond) 3.0 I,
P058 – The New Mars Underground (and Beyond) 3.0 II - P064 – Getting the Most Out of Data in Astrobiology: Overcoming the Too Little, Too Rare, and Too Different I Posters
- P075 – Ice and Ocean Worlds: Geology, Oceanography, Chemistry, Habitability I,
P076 – Ice and Ocean Worlds: Geology, Oceanography, Chemistry, Habitability IV Posters,
P083 – Ice and Ocean Worlds: Geology, Oceanography, Chemistry, Habitability II,
P086 – Ice and Ocean Worlds: Geology, Oceanography, Chemistry, Habitability III
Missing a session of interest? Let us know!
The U.S. Science Support Program sponsors workshops to promote the development of new ideas related to the study of the Earth’s processes and history via scientific ocean drilling. The primary goal is to identify promising new scientific objectives and research opportunities. The workshop program encourages wide scientific community involvement to bring a broader and multidisciplinary approach to standing hypotheses and to explore new directions for IODP research and communication. Workshop topics should be related to objectives outlined in the IODP Science Plan, Illuminating Earth’s Past, Present, and Future. Workshops may focus on a specific scientific theme or topic, or they may focus on a geographic region, integrating multiple topics. Regionally-focused workshops offer opportunities to develop drilling proposals for future target areas based on projected ship tracks, or to synthesize scientific results from past expeditions. Workshop proposals must be submitted by researchers affiliated with a U.S. institution. Funding may be requested for U.S.-based workshops or to support U.S. participants at large, international workshops. Proposals are accepted biannually and evaluated competitively by an independent review panel. The next proposal deadline is December 1, 2020.
This Solicitation supports the following funding opportunity to advance geosciences research: Science-Enabling Capabilities: This opportunity builds capabilities to improve geosciences data use and reuse for observational, experimental, and computational research that is interoperable with emerging standards and resources, as well as efforts to integrate different datasets and tools from multiple GEO disciplines. In addition to the solicited opportunity, the EarthCube program will accept requests for supplements to support adoption of emerging EarthCube open web standards and existing cyberinfrastructure (CI) by science projects and data resources. Supplements must abide by the guidelines for supplements in the PAPPG. Prospective PIs should contact an EarthCube program director to discuss a potential supplement. The EarthCube program will accept requests for supplements of the following types: Science adoption: Target broadening or enhancing existing geoscience projects to achieve new research and education outcomes through adoption of existing data and software tools (including, but not limited to, products from EarthCube projects). Possible projects include the adoption of data standards to support the science goals of a project.
Data resource adoption: Support data facilities and data resources to adopt robust standards and/or implementation of pilot tools/activities to improve discovery, interoperability and access to data and CI services. In conjunction with EarthCube/Council of Data Facilities developments, these awards would facilitate adoption of new semantic web standards and machine-readable publishing patterns, such as for the EarthCube data repository and resource registries. These awards are meant for an initial implementation of these standards and are not meant to sustain existing core functions of data facilities. Full proposal deadlines: March 2, 2021.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is currently searching for a Research Associate to join the Marine Chemistry & Geochemistry Department. This is a regular, full-time, exempt position, and is eligible for benefits. A Biogeochemical scientist/data analyst is sought to contribute to projects studying ocean biogeochemistry using sensor-based ocean observing systems. A central role for the Research Associate will be to contribute to the Biogeochemical Argo activities at WHOI, as part of the larger WHOI Argo effort. The successful candidate will join a team pioneering advancements in ocean observations and the development of innovative data products. Responsibilities will include management and quality control of biogeochemical data collected by autonomous oceanographic platforms including Argo floats. Additional tasks will include sensor testing and evaluation, assisting with float pre-deployment checkout, coordinating cruise opportunities, and organizing and archiving cruise validation datasets. The successful candidate must be able to work well in a team, and with national and international partners including contributing to co-authored manuscripts for peer review and reports for internal and external audiences.
Applications for the postdoctoral fellowship program at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) are currently being accepted. MBARI is dedicated to the development of state-of-the-art instrumentation, systems, and methods supporting scientific research in the oceans. Ongoing programs at MBARI span marine robotics, ocean physics, chemistry, geology, biology, and engineering. Located in Moss Landing, California at the head of Monterey Canyon, MBARI enjoys convenient access to a diverse range of ocean environments. The Institute operates two ocean-going research ships, a coastal workboat, remotely operated vehicles, autonomous underwater and surface vehicles, oceanographic profilers and moorings, the MARS seafloor cabled observatory, and a wide range of oceanographic equipment. MBARI is a non-profit oceanographic research institute supported by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Offers will be made to selected candidates from the fields of biological, chemical and physical oceanography, marine geology, and engineering. Candidates must be awarded a Ph.D. degree prior to commencing the two-year appointment starting between July 2021 and June 2022. Applicants should communicate with potential research sponsors at MBARI for guidance on project feasibility, relevance to ongoing research projects, resource availability, and expected start date. Application deadline: January 20, 2021.
The National Ocean Mapping, Exploration, and Characterization Council (NOMEC Council), a group of federal agencies established to carry out the National Strategy for Mapping, Exploring, and Characterizing the United States Exclusive Economic Zone, is requesting your input on developing an Implementation Plan and setting strategic priorities for the effort to map the entire U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) by 2040 and explore and characterize strategic areas. The public is invited to two Virtual Public Listening Sessions to discuss the NOMEC Strategy and Implementation Plan: Session #1: Ocean Exploration and Characterization [Register for November 16, 2:00-3:30pm EST via Zoom]; Session #2: Ocean Mapping [Register for November 18, 2:00-3:30pm EST via Zoom]. Request for Comments: The public is particularly encouraged to provide comments via email on the development of the NOMEC Implementation Plan and strategic priorities. 1) Implementing a National Strategy for Mapping, Exploring, and Characterizing the U.S. EEZ The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a notice stating that the NOMEC Council requests input from all interested parties on the development of an Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for Mapping, Exploring, and Characterizing the U.S. EEZ (“National Strategy”) 85 Fed. Reg. 64446 (10/13/20). 2) Strategic priorities for mapping, exploring, and characterizing the U.S. EEZ NOAA issued a second notice stating that the NOMEC Council requests input from all interested parties on the strategic priorities to be included in the Implementation Plan for the National Strategy 85 Fed. Reg. 64448 (10/13/20). Please submit comments and letters by email no later than November 12, 2020, to nomec.execsec@noaa.gov, with subject line “Public Comment on Implementation Plan for the National Strategy” for request #1 and subject line, “Public Comment on Exploration Priorities for the Implementation Plan” for request #2.
The U.S. Science Support Program is currently accepting applications for the 2021-2022 Schlanger Ocean Drilling Fellowship Program. The Schlanger Fellowship Program offers merit-based awards for graduate students enrolled in a Ph.D. program to conduct research related to the International Ocean Discovery Program. Research may be related to the objectives of past expeditions or it may address broader science themes. Selected fellows will receive an award of $30,000 for a 12-month period that can be used for research, stipend, tuition, or other approved costs. Schlanger Fellowships are open to all graduate students enrolled at U.S. institutions in full-time Ph.D. programs. Applications require reference material from two referees, one of which must be the student’s faculty advisor. All application materials, including reference material, must be submitted by December 11, 2020.
With Dr. Julia McGonigle, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences on “Formate metabolism by Chloroflexi is key in unlocking deep carbon for the Lost City chimney ecosystem.” Abstract: The Lost City hydrothermal field on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge supports dense microbial life on towering calcium carbonate chimney structures. This microbial life is fueled by chemical reactions between the ultramafic rock under the chimneys and ambient seawater. These serpentinization reactions provide reducing power (as hydrogen gas) and organic compounds that can serve as microbial food. Previous studies have characterized the interior of the chimneys as a single-species biofilm inhabited by the Lost City Methanosarcinales, but genomic evidence indicating this methanogen is able to metabolize the most abundant carbon source (formate) is lacking. I will present recent metagenomic results that suggest the non-formate utilizing species inhabiting Lost City chimney biofilms might rely on carbon-cycling activity of a Chloroflexi population. I will also present current comparative genomic work on a distantly-related Chloroflexi population, obtained through hydrothermal fluid sampling, suspected to reside in the subsurface habitat under the Lost City chimneys.
Microbes inhabit and sustain all habitats on Earth. In the oceans, microbes capture solar energy, catalyze biogeochemical transformations of important elements, produce and consume greenhouse gases, and provide the base of the food web. The purpose of these awards is to help launch the careers of outstanding investigators in the field of marine microbial ecology and evolution who will advance our understanding through experiments, modeling or theory. Investigators must be currently active in research on microbial ecology and/or evolution, excluding research focusing on the microbiomes of animals or plants. Investigators with backgrounds in different fields are encouraged to apply. Reference Letters Deadline: October 30, 2020. LOI Deadline: November 5, 2020.
The CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars program supports exceptional early-career researchers with funding, mentorship, a global network, and professional skills development. Application Deadline: October 30, 2021.
We seek a postdoctoral scholar who can make a fundamental contribution to marine mineral research. Proposed work may use either archival samples (extensive USGS and other sample sets exist), or propose the collection of new samples, as feasible. Proposed work may focus in any of the following areas: (1) experimental studies regarding the environmental consequences of marine mineral extraction, (2) targeted speciation and extractability studies of marine critical minerals, (3) estimates of marine minerals within the context of global mineral resources, including terrestrial minerals, (4) statistical analyses of existing marine mineral datasets, (5) relating terrestrial and marine minerals in adjacent settings or (6) developing geophysical techniques to detect or study marine minerals. Other topics may be of interest. In particular, we welcome applications that cross disciplinary boundaries between marine science and geology, and applications that focus on the distribution, extent, or relevance of critical minerals in marine mineral deposits. Proposals that tie in the Earth MRI framework (Hofstra and Kreiner, 2020) are also welcome. These positions are competitive and filled based on availability of funds and qualified applicants; the deadline for submission of applications, which include research proposals, will be January 4, 2021.
This fall, NSF’s Division of Ocean Sciences intends to announce a funding opportunity for Postdoctoral Research Fellowships to provide opportunities for scientists early in their careers to work within and across traditional disciplinary lines, develop partnerships, and avail themselves of unique resources, sites, and facilities. The fellowship program will provide beginning investigators of significant potential with experiences that will further prepare them for positions of leadership in the scientific community. During their PRF tenure, fellows will affiliate with an appropriate research institution(s) and conduct research on topics supported by OCE. NSF is committed to supporting early career researchers during the national crisis created by the COVID19 pandemic. The pandemic has put the country’s academic enterprise under extreme duress. The human impact on all academic members is acute, but especially so for graduate students and early-career scientists. The OCE PRF program will provide important employment options for early career scientists. OCE anticipates awarding about fifteen Postdoctoral Fellowships with approximate start dates of mid 2021 or later. The OCE PRF will emphasize strong scientific merit in a field of science supported by the Division of Ocean Sciences and will require letters of support from a mentor(s). The purview of OCE includes a diversity of disciplinary and cross-disciplinary areas. Projects that make use of existing data, including data archived though NSF-supported data centers such as the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), the Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO), and the sites hosted by the Interdisciplinary Earth Data Alliance (IEDA), such as the Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS), and EarthChem, are encouraged. Information regarding the OCE PRF funding opportunity will be available this fall via the NSF website.
The Biological Oceanography Program in the Division of Ocean Sciences will eliminate target dates and accept proposals for consideration at any time after January 1, 2021. This action is being taken to enable greater flexibility for the community and reduce the burden on investigators, reviewers, and submitting institutions. Proposals requesting ship time should allow for at least 18 months of lead time for those projects requiring Academic Research Fleet Global- or Ocean-Class vessels and at least 12 months for all other ship requests. The Biological Oceanography Program will maintain a high-quality merit review system using ad hoc mail reviews and panels, as appropriate. Evidence from other NSF programs that have eliminated deadlines shows that proposal pressure is reduced and success rates increase with more highly-ranked proposals being funded. The Geosciences Directorate expects the change will reduce the burden on institutions and the community by spreading out proposal submission requests over the course of the year, as opposed to having submissions limited to two specific time windows. The Program hopes that investigators will have more time to build strong collaborations; be more creative without the pressure of a deadline; and propose more complex, interdisciplinary projects. The Biological Oceanography Program will continue its current practice in which a proposal is ineligible for resubmission until a minimum of one year has passed since its initial submission. A proposal on the same general topic by the same PI team is considered a resubmission. This moratorium allows investigators the time required to thoughtfully consider the results of the merit review and revise or restructure their proposal accordingly. Only proposals submitted to the Biological Oceanography Core Program in the Division of Ocean Sciences are affected by this change. Submissions to other Programs and funding opportunities in the Division of Ocean Sciences will continue to follow the deadlines outlined in their respective solicitations and webpages. The Program will continually assess the impact of this change on the merit review goals outlined above. The Program Directors from the Biological Oceanography Program have one more scheduled Town Hall (register for the zoom webinar) on October 21, 2020 to explain the change and address questions from the community.
The National Academies is introducing a national committee that will serve as the voice of the U.S. scientific community during the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, which will run from 2021 to 2030. The U.S. National Committee for the Decade is comprised of the experts who regularly advise the National Academies’ Ocean Studies Board, joined by experts who advise the National Academies’ Science and Technology for Sustainability Roundtable, Marine Board, and Gulf Research Program. Committee functions include establishing communication channels among participating organizations, organizing webinars, and convening meetings to promote and highlight Decade activities. The Committee is hosting a public session Meet the Committee and Help Define the Decade on Friday, October 16, from 2:00-4:00PM EDT. The meeting will feature a request for the research community to submit “Ocean-Shots”, defined as transformational research concepts. Examples of such research will be presented by speakers at the session. Register to attend the event.
The mission of the Institute for Broadening Participation is to increase diversity in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) workforce. Although it may seem early, fellowship deadlines are right around the corner – with many deadlines in October and early November for funding for the 2021/2022 academic year. Links to our database of STEM funding opportunities and tips are provided for undergraduates, graduates and other categories of STEM participant. Thank you in advance for sharing this info with any students who can benefit from it.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine committee on “Advancing a Systems Approach to Studying the Earth” requests your input. The committee is tasked to develop a compelling vision for a systems approach to studying the Earth and to identify the facilities, infrastructure, coordinating mechanisms, computing, and workforce development needed to support that vision. The committee seeks feedback from the scientific community across all components of the Earth system including the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, geosphere, and human institutions and infrastructure. Your answers to this questionnaire will help the authoring committee better understand the range of issues associated with this complex topic.
The Symbiosis in Aquatic Systems Initiative is pleased to announce a new collaboration with the Wellcome Sanger Institute to sequence the genomes of 1,000 freshwater and marine organisms involved in aquatic symbioses where at least one partner is a microbe. The Aquatic Symbiosis Project seeks to provide the genomic foundations needed by scientists to answer key questions about the ecology and evolution of aquatic symbioses. The goals of this project are to create essential research infrastructure and to build community across aquatic symbiosis researchers. Phase One of the Aquatic Symbiosis Genomics project has linked the Sanger research team with four international teams of collaborators who bring their expert knowledge in symbiosis to the project. The four team leads are: Dr. Ute Hentschel Humeida (GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Germany): Sponges as symbiont communities, Dr. Jose Victor Lopez (Nova Southeastern University, USA): Photosymbiosis in marine animals, Dr. Michael Sweet (University of Derby, UK): Coral symbiosis sensitivity to environmental change, Dr. John Archibald (Dalhousie University, Canada): Evolution of new symbioses in single-celled eukaryotes. Phase Two is now open for applicants to propose additional organisms for sequencing. For more information, including FAQs, the list of organisms currently in the sequencing queue, and a link to the application, please visit the Aquatic Symbiosis Project website. Applications are due November 1, 2020.
The National Science Foundation is sponsoring a series of workshops to accelerate the convergence between academic, industry, government agencies, and foundations. The NSF Convergence Accelerator’s mission is to address national-scale societal challenges through use-inspired convergence research. Using a convergence approach, the Accelerator integrates multidisciplinary research and innovation processes to transition basic research and discovery toward impactful solutions. Please join October 5, 7, and 9, 2020 for the Future of Oceans: Innovation, Exploration, and Utilization Workshop. This workshop, organized by MIT, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, and NSF, will explore ongoing challenges and emerging opportunities in ocean innovation, exploration, and utilization.
Caltech invites you and other faculty in your department to nominate your top rising junior or senior students of color (those who have been historically underrepresented in STEM including, but not limited to, African American/Black, Latin(x), Native/Indigenous/First Nation, and Hawaiian/Pacific Islander) who may be interested in pursuing a PhD in any division of science and engineering for FUTURE Ignited, an online virtual conference to be held on October 17. Participants in FUTURE Ignited will have an opportunity to engage in short science talks and “day in a life” presentations by current graduate students and to hear from panels of current students and faculty addressing topics including applying to graduate school, challenges of graduate life, financing graduate study, community-building, and much more. For seniors, the program includes small-group follow-up sessions about two weeks later to workshop the elements of graduate school applications. For juniors, the program includes information about Caltech’s WAVE program of summer undergraduate research experiences for students of color. The goal of FUTURE Ignited is to support the ambitions of aspiring young scientists of color and to cultivate a diverse next generation of scientific leaders. We are requesting that you or your colleagues complete a very short nomination form, which can be accessed through our website. Please distribute this announcement among your colleagues and encourage them to submit nominations. The student does not have to be from the same university as the nominator and does not have to be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. based student (we welcome you to nominate a student you may know through a research collaboration, visit, etc.). We strongly prefer nominations from faculty but will also consider nominations from non-faculty and self-nominations. Nominations are due by September 28, 2020.
With speakers LPI/USRA astrobiologist and geomicrobiologist Dr. Kennda Lynch, WHOI marine microbiologist Dr. Julie Huber, WHOI marine geoscientist Dr. Chris German, and special guest, comedian Eugene Mirman. Earth’s ocean is essential to life and may have even given rise to life on our planet billions of years ago. We now know that vast oceans of liquid water also exist beneath the icy shells of moons in our own solar system. These ocean worlds provide compelling targets in the search for extraterrestrial life, perhaps within the next human generation. Join us for a stimulating discussion of how the exploration of the depths of our ocean can help inform the search for life beyond Earth. Register now!
The International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) and U.S. Science Support Program (USSSP) are now accepting applications for scientific participants from U.S. institutions to join Expedition 396 Mid-Norwegian Continental Margin Magmatism, scheduled for 6 August to 6 October 2021 aboard the JOIDES Resolution. Expedition 396 is a scientific ocean drilling project that seeks to understand the nature, cause and climate implications of excess magmatism during the northeast Atlantic continental breakup. The expedition will take place from 6 August to 6 October 2021. Opportunities exist for researchers (including graduate students) in most shipboard specialties, including but not limited to sedimentologists, volcanologists, petrologists, igneous geochemists, inorganic and organic geochemists, micropaleontologists, paleomagnetists, physical properties specialists, and borehole geophysicists. Good working knowledge of the English language is required. The deadline to apply has been extended to October 19, 2020.
The NSF INCLUDES Big Idea is a comprehensive national initiative to enhance U.S. leadership in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) discoveries and innovations focused on NSF’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, and broadening participation in these fields. The vision of NSF INCLUDES is to catalyze the STEM enterprise to work collaboratively for inclusive change, resulting in a STEM workforce that reflects the population of the Nation. More specifically, NSF INCLUDES seeks to improve collaborative efforts aimed at enhancing the preparation, increasing the participation, and ensuring the contributions of individuals from groups that have been historically underrepresented and underserved in the STEM enterprise such as African Americans, Alaska Natives, Hispanics, Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, Native Pacific Islanders, persons with disabilities, persons from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and women and girls. Significant advancement in the inclusion of underrepresented groups in STEM will result in a new generation of STEM talent and leadership to secure our nation’s future and long-term economic competitiveness. Through this solicitation, NSF INCLUDES will support the establishment and growth of new Alliances that employ a collaborative infrastructure approach to address a critical broadening participation challenge in STEM at scale. Letter of Intent deadline: October 5, 2020.
The US National Science Foundation (NSF) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Research Cooperation. The MOU provides an overarching framework to encourage collaboration between US and UK research communities and sets out the principles by which jointly supported activities might be developed. The MOU provides for a lead agency arrangement whereby proposals may be submitted to either NSF (via Research.gov or Grants.gov) or UKRI (via Je-S). The NSF Directorate for Biological Sciences (NSF/BIO) and the UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) are pleased to announce new topical areas associated with the lead agency opportunity. The lead agency opportunity allows for reciprocal acceptance of merit review through unsolicited mechanisms. Its goal is to help reduce some of the current barriers to working internationally. Proposals relevant to the following priority areas and agency programs are eligible to apply for the lead agency opportunity in 2020/2021: Biological Informatics, Microbes and the Host Immune System, and Quantum Biology and Synthetic Cell.
The International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) explores Earth’s climate history, structure, mantle/crust dynamics, natural hazards, and deep biosphere as described in the IODP Science Plan Illuminating Earth’s Past, Present, and Future. IODP facilitates international and interdisciplinary research on transformative and societally relevant topics using the ocean drilling, coring, and downhole measurement facilities JOIDES Resolution (JR), Chikyu, and Mission Specific Platforms (MSP). The number of proposals, at all stages of development, currently in the system for the JOIDES Resolution provide many high-quality options for scheduling the ship through the end of the current program and into 2024; therefore, we are not requesting new pre-proposals or full proposals. We will accept revisions to pre-proposals and full proposals already in the system, new Ancillary Project Letters (APLs), new Land-2-Sea proposals, and submission of proposals that were deactivated in 2020 with an encouragement to revise and re-submit. Deadline: April 1, 2021.
The CSP New Investigator call seeks to target investigators and research initiatives new to the JGI, with an emphasis on providing pilot data to assess feasibility of a novel approach or form the foundation for a large-scale CSP proposal submission. Projects must be independent of ongoing JGI proposals, and lead PIs cannot have been lead PI on any previously accepted JGI CSP or FICUS proposal. Sequence requests should not exceed 500 Gbp in total. Current call topics include: Bacterial and archaeal isolates and single cell draft genomes; Genome resequencing; Plant/algal genome size estimation; RNA sequencing; Bacterial and archaeal epigenomes and high-quality draft genomes; Metagenomes and metatranscriptomes; DNA synthesis for functional assays; Metabolomics based functional analyses. Proposals are accepted on a continuous basis and will be reviewed twice a year. Letters of intent are not required. Deadline for submission is 60 days prior to the review date. Next deadline: March 21, 2020.
The International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) is now accepting applications for scientific participants with expertise in geochemistry or microbiology, to join the offshore phase and the onshore science party for Expedition 386 Japan Trench Paleoseismology. Expedition 386 will take place aboard a Mission-Specific Platform (MSP) organized by the ECORD Science Operator (ESO) and jointly implemented with the Institute for Marine-Earth Exploration and Engineering (MarE3) within the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC). The deadline to apply is September 25, 2020.
The Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) awards Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB) to recent recipients of the doctoral degree for research and training in selected areas supported by BIO and with special goals for human resource development in biology. For applications under this solicitation, these areas are (1) Broadening Participation of Groups Underrepresented in Biology, (2) Integrative Research Investigating the Rules of Life Governing Interactions Between Genomes, Environment and Phenotypes, and (3) Plant Genome Postdoctoral Research Fellowships. The fellowships encourage independence at an early stage of the research career to permit Fellows to pursue their research and training goals in the most appropriate research locations in collaboration with sponsoring scientists. It is expected that the sponsoring scientists will actively mentor the Fellows and will greatly benefit from collaborating with these talented early-career scientists and incorporating them into their research groups. The research and training plan of each fellowship must address important scientific questions within the scope of BIO and the specific guidelines in this fellowship program solicitation. Because the fellowships are offered to postdoctoral scientists only early in their careers, NSF encourages doctoral students to discuss the availability of these postdoctoral fellowships with their doctoral mentors and potential postdoctoral sponsors early in their doctoral programs to take advantage of this funding opportunity. Fellowships are awards to individuals, not institutions, and are administered by the Fellows. Full proposal deadline: November 18, 2020.
The Division of Earth Sciences (EAR) awards Postdoctoral Fellowships to recent recipients of doctoral degrees to conduct an integrated program of independent research and professional development. Fellowship proposals must address scientific questions within the scope of EAR disciplinary programs and must align with the overall theme for the postdoctoral program. The program supports researchers for a period of up to two years with fellowships that can be taken to the institution of their choice (including institutions abroad). The program is intended to recognize beginning investigators of significant potential, and provide them with research experience, mentorship, and training that will establish them in leadership positions in the Earth Sciences community. Because the fellowships are offered only to postdoctoral scientists early in their career, doctoral advisors are encouraged to discuss the availability of EAR postdoctoral fellowships with their graduate students early in their doctoral programs. Fellowships are awards to individuals, not institutions, and are administered by the Fellows. Full proposal deadline date: September 9, 2020.
We have decided to further postpone ISSM2020. It will be held in 2021. The date is not yet set, likely in spring/summer. The accepted presentations and poster remain accepted. Possibly we will reopen abstract submission later this year. If you are a selected presenter (including key note speakers), and you are declining (hopefully not), please, let us know. We do apologize for this inconvenience in these crazy times and thank you for your understanding.
With Dr. Rose Jones, University of Minnesota on “Menu for a deep microbe; attempts in understanding microbe-mineral interactions in the deep marine seafloor.” Abstract: For microbes in the deep marine subsurface, inorganic chemical energy often is the sole energy source, catalyzing redox reactions of chemical species dissolved in fluid or from solid substrate. This influences the environment by altering subsurface minerals and geochemistry. I’m currently looking for evidence of how microbes influence mineralogy at East Pacific Rise 9.5°N, using Synchrotron microprobe X-ray fluorescence mapping (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray absorption spectroscopies (XAS) to map element distributions and phase identification for crystalline and poorly-crystalline minerals. With this information we can describe how minerals change in space and time during the transition from active to inactive venting, providing context for understanding microbial community patterns. Using bioelectrochemistry, I also found evidence of microbes capable of influencing cool, oxic basalt at North Pond, Mid-Atlantic ridge through directly transferring electrons from the minerals. Overall, our results are attempting to understand how microbes and minerals influence each other and local geochemistry in the deep marine seafloor.
The Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP) provides awards to Tribal Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native-serving institutions, and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions to promote high quality science (including sociology, psychology, anthropology, economics, statistics, and other social and behavioral sciences as well as natural sciences), technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, research, and outreach. Support is available to TCUP-eligible institutions for research studies (in addition to capacity-building and multi-institution collarborations), that further the scholarly activity of individual faculty members are supported through Small Grants for Research (SGR) [Deadline: December 10, 2020] and Science Education Alliance Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science in Tribal Colleges and Universities (SEA-PHAGES in TCUs) [Deadline: September 4, 2020]. Through TCUP programs, as well as collaborations with other National Science Foundation (NSF) units and other organizations, TCUP aims to increase Native individuals’ participation in STEM careers and improve the quality of STEM programs at TCUP-eligible institutions. TCUP strongly encourages the inclusion of activities that will benefit veterans.
The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation. REU projects involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects specifically designed for the REU program. This solicitation features two mechanisms for support of student research: (1) REU Sites are based on independent proposals to initiate and conduct projects that engage a number of students in research. REU Sites may be based in a single discipline or academic department or may offer interdisciplinary or multi-department research opportunities with a coherent intellectual theme. Proposals with an international dimension are welcome. (2) REU Supplements may be included as a component of proposals for new or renewal NSF grants or cooperative agreements or may be requested for ongoing NSF-funded research projects. Undergraduate student participants in either REU Sites or REU Supplements must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or permanent residents of the United States. Students do not apply to NSF to participate in REU activities. Students apply directly to REU Sites or to NSF-funded investigators who receive REU Supplements. To identify appropriate REU Sites, students should consult the directory of active REU Sites. Full proposal deadline: August 26, 2020.
The purpose of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is to help ensure the quality, vitality, and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing full-time 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 actively encourages women, members of underrepresented minority groups, persons with disabilities, veterans, and undergraduate seniors to apply. Application deadlines: October 19-22, 2020.
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences invites applications for Senior Research Scientists (SRSs). Our new strategic plan calls for hiring six new SRSs over the next five years to lead transformative, interdisciplinary research that advances Bigelow Laboratory’s mission. We seek candidates in the following, broad research areas: (1) the ocean’s genetic potential, (2) ocean-climate interactions, and (3) the foundation of ocean food webs. Particularly encouraged are applicants who increase the breadth of the Laboratory’s scientific portfolio and approaches, including those on the periphery of marine sciences. Minimum requirements include a Ph.D. degree in a relevant field. We will consider candidates at all levels of their career progression. Strong candidates will have demonstrated capability to acquire external funding and lead scientific programs appropriate to their career stage. We welcome applications from candidates who will bring to their research the perspective that comes from a nontraditional educational background or understanding of the experiences of those underrepresented in higher education. Dual-career applicants are welcome. Bigelow Laboratory is a “soft money” institution where SRSs have the freedom to pursue their own funded research and entrepreneurial portfolio that advances the institutional mission. SRSs also have opportunities to participate in Bigelow Laboratory’s sponsored teaching and mentoring activities. SRSs receive institutional salary support to engage in governance and administrative activities associated with the Laboratory’s unique operational model. Salary and start-up packages are based upon current career level, but are negotiable. For full consideration, the application should be received by September 15, 2020.
The samples recovered during IODP Expedition 385 offer the unique chance to study the interplay between thermochemical and biological processes at the upper temperature limit of life. Because sulfate reduction is the quantitatively most important process in anaerobic degradation of organic matter in marine sediments, this parameter is crucial for our understanding of carbon cycling in this system. The proposed project focuses specifically on quantification of sulfate reduction, and the effects of temperature and pressure on the microbial community. A special feature of Guaymas Basin are the extensive sills that intersect the organic-rich sediment. These sudden magmatic intrusions cause local heating of the sediment and thereby thermochemical cracking of otherwise non-bioavailable macromolecular organic matter. However, the extent of this heating effect is not known, is it just very localized and does not play any larger quantitative role, or do these sills alter biogeochemical conditions and processes on a larger scale? Your responsibilities include: quantification of biological turnover rates in deep sediments via incubation experiments with radioactive isotopes (35S, 14C, 3H); enrichment, cultivation and physiological experiments with subsurface microorganisms, using anaerobic cultivation techniques and high pressure equipment; geochemical analyses of samples and media using Ion Chromatography, Photometry, Tiration etc.; microscopy of microbial cells, using different techniques (FISH, CARD-FISH, BONCAT); publish in international peer-reviewed journals and present results at scientific meetings; co-supervise B.Sc. and M.Sc. students. We are looking forward to receiving your application by the August 7, 2020.
As some of you may have noticed (e.g. at the Ocean Sciences meeting in San Diego in February) a small group of us have been working at the interface between Ocean Sciences and Planetary Sciences of late, beginning to think about what it would take to make sure that the expertise that we can bring from study of Earth’s Oceans can be harnessed to maximize returns from future Space Missions to explore the oceans recently revealed to be present in some abundance, right here in our own solar system. Since the start of the year, NASA has established a research coordination network called the Network for Ocean Worlds which you can learn more about (and sign up to become affiliated with) at oceanworlds.space. I am writing now because starting later this Summer is when NASA, working in concert with the National Academies, undertakes a decadal planning process for its priorities in Planetary Science and Astrobiology. To that end, our Network has developed a new White Paper advocating for a national program of Ocean Worlds Exploration, starting in the coming decade, precisely because we reason that such research provides the greatest opportunity to find life beyond Earth within the lifetime of anyone reading this email. The vision includes partnership between NASA and the UNOLS agencies. If you think this sounds of interest please a) download the paper (7 pages / 20yr vision / implicit budget of >$10Bn); b) add any suggestions for improvement to the White Paper via the comment box; and c) sign up to endorse what we are proposing if you would like to see NASA prioritize Ocean Worlds studies. The latter is important: you will find that a number of your oceanographic colleagues’ names already appear on the endorsement page but the more the better to show the National Academy & NASA that this is something that oceanographers are interested in contributing to. Lastly, even if your priorities remain Earth-bound, note that this initiative would inevitably result in a new branch of NASA investing in new ocean technologies; a vote for NASA to be interested in Ocean Worlds doesn’t mean that you have to believe study of Earth’s Oceans is not vitally important to society. – NOW Co-Leads: Alison Murray (Desert Research Institute), Kevin Arrigo (Stanford), Alyssa Rhoden (Southwest Research Institute). Chris German (WHOI).
The Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences (MEAS) at North Carolina State University (NC State) intends to hire a tenure-track faculty member at the rank of Assistant Professor in the area of chemical oceanography. Desirable expertise includes research via experimental and/or field studies in the areas of nutrients, trace elements, reactive oxygen species, carbonates, gases, or radioisotopes. We encourage applicants to apply who work on global problems in the pelagic ocean as well as benthic-water column interactions. The successful candidate should complement existing strengths in marine biogeochemistry, biological and physical oceanography, and marine geology. The anticipated start date is August 16, 2021. The successful candidate must demonstrate strong potential for outstanding accomplishments in research, research supervision, and teaching. Specific course offerings may include undergraduate and graduate chemical oceanography, marine chemistry, and/or other classes commensurate with the candidate’s interest and expertise. An interest in participating in the Department’s capstone undergraduate field investigation of coastal processes course is also desirable. Review of applications will begin on October 12, 2020 and the position will remain open until filled.
Attending (virtually or in person) the AGU Fall Meeting, December 7-11, 2020? Consider submitting your abstracts (due July 29, 2020) to these deep biosphere-related Session Proposals:
- B003: Advances in representing microbial functions in ecosystem and Earth system models
Conveners: Yang Song, University of Arizona, Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, Gangsheng Wang, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus, and Scott R Saleska, University of Arizona, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology - B018: Chemolithotrophs as extreme ecosystem engineers; how microbial communities and environments influence each other under non-standard conditions
Conveners:Rose Jones, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, and Tomasa Sbaffi, University of Exeter, United Kingdom - B021: Coupled Elemental Cycles in Microbial Metabolism
Conveners:William C Nelson, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Biological Sciences, Jianqiu Zheng, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and Michael J Wilkins, Colorado State University, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences - B028: Evaluating the role of the deep biosphere in the global carbon cycle: novel methodologies and tools from field sampling to lab scale investigations
Conveners:Anais Cario, CNRS, ICMCB, Bordeaux, France, and Samuel Marre, CNRS, Paris, France - B034: Geovirology: Viruses in Earth’s Biomes and Their Impacts on Microbial Ecology and Biogeochemistry
Conveners:Joanne B Emerson, University of California Davis, Ella Sieradzki, University of California, Berkeley, Simon Roux, Joint Genome Institute, Environmental Genomics, and Gareth George Trubl, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory - B039: Integrating molecular insights to advance predictive biogeochemistry: theories, observations and modeling
Conveners:Jianqiu Zheng, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Debjani Sihi, University of Florida, Melanie A Mayes, ORNL, Oak Ridge, TN, and Timothy D Scheibe, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory - ED033: Undergraduate Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean, and Space Science Research and Outreach
Conveners:Andria P Ellis, UNAVCO, Inc. Boulder, Education and Community Engagement, Kadidia V. Thiero, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, Pranoti M. Asher, American Geophysical Union, and Virginia L Peterson, Grand Valley State University - ED035: Virtual and In-Person Educator and Student Research Programs Promoting Authentic Scientific Experience
Conveners: Edgar A Bering III, University of Houston, Sanlyn Buxner, Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, AZ, and Constance E Walker, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL, United States - P002: Aquaplanetology: Aqueous environments and habitability in the Solar System
Conveners:Yasuhito Sekine, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Gabriel Tobie, LPGN Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géodynamique de Nantes, Nantes, France, Bethany L Ehlmann, California Institute of Technology, Geological and Planetary Sciences, and Morgan L Cable, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology - P010: Detecting life through space and time: from geochemistry to biology
Conveners:Luoth Chou, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Solar System Exploration Division, Natalie Grefenstette, Santa Fe Institute, Heather Graham, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Solar System Exploration Division, and Sarah Johnson, Georgetown University - P017: Getting the Most out of Data in Astrobiology: Overcoming the Too Little, Too Rare, and Too Different
Conveners:Diana Gentry, NASA Ames Research Center, Haley M Sapers, University of Western Ontario, Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration, and Amanda M. Stockton, Jet Propulsion Laboratory - P018: Ice and Ocean Worlds: Geology, oceanography, chemistry, habitability
Conveners:Catherine C Walker, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Steve Vance, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Alyssa Mills, University of Alabama, Department of Geological Sciences, and Mallory J Kinczyk, North Carolina State University, Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences - P042: The New Mars Underground (and Beyond) 3.0
Conveners:Rachel Lee Harris, Princeton University, Department of Geosciences, Jesse Dylan Tarnas, Brown University, Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Ana-Catalina Plesa, German Aerospace Center DLR, Berlin, Germany - OS023: Seafloor Cold Seeps Dynamics: Local to Global Impacts of Methane Emission and Gas Hydrates on the Marine Environment
Conveners:Davide Oppo, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Adam D Skarke, Mississippi State University, Miriam Römer, MARUM – University of Bremen, Department of Geosciences, and Samantha Benton Joye, University of Georgia, Department of Marine Sciences - OS025: The Science Behind the Framework for Scientific Ocean Drilling through 2050
Conveners:Clive Robert Neal, University of Notre Dame, Gabriele Uenzelmann-Neben, Alfred Wegener Inst Polar, Bremerhaven, Germany, Nobukazu Seama, Kobe University, Japan, and Dick Kroon, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Missing a session of interest? Let us know!
For over 20 years, the Ocean Discovery Lecture Series (formerly the Distinguished Lecturer Series) has brought the remarkable scientific results and discoveries of the International Ocean Discovery Program and its predecessor programs to academic research institutions, museums, and aquaria. Since 1991, over 1,000 presentations to diverse audiences have been made through the Lecture Series. Participation of researchers in the USSSP Ocean Discovery Lecture Series is essential to the program’s goal of bringing scientific results and discoveries to the geoscience community. The nomination period for the 2021-2022 Ocean Discovery Lecturers is now open. Please submit nominations by the deadline of July 22, 2020.
The first season of the NASA Astrobiology Program’s Network for Ocean Worlds quarterly Lecture Series, “Life on Ocean Worlds,” continues today, June 15th at 2 PM Eastern time. Episode 2: “Life on the seafloors and in the oceans” will consist of two live 20-minute lectures:
- “Earth: Life on the seafloors and in the oceans” by Dr. Julie Huber, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
- “Ocean Worlds: Life on the seafloors and in the oceans,” by Dr. Kevin Hand, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
The event is will be held via WebEx. The lectures will each be 20 minutes with 10 minutes for questions. Afterwards, the lines will stay open for an additional 30 minutes for an audience discussion of crosscutting themes between the exploration of oceans and ice on the Earth and in the Solar System. The meetings will be recorded and made available online.
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and the US-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Research Cooperation. The MOU provides an overarching framework to encourage collaboration between U.S. and Israeli research communities and sets out the principles by which jointly supported activities might be developed. The MOU provides for an international collaboration arrangement whereby U.S. researchers may receive funding from the NSF and Israeli researchers may receive funding from the BSF. The goal of this US-Israel collaborative research opportunity is to help reduce some of the current barriers to working internationally. Through a lead agency model, NSF and BSF will address these issues by allowing U.S. and Israeli researchers to submit a single collaborative proposal that will undergo a single review process at NSF, which will be the lead agency. The collaborative opportunity described in this Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) remains in effect until archived. This is not a single-year program.
Join the NSF Geosciences Directorate’s Division of Ocean Sciences on Thursday, June 18, 2020, 12:00 PM – 4:30 PM EDT for the virtual 2020 Frontiers in Ocean Sciences Symposium. The theme of this year’s Symposium is Partnerships. Four NSF-funded scientists will share their pioneering research, their stories, and how they have fostered and learned from partnerships in their career. A panel of alumni from last year’s Symposium will convene for an update on their research and for an engaging discussion with you. See the agenda and registration flyer for details.
Save the date for our season finale on “Oceans Beyond Earth: From Earth’s deep ocean to the search for extraterrestrial life.” With NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory astrobiologist Kevin Hand, WHOI oceanographer Julie Huber, and WHOI deep-sea explorer Chris German and special guest, comedian Eugene Mirman.
The American Geosciences Institute is conducting a year-long study to understand how geoscience employers and educational institutions are changing their workplace and instructional environments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and to discover which of these changes will become permanent. This study is open to all geoscientists, including geoscience students, retired, and not currently employed, who reside in the United States, and are at least 18 years old. Over the next 52 weeks, we will email a brief online status survey twice a month to each participant. The information you provide will be valuable in helping geoscience academic institutions, geoscience employers and decision makers to understand the short-term and long-term structural impacts on the geoscience enterprise from the COVID-19 pandemic. Results from the study will be reported only in aggregate and in a manner that ensures the confidentiality of the responses. Participation is voluntary, and you may discontinue your participation at any time.
The Hatzenpichler Environmental Microbiology Lab at Montana State University (Bozeman, MT) is looking for a postdoctoral researcher to join a collaborative project on the diversity, genomics, physiology, and ultrastructure of Asgard archaea and its implications for eukaryogenesis. This research project is part of an international collaboration between the Hatzenpichler lab and the groups of Brett Baker, Mark Ellisman, and Thijs Ettema. Together, we seek to obtain a comprehensive genetic catalog of Asgard archaea diversity, determine their physiology, and characterize their cellular ultrastructure. To achieve this, we will employ an array of “omics”, physiology, and microscopic approaches. Determining the identity of archaea most closely related to eukaryotes, their physiological interactions, and cellular structure will transform our understanding of eukaryogenesis. The postdoc will use a combination of cutting-edge next-generation physiology approaches targeted at Asgard archaea physiology and cell-cell (metabolic and physical) interactions. Approaches to be employed include stable isotope probing, substrate analog probing, fluorescence activated cell sorting, Raman micro-spectroscopy, different in situ visualization techniques, as well as genome analyses and targeted cultivation. The postdoc’s main objective will be to experimentally test genomic predictions on Asgard archaea physiology and cellular interactions, and (ideal case scenario) obtain an enrichment culture of an Asgard archaeon. The position will be available starting September 1st 2020 and will remain open until filled.
- June 16, 2020:Abyssal Plains & Seamounts [ Register 10am Eastern | Register 2pm Pacific ]
Speakers: Tim Shank (WHOI), Jasper Konter (SOEST, U. Hawaii), Steve D’Hondt (GSO, U. Rhode Island), Jill McDermott (Lehigh U.) - June 30, 2020:Trenches & Transforms [ Register 10am Eastern | Register 2pm Pacific ]
Speakers: Patty Fryer (SOEST, U. Hawaii), Chris German (WHOI), Karen Rogers (Rensellear Polytechnic Inst.), Julie Huber (WHOI), Jeff Drazen (SOEST, U. Hawaii)
- July 7, 2020:Abyssal Technology & Societal Relevance [ Register 10am Eastern | Register 2pm Pacific ] Speakers: Pete Girguis (Harvard), Beth Orcutt (Bigelow Marine Lab), Bruce Strickrott (WHOI), Diva Amon (London NHM)
For 2020, the U.S. Science Support Program in association with IODP is seeking new U.S.-based members for the U.S. Advisory Committee for Scientific Drilling (USAC) and the Science Evaluation Panel (SEP), as well as one senior U.S.-based scientist to serve on the JOIDES Resolution Facility Board (JRFB). All new members will serve three-year terms, beginning in October 2020. Scientific disciplines particularly needed for SEP this year include paleoceanography / paleoclimate, hydrology, geomechanics, structural geology & tectonics, marine geology & geophysics, sedimentology / stratigraphy, and geochemistry. For USAC, USSSP seeks expertise in all scientific disciplines relevant to IODP. Candidates for the JRFB should have an extensive history of participation in scientific ocean drilling. We encourage the involvement of early and mid-career scientists on USAC and SEP, as well as those with more experience. Scientists interested in volunteering for these opportunities should apply by July 10, 2020.
The European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling (ECORD) regrettably announces that IODP Expedition 377: Arctic Ocean Paleoceanography will not be implemented in August to October 2021. In spring 2020, the ECORD Science Operator (ESO) opened a call to the commercial market to provide platform, drilling and ice management services for this expedition. The commercial bids received were evaluated at the end of May 2020. Unfortunately, it has been concluded that the procurement has failed to achieve its objectives. The primary and overriding reason for this is the combination of facilities and services required cannot be fulfilled within the expedition’s available budget. At its recent spring meeting on 10-11 June 2020, ECORD Council confirmed the removal of Expedition 377 from the 2021 mission-specific platform expedition schedule. Later in June, the ECORD Facility Board will consider options for future MSP expeditions for 2021-2023. The Call for Scientists will now be stopped, and announcements on the future of Expedition 377 will be made via IODP-related channels in due course. Current applications will be deleted, and a fresh Call for Scientist issued if and when appropriate.
The Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory is seeking an Associate Research Scientist/Assistant Director of Education and Outreach for the U.S. Science Support Program (USSSP) associated with the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP). The successful candidate will have a Ph.D. in Earth science and lead the USSSP staff in managing and overseeing the USSSP Education & Outreach program, which consists of: (1) Raising awareness of IODP and Earth science; (2) Providing support and outreach for IODP expeditions; (3) Inspiring students in STEM fields to pursue careers in science or engineering within the Earth sciences; (4) Empowering educators to incorporate IODP data and scientific materials into their curricula; and (5) Increasing diversity in IODP via targeted outreach. Minimum requirements include a Ph.D. in Earth science, with at least two years of experience in education and outreach and demonstrated management skills. Review of applications will commence on May 6, 2020. The advertisement will stay open until the position is filled.
This webinar will provide an insight into the federal grant proposal opportunities available for geoscience students pursuing careers within academia. Speakers from four federal agencies will discuss the nuances of each of their individual programs as well as provide some advice on how to submit successful applications. This webinar will introduce a variety of federal fellowship programs, examine the key components of the application materials including eligibility and deadlines, and provide advice to submit successful applications. Our speakers are: Jessamin Straub, 2020 NOAA Knauss Fellow/R&D Advisor, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers HQ; Christina Richardson, NSF Graduate Research Fellow, Dept. of Earth & Planetary Sciences, UC Santa Cruz; Jessica Ball, former USGS Mendenhall Fellow, Staff Scientist, US Geological Survey; and Jeff Berger, NASA Postdoctoral Fellow, NASA Johnson Space Center.
This OCE program officers and staff invite you and colleagues to a special OCE Virtual Town Hall to provide updates on NSF/OCE responses to the current pandemic and answer any general questions you may have. The meeting will be led by OCE staff including program officers from the science programs and from ship operations. It will be held on two dates: May 4 and 5, at 2PM Eastern time. The two sessions will be the same, so you would likely want to choose one. The meeting will be conducted as a zoom webinar and you must pre-register in advance to participate. There will be a short presentation followed by Q+A conducted using the chat (text) function that will be moderated. Register in advance for the May 4 webinar or register in advance for the May 5 webinar.
Dear Ocean Sciences Community,
Given the impacts and uncertainties from the current pandemic, we would like to raise awareness of a few issues which might be particularly relevant for ocean science proposal submissions in the near future. The current stand-down of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet (as well as many foreign research vessels) is delaying many 2020 projects dependent upon sea time and is expected to create a backlog of research cruises into 2021. We would like to assure the community that OCE will continue to accept proposals with Ship Time Requests and they will be reviewed as normal with the science rationale coming first, followed by assessment of the fit of the ship request to the science proposed, and finally ship logistics (timing and location). That said, PIs will need to be even more flexible than usual about cruise scheduling over the next year or so. With regards to currently funded cruises, we’d like to take this opportunity to make sure you are also aware of the latest information from UNOLS.
In addition, we want to remind the community that NSF OCE is, as always, interested in receiving proposals that use existing data and samples. The ocean research community has made significant progress in getting data and samples into public repositories for wider use and re-use. We believe these resources can be more fully exploited to advance our understanding of the oceans, ocean basins, and margins. Proposals with strong science that synthesize and utilize these data are welcome. Ongoing streams of data are also available from sources such as OOI, Argo, coastal observing networks, LTER sites, remote sensing, model output, and others. We expect continued enhancements in access to an even wider array of data sets in the future with innovations in observational capability and cyberinfrastructure.
Like you, we are all looking forward to returning to our offices and to more normal operations. We appreciate your ongoing support with our review processes. Please continue to reach out to us with any questions you have.
Sincerely,
Hedy Edmonds
Michael Sieracki
Deborah Smith
Mete Uz
Rose Dufour
On behalf of OCE Programs
The Simons Foundation invites applications for postdoctoral fellowships to support basic research on fundamental problems in marine microbial ecology, with an emphasis on understanding the role of microorganisms in shaping ocean processes, and vice versa. The foundation is particularly interested in applicants with training in different fields, as well as applicants with experience in modeling or theory development. While these cross-disciplinary applicants will receive particular attention, applicants already involved in ocean research are also encouraged to apply. The foundation anticipates awarding five fellowships in 2020. Application deadline: May 15, 2020.
The NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER) is soliciting ocean exploration proposals to support projects that provide data and information that may inform ocean-related segments of the U.S. economy through mapping, characterization, and exploration of the deep seafloor and water column of the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as well as marine cultural heritage in U.S. waters. Proposals are being requested on the following three topics: 1. OCEAN EXPLORATION. Ocean exploration to inform management, sustainable use, and conservation of marine resources in poorly explored deep ocean areas of the U.S. EEZ. Areas proposed for exploration and/or initial characterization must be at a minimum water depth of 200 m or more. 2. MARINE ARCHAEOLOGY. Discovery and characterization of underwater cultural heritage to inform decisions on preservation and seabed use, and to identify sources of potential environmental impacts. Marine archaeology proposals can be conducted in any water depth within the U.S. EEZ. 3. TECHNOLOGY. Application of new or novel use of existing ocean technologies or innovative methods that increase the scope and efficiency of acquiring ocean exploration data and improve usability of and access to ocean exploration data. Proposed technologies must be applicable to water depths of 200 m or greater, though testing in shallower water or lab-based test facilities will be supported. Technology testing may occur outside of U.S. waters. The deadline for the pre-proposal submission is July 8, 2020. The full proposal will be due on October 22, 2020.
The new Expedition and Community Outreach Coordinator will assist with expedition-related communications and outreach programs, with the goal of engaging, influencing, and generating public support for a healthy ocean through advanced scientific research, technology innovation, and open sharing of information. The Expedition and Community Outreach Coordinator should have an outstanding work ethic, be highly organized, and able to thrive with a highly productive schedule within a small team. A minimum of 2-3 years of relevant experience in communications, public relations, or digital media is required. We are looking for someone who is passionate about ocean science, who is an effective communicator, and who loves working with diverse audiences — from school groups to scientists. The Expedition and Community Outreach Coordinator will report directly to the Director of Marine Communications, and work together on a variety of strategic communications tasks and initiatives. They will be responsible for implementing expedition outreach plans, generating community engagement, media coverage, and developing written content for Schmidt Ocean Institute’s website and interactive programs. This position may include some travel to the research vessel Falkor (location varies, including international). Application deadline: May 1, 2020.
To further scientific and technological cooperation between the United States and the European Community, the National Science Foundation and the European Research Council signed an Implementing Arrangement on October 29, 2019 to enable U.S.-based scientists and engineers with active NSF awards, particularly those early on in their careers, to pursue research collaboration with European colleagues supported through EU-funded European Research Council (ERC) grants. This letter invites current NSF grantees to submit supplemental funding requests for research visits to any identified, appropriate ERC-funded European research group. NSF particularly encourages requests from NSF grantees who are early on in their careers or who are still actively building their careers. Further, the letter gives instructions on how to submit supplemental funding requests and other relevant policies and requirements. The European hosts will provide funding to support in-country living expenses during the visits. NSF will provide travel funds to and from Europe. It is expected that the amount requested will not exceed $20,000, inclusive of any foreign travel expenses for qualified family members. This opportunity is open only to PIs and co-PIs of active NSF awards. Supplemental funding may not be used to support travel for senior personnel, postdocs, or others funded on the award. Please note, however, that NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellows with active Fellowships are eligible to submit to this opportunity. Requests must be received at NSF at least 3 months prior to the proposed visit, but no later than May 15, 2020, for consideration using Fiscal Year 2020 funds.
The GeneOil project is a cooperation between Lundin Norway, the University of Duisburg-Essen and the GFZ. The project aims to identify the sources of microbial DNA in hydrocarbon reservoirs in order to develop a better understanding of current and past microbial activity in both the current reservoir and the environment in which the source rock was deposited. Responsibilities include: development of strategies for sampling and conservation of samples for genomic analyses on offshore drilling and production platforms; development of methods for the extraction of DNA and other biomolecules from crude oil; quantification of microbial activity using molecular biological (FISH, BONCAT, qPCR) and biogeochemical techniques (radioisotope incubations). The envisioned starting date is June 1st, but given the current situation we have some flexibility. The application deadline is extended to May 14, 2020.
In this time of considerable uncertainty, I would like to assure you that NSF Ocean Sciences is continuing to conduct business using all available tools in our full-time teleworking posture. We do not anticipate any changes to the timeframe of our standard proposal review and decision process. Panels will continue as scheduled, though they will move to virtual formats for the time being. We thank all of our reviewers and panelists for their flexibility and assistance as we adjust to the situation. We understand if you can’t complete a review or serve on a panel at this time, please just let your Program Officer know (email is best). As always, the thoughtful comments that you provide are the foundation of our merit review process. Those with active awards should be sure to carefully read the NSF guidance issued March 23, 2020, which describes NSF plans to implement directives of the Office of Management and Budget. NSF has also established a frequently updated webpage for information about the novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). No-cost extensions are a tool available to deal with delays in projects. Grantees also have considerable flexibility to re-budget funds between most budget categories in support of the project (Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG). We also encourage you to update us on COVID-related changes via the interim report option when the need to make modifications becomes clear. As noted in the NSF Implementation document, grantees should not assume that supplemental funding will be available to cover costs and/or delays associated with the current circumstances. We understand that there is a lot of stress and uncertainty at this time, which impacts all of us and our families and communities and our nation. We stand ready to work together with you, the ocean sciences community, under these very challenging circumstances! Please stay safe. – Terry Quinn, Director, Division of Ocean Sciences. Links: NSF Guidance, NSF Coronavirus webpage, COVID-19 Information for the Geosciences Research Community.
We are now accepting proposals for Fall Meeting 2020, including Innovative Sessions, a new format inspired by programming at 2019’s Centennial Central. Due to COVID-19, AGU has extended the deadline until Thursday, April 23, 2020.
The International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) is now accepting applications for scientific participants on Expedition 395 Reykjanes Mantle Convection and Climate aboard the JOIDES Resolution. Reykjanes Mantle Convection Expedition 395 will investigate mantle upwelling beneath Iceland, which supports the regional bathymetry and has led to changes in the height of oceanic gateways that control the strength of deep-water flow over geologic timescales. This drilling program contains three objectives: (1) to test contrasting hypotheses for the formation of V-shaped ridges that are the result of interaction between the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the Iceland plume; (2) to understand temporal changes in ocean circulation and explore connections with plume activity; and (3) to reconstruct the evolving chemistry of hydrothermal fluids with increasing crustal age, varying sediment thickness, and crustal architecture. Expedition 395 is based on IODP Proposal 892-Full2 (Mantle Dynamics, Paleoceanography and Climate Evolution in the North Atlantic Ocean) and will target the sediments and 130 m of igneous basement along with downhole logging at five sites east of Reykjanes Ridge. Four sites intersect V-shaped ridges/troughs pairs, one of which coincides with Bjorn Drift. The fifth site is located over 32.4 Ma oceanic crust devoid of V-shaped features, chosen to intersect Oligocene-Miocene sediments of Gardar Drift. Millennial-scale paleoclimate records are contained within rapidly accumulated sediments of contourite drifts in this region. The accumulation rate of the sediments is a proxy for current strength, and the sediments also provide constraints for climatic events including Pliocene warmth, the onset of Northern Hemisphere Glaciation, and abrupt Late Pleistocene climate change. Major, trace and isotope geochemistry of basalts will allow us to observe spatial and temporal variations in mantle melting processes. This combined approach will explore relationships between deep Earth processes, ocean circulation, and climate. The expedition will take place from 26 June to 26 August 2020. Opportunities exist for researchers (including graduate students) in all shipboard specialties, including but not limited to sedimentologists, petrologists, micropaleontologists, paleomagnetists, petrophysicists, borehole geophysicists, igneous geochemists, inorganic and organic geochemists. The deadline to apply is March 30, 2020.
The GEM Course is an all-expenses paid, three-week intensive introductory course in Global Environmental Microbiology (GEM) geared toward early-career undergraduates from 2- and 4-year institutions. The course focuses on microbes found in aquatic environments investigated through authentic research experiences (students collect, process & interpret data). This residential course includes lectures, labs and fieldwork at USC and on Santa Catalina Island.
Where: University of Southern California campus and Santa Catalina Island, CA
When: June 14 – July 2, 2020
Who: Undergraduates from 2 or 4-year colleges
Cost: FREE, including travel, plus modest stipend
How to apply: https://www.darkenergybiosphere.org/education-diversity/for-undergraduates/gem-course/
Note: First generation college, women, and under-represented students encouraged to apply
Application Deadline: March 25, 2020 at 5:00pm PDT
For questions and comments, contact Gwen Noda at gnoda@usc.edu.
In November 2019, the President issued a Memorandum related to ocean mapping activities. The original memo is available here. Subsequently, two notices were published in the Federal Register requesting information from the public relating to Section 2, National Strategy for Mapping, Exploring and Characterizing the U.S. EEZ, and Section 4,