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.
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.
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.
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 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:
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:
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:
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:
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.
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, Efficient Permitting of Mapping Exploring and Characterization. The Ocean Policy Committee is soliciting public input through these RFIs to obtain information from a wide range of stakeholders, including academia, private industry, and other relevant organizations and institutions, in order to inform the Ocean Policy Committee as it prepares to identify these opportunities and develop recommended actions. Comments are required prior to March 12, 2020.
NSF conducted a webinar on February 6, 2020, covering the significant changes to the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 20-1). The webinar is now available for on-demand viewing. The new PAPPG will be effective for proposals submitted or due, and awards made, on or after June 1, 2020.
Biodegradation is one of the most important in situ processes determining the quality of oil in conventional and unconventional reservoirs or hydrocarbon attenuation in contaminated aquifers. Moreover, microbial processes such as methanogenesis, sulfate reduction, and biofilm formation have significant direct or indirect impacts on oil recovery. Despite these effects, there is yet a significant gap of knowledge about the activity and dynamics of microbial communities in oil reservoirs and hydrocarbon contaminated sites. The topics of interest include but are not limited to mechanisms of anaerobic biodegradation of hydrocarbons, ecology of hydrocarbon degrading microbial communities, food webs and nutrient recycling, degradation processes and controlling environmental factors, and identity-function relationships in microbial communities. This conference is expected to provide better insights into the ecology of oil-degrading microbial communities and develop future research directions in the field. The deadline for registration and abstract submission is April 1, 2020.
We are arriving at an important benchmark in our planning for future scientific ocean drilling and present the first version of the 2050 Science Framework, entitled Exploring Earth Through Scientific Ocean Drilling, now ready for your examination and peer review. This new 2050 Science Framework has a 25-year outlook to 2050, inspiring state-of-the-art approaches for scientific ocean drilling far into the mid-21st century. Foundational Earth science research is described in seven Strategic Objectives and five Flagship Initiatives that encourage innovation and new discoveries. The major objective of scientific ocean drilling is to advance our understanding of Earth as an interconnected system through multi-disciplinary and societally-relevant collaborative research endeavors. As the structure and roadmap to produce this framework were previously reviewed via online community postings on IODP.org in August 2019 and endorsed by the IODP Forum in September 2019, we are at this stage primarily seeking input from the international science community on the framework’s scientific merit, accuracy, and completeness, so that each chapter strongly conveys the aspirations for future scientific ocean drilling through 2050. The deadline to review the document and respond has been postponed to March 31, 2020.
This conference has been withdrawn from the 2020 conference schedule.
C-DEBI seeks nominations for three speakers for the 2020 program. C-DEBI is continuing the Networked Speaker Series (begun in Fall 2011) as a means to enhance communication and the exchange of ideas among our spatially distributed community. Potential speakers can be nominated by colleagues, mentors, or those mentored by C-DEBI participants; they can also self nominate. Selected C-DEBI Networked Speakers will make a presentation online, using video conferencing tools, with assistance from the C-DEBI main office at USC. Nominated C-DEBI Networked Speakers should be capable of combining compelling visual materials with the ability to communicate effectively to a broad audience. We are particularly enthusiastic about giving young researchers a chance to present work to the C-DEBI community. Being selected to be a C-DEBI Networked Speaker is an honor.
For more information about the Speaker Series and nomination request, please see: https://www.darkenergybiosphere.org/outputs-resources/networked-speaker-series/.
The inaugural Southern California Biogeochemical Ocean Observations & Models (SoCal BOOM) symposium will be held on Saturday March 21, 2020 at the University of Southern California from 9AM – 8PM. The meeting aims to bring together students, postdocs, researchers, and faculty from across Southern California with an interest in measuring and modeling ocean biogeochemistry. This free one-day symposium is designed to highlight the work of early-career researchers, with both the symposium and the poster session featuring presentations by graduate students and postdoctoral researchers (with faculty encouraged to attend). The aim of this meeting is to foster interaction and collaboration among oceanographers who use measurements and modeling approaches to understand Earth systems. We welcome scientists engaged in a wide range of ocean biogeochemical research, and encourage participants to highlight aspects of their research which draw upon theoretical or numerical modeling approaches. Register by March 1, 2020.
The submitted Idea Machine entries were in the form of short concept outlines and videos rather than full-length research proposals. To develop these conceptual descriptions into actionable research agendas that include sets of specific research questions, NSF seeks proposals for catalytic activities in the form of: 1) Conferences that bring together those interested in shaping any or a group of these top 33 broad ideas into actionable research themes, or new long-term research programs – proposal deadline: March 15, 2020; and 2) EAGER projects to extend, develop and test concepts from among the top 33 ideas that are ripe for early stage, transformative research – concept outlines deadline: March 1, 2020.
STEMSEAS aims to provide ship-based, 6-10 day exploratory experiences for undergraduates from diverse backgrounds aboard NSF-funded research vessels. Students will sail with experienced faculty mentors and engage in geoscience and oceanography activities (while also having fun)! Most expenses (travel to/from the ports of call, materials, and living expenses while on the ship) will be paid by the program – there is very little cost to participants. To be eligible, you must be a U.S. citizen 18 years of age or over and enrolled in an accredited 2- or 4-year college or university. Applications extended to April 30, 2020.
Attending this year’s JPgU Annual Meeting? Consider submitting your asbtracts (DUE TODAY) to Session U-19: A deep dive into planetary habitability as related to subsurface architecture, energy, and water (organizers: Heather Graham, Atsuko Kobayashi, Vlada Stamenkovic, Shino Susuki).
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. For the 2020-2021 academic year, an exciting lineup of distinguished lecturers is available to speak at your institution. The topics of their lectures range widely, including hydrothermal microbial communities with C-DEBI researcher, Jessica Labonté (Texas A&M, Galveston). USSSP will provide support for the lecturer’s travel to your institution, while hosting venues are responsible for housing, meals, and local transportation. Open to any U.S. college, university, or nonprofit organization. Deadline to apply to host a lecturer: May 15, 2020.
The Earth Surface Science group at Queen Mary University of London are seeking a 36-month postdoc with expertise in terrestrial biogeochemical modelling. This post is part of an exciting new collaborative project with CU Boulder, U Utah, Montana Tech & British Geological Survey, investigating the fate of Arctic soil following glacier retreat. Glacier retreat is exposing pioneer Arctic soils that host a dynamic ecosystem and act as biogeochemical reactors. The aim of this project is to improve the understanding of how seasonal processes contribute to the long-term (i.e. multi-decadal) development of Arctic soils. The PDRA will develop, implement and apply a new fully coupled biogeochemical-geophysical model for pioneer Arctic soils. These activities are linked to a larger project whose wider ambition is to achieve continuous year-round monitoring of dynamic processes using a network of buried geophysical sensors in a High-Arctic glacier forefield, and repeated field monitoring of soil biogeochemical processes via state-of-the-art molecular techniques. Numerical modelling will be instrumental in forming mechanistic linkages between seasonal variations, and soil biogeochemical, geophysical and hydrogeological processes over multi-decadal timescales, as well as to capture and explore year-round dynamics of Arctic soils, and conduct predictive modelling of the future fate of Arctic soils following large-scale ice retreat and climate warming. Model development and calibration will make use of field datasets that will be collected during year-round fieldwork campaigns throughout 2020 and 2021, There will be opportunities for the PDRA to participate in project-related fieldwork activities in Svalbard. The PDRA will work within a multidisciplinary team with significant strengths in environmental-biogeochemistry, modelling, geomicrobiology, and geophysical sensing – and thus develop an interdisciplinary skill set, and collaborate nationally and internationally. Deadline: Apply before March 20, 2020 for full consideration. The position will remain open until filled.
Due to the current situation with COVID-19 the workshop has been postponed to 2021. Applications for admission open January 1, 2021, deadline March 15, 2021.
At several hundred meters below our feet or below the sea floor, the energy flux and the theoretical growth rate of bacteria are orders of magnitude below anything we can understand from research on cultivated microorganisms. Studies of the carbon and energy turnover deep beneath the seafloor and in the terrestrial subsurface indicate that the prokaryotic cells living here subsist at an energy flux that barely allows cell growth over tens to thousands of years. It remains unexplained whether the organisms have properties beyond our current understanding of microbial life and whether these organisms in fact represent the predominant mode of microbial life on our planet – or whether energy sources may be available that have not yet been identified. The limits of microbial life and the exploration of the biological demand for energy is the focus of the International Workshop on Microbial Life under Extreme Energy Limitation (co-sponsored by C-DEBI), held 7-11 September 2021 at Sandbjerg Manor near Sønderborg, Denmark. We invite researchers and students from different relevant disciplines to participate in the workshop in order to discuss microbial energy requirements and stimulate new thinking and new approaches.
Drs. Samantha Joye, Anna-Louise Reysenbach and Adam Soule will host a Town Hall at the 2020 Ocean Sciences Meeting. The Town Hall is scheduled for Monday, February 17 from 12:25 to 1:45 pm at the San Diego Convention Center, 9, UL. The Town Hall is aimed at researchers who are interested in contributing to development of a grassroots community vision that will promote a new phase of deep sea discovery through coordinated transdisciplinary research efforts made possible through development of a Research Coordination Network proposal. This effort will advance the field and create new directions in deep sea science, promote new collaborations, and foster coordination and training across disciplinary, organizational, geographic, and international boundaries all while broadening participation in deep ocean science.
Conveners: Thomas C. (University of Geneva, Switzerland), Petráš D. (Czech Geological Survey, Czech Republic), Pérez A.M. (Institute of Palaeontology ZRC SAZU, Slovenia). Session description: From iron formations to stromatolitic facies, microbes have been instrumental for the formation, composition and preservation of sedimentary units since the dawn of life on Earth. As such, the chemical and isotopic signatures imparted by their activity in these rocks have been used to disentangle the long-term chemical evolution of the atmosphere and ancient oceans. Nonetheless, assessing the primary origin and biogenicity of certain minerals and textures remains challenging, despite these factors being crucial to our quest to understand key stages in evolution of life and earth systems. The diversity and complexity of life forms and metabolisms interacting from the moment of deposition and during shallow burial, along with the rare availability of exceptionally well-preserved ancient chemical rocks has also encouraged an active search for modern analogues to ancient microbially influenced sedimentary deposits. For this session, we seek contributions envisioning approaches for understanding the signatures derived from microbial activity on any type of sedimentary archive, including carbonates, silica-rich deposits, shales, modern lacustrine or marine sediments, soil crusts, etc. Studies describing how active microbes act as key agents in both mineral authigenesis and diagenetic alteration are particularly welcome. Given the complexity of studying such processes, the session is also open to the presentation of approaches allowing multiscale analyses, at the interface between biology and geology. Abstract submission is open until the February 15, 2020 and there are options for early career scientists to find support for coming to beautiful Prag in June via the IAS.
The Oceanographic Technology and Interdisciplinary Coordination (OTIC) Program supports a broad range of research and technology development activities. Unsolicited proposals are accepted for instrumentation development that has broad applicability to ocean science research projects and that enhance observational, experimental or analytical capabilities of the ocean science research community. Specific announcements for funding opportunities are made for additional projects involving Improvements in Facilities, Communications, and Equipment at Biological Field Stations and Marine Laboratories (FSML) and the National Ocean Partnership Program. Full proposal target date: February 18, 2020.
The Chemical Oceanography Program supports research into the chemistry of the oceans and the role of the oceans in global geochemical cycles. Areas of interest include chemical composition, speciation, and transformation; chemical exchanges between the oceans and other components of the Earth system; internal cycling in oceans, seas, and estuaries; and the use of measured chemical distributions as indicators of physical, biological, and geological processes. Full proposal target dates: August 17, 2020 and February 15, 2021.
The Physical Oceanography Program supports research on a wide range of topics associated with the structure and movement of the ocean, with the way in which it transports various quantities, with the way the ocean’s physical structure interacts with the biological and chemical processes within it, and with interactions between the ocean and the atmosphere, solid earth and ice that surround it. Full proposal target dates: August 17, 2020 and February 15, 2021.
The primary goal of the UNOLS Cruise Opportunity Program is to provide graduate students currently completing (or who have recently completed) a degree in a field of oceanographic research with the opportunity to participate in a research cruise. The participant will be a member of the scientific party and be involved in data collection and all other activities at sea. It is envisioned that the individual will be familiar with the science to be conducted at sea, and thus, form new collaborations and potentially develop new research directions. To be eligible to participate in this program, the individual must be either currently be studying at a U.S.-based institution or a recent graduate, and must have either a U.S. Passport or a U.S. Work Visa. The application deadline for the Spring 2020 Deployment Operations cruises is February 28, 2020; for Fall 2020, the application deadline is August 3, 2020.
The Japan Geoscience Union (JpGU) commemorates the coming year 2020; it is the 15th anniversary since JpGU was founded in 2005, and the 30th anniversary since its predecessor, the Japan Earth and Planetary Science Joint Meeting, was first held in 1990. On this occasion, the 2020 annual meeting will be held joint with the American Geophysical Union (AGU) as the JpGU-AGU Joint Meeting 2020, following the first cooperative effort with AGU in 2017. Furthermore, the Joint Meeting anticipates expansion and enrichment of joint sessions with the Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (AOGS) and the European Geosciences Union (EGU). The JpGU has recently grown to embrace over 51 members of academic societies and over 10,000 individual members. The attendance at the 2019 Annual Meeting exceeded 8,400 total participants (including approximately 2,400 students), with over 650 participants from abroad (covering 41 nations and areas). The meeting provides an indispensable opportunity for participants from the fields of Earth and planetary science to interact. The annual survey indicates that the participants would like to see a wider range of session programs, including some open to the public, and an expansion of English-language sessions. Hopes are high for the promotion and expansion of interdisciplinary and border-area researches and further internationalization of Earth and planetary science research. Abstract submission deadline: February 18, 2020.
The Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS), an independent U.S. not-for-profit marine research institution based in Bermuda, is seeking an early career candidate for an Assistant Scientist position. We seek applications from current postdoctoral scholars/fellows or recent PhD graduates in oceanography or closely related subjects. We welcome a broad range of potential topics for study, including physical oceanography process studies at all scales, biogeochemical research with practical experimentation, and system modeling with strong integration of data. We seek a candidate who will take advantage of the opportunities and facilities offered at BIOS which include bi-weekly access to the deep ocean, repeat measurements and long-term monitoring of ocean properties, integration of glider observations with traditional ship-based measurements and laboratory access for chemical and biological measurements and experimentation. The successful candidate will oversee a fleet of autonomous underwater gliders equipped with sensors systems for biogeochemical and physical oceanographic research. The position will remain open until filled.
Returning to the University of Leicester for the fifth year, the ECORD Summer School: Downhole Logging for IODP Science focuses on downhole logging within IODP and the applications of downhole measurements in various geoscientific fields, including paleoclimatology and sedimentology, as well as for broader geological and ecological processes. The Summer School is a 1-week long CPD-accredited course offering 36 hours of training in the core principles of petrophysics and downhole logging, from data collection to interpretation. The School will be hosted at the University of Leicester (UK) and will run from the 4th July to the 10th of July 2020. The course is open to applicants from the international community, but applications from early career researchers (including PhD students) are particularly encouraged. U.S.-affiliated students and researchers may also apply for travel support through the U.S. Science Support Program. A limited number of travel grants are available and priority may be given to applicants actively engaged or interested in research using IODP data. The deadline to apply for travel support and for the course has been extended to February 21, 2020.
Understanding the Rules of Life (URoL): Predicting Phenotype is one of NSF’s 10 Big Ideas and is focused on predicting the set of observable characteristics (phenotype) from the genetic makeup of the individual and the nature of its environment. The development of new research tools has revolutionized our ability to manipulate and investigate the genome and to measure multiple aspects of biological, physical, and social environments. The opportunity now is to assimilate this new information into causal, mechanistic, and/or predictive relationships among the genomic and epigenetic makeup, the environmental experience, and the phenotypic characteristics of biological systems. These relationships are the basis for the Rules of Life – the theoretical constructs that explain and predict the characteristics of living systems, from molecular and sub-cellular components, to cells, whole organisms, communities and biomes. Successful projects of the URoL:Epigenetics Program are expected to use complementary, interdisciplinary approaches to investigate how epigenetic phenomena lead to emergent properties that explain the fundamental behavior of living systems. Full proposal deadline: February 6, 2020.
The NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program is designed to encourage the development and implementation of bold, new, and potentially transformative models for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) graduate education training. The NRT program seeks proposals that explore ways for graduate students in research-based master’s and doctoral degree programs to develop the skills, knowledge, and competencies needed to pursue a range of STEM careers. The program is dedicated to effective training of STEM graduate students in high priority interdisciplinary or convergent research areas, through the use of a comprehensive traineeship model that is innovative, evidence-based, and aligned with changing workforce and research needs. The NRT program addresses workforce development, emphasizing broad participation, and institutional capacity building needs in graduate education. Strategic collaborations with the private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), government agencies, national laboratories, field stations, teaching and learning centers, informal science centers, and academic partners are encouraged. NRT especially welcomes proposals that will pair well with the efforts of NSF Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science (INCLUDES) to develop STEM talent from all sectors and groups in our society. Collaborations are encouraged between NRT proposals and existing NSF INCLUDES projects, provided the collaboration strengthens both projects. Full Proposal Deadline Date: February 6, 2020; February 6, Annually Thereafter.
The USSSP Onboard Outreach Program gives formal and informal educators, artists, writers, videographers and other participants the opportunity to spend an entire expedition with an IODP shipboard party and translate their experiences for students and the general public via blogs, videos, social networking sites, live ship-to-shore video events and development of educational resources. Onboard Outreach Program participants are selected through a competitive application and interview process. All expenses for Onboard Outreach Program participants, such as travel to and from the ports of call, and a $10,000 stipend, are paid by USSSP. The selected individual(s) will also be flown to a three-day training session prior to their expedition. Non-US applicants will be directed to their country’s IODP Program Member Office but are still encouraged to apply. Deadline: February 10, 2020.
The International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Data Manager (DM) is a technical leader with a high degree of knowledge in geo-sciences and recognized expert in scientific ocean drilling. The incumbent will apply extensive knowledge as a research professional with an in-depth understanding of scientific data, statistics and analysis of on site data recorded in seafloor sediments and rocks and will monitor sub-seafloor environments. As needed, act as a team lead in scientific ocean drilling and multidisciplinary research collaboration of broad scope and complexity. In addition, the position will support on-going efforts to improve data management procedures and the development of decision support tools. The position will contribute and lead scientific journal publications. In collaboration with the Executive Director/Principal Investigator of the Science Support Office, the DM serves a critical and visible role in the IODP management structure. Provide consultation, direction, and advice to research teams and proposal authors, who comprise over one thousand researchers affiliated with about 200 institutions worldwide, in developing and evaluating scientific data sets that support IODP drilling proposals. Formulate strategies to ensure the quality and timely review of site characterization data submitted to the IODP Site Survey Data Bank (SSDB) and serve as the primary Subject Matter Expert (SME) on data in meetings of the IODP Facility Boards and their subsidiaries. Formulate and administer policies and processes in the main Task Areas of the IODP Science Support Office and independently interact with the eight international IODP Program Member Offices to manage their participation in the IODP advisory structure. Filing Deadline extended to: February 7, 2020.
The UNOLS Council has the standing goal of improving the quality and capability of existing ocean science facilities and the quality, reliability and safety of their operation. Many improvements have been made over the past decade, including the addition of new research vessels. UNOLS Council would also now like to turn attention to improving the quality of life and morale while working at sea, for both the permanent crew and itinerant scientists. For example, technological improvements in satellite internet connections have changed and enhanced life at sea, enabling those onboard to attend to personal business and maintain family connections, but these technological improvements often come with high financial costs. Simpler, less expensive efforts can also improve morale and quality of life at sea, such as cook outs on the deck or swim calls (long ago …). Please help us improve the quality of life at sea by filling out this brief three question survey. Please complete the survey by February 28, 2020.
Growing Convergence Research (GCR)at the National Science Foundation was identified as one of 10 Big Ideas. Convergence research is a means for solving vexing research problems, in particular, complex problems focusing on societal needs. It entails integrating knowledge, methods, and expertise from different disciplines and forming novel frameworks to catalyze scientific discovery and innovation. GCR identifies Convergence Research as having two primary characteristics: 1) Research driven by a specific and compelling problem. Convergence Research is generally inspired by the need to address a specific challenge or opportunity, whether it arises from deep scientific questions or pressing societal needs. 2) Deep integration across disciplines. As experts from different disciplines pursue common research challenges, their knowledge, theories, methods, data, research communities and languages become increasingly intermingled or integrated. New frameworks, paradigms or even disciplines can form sustained interactions across multiple communities. A distinct characteristic of convergence research, in contrast to other forms of multidisciplinary research, is that from the inception, the convergence paradigm intentionally brings together intellectually diverse researchers and stakeholders to frame the research questions, develop effective ways of communicating across disciplines and sectors, adopt common frameworks for their solution, and, when appropriate, develop a new scientific vocabulary. Research teams practicing convergence aim at developing sustainable relationships that may not only create solutions to the problem that engendered the collaboration, but also develop novel ways of framing related research questions and open new research vistas. Full proposal deadline: February 3, 2020.
The goals of the Accelerating Research through International Network-to-Network Collaborations (AccelNet) program are to accelerate the process of scientific discovery and prepare the next generation of U.S. researchers for multiteam international collaborations. The AccelNet program supports strategic linkages among U.S. research networks and complementary networks abroad that will leverage research and educational resources to tackle grand scientific challenges that require significant coordinated international efforts. The program seeks to foster high-impact science and engineering by providing opportunities to create new collaborations and new combinations of resources and ideas among linked global networks. This solicitation invites proposals for the creation of international networks of networks in research areas aligned either with one of the NSF Big Ideas or a community-identified scientific challenge with international dimensions. AccelNet awards are meant to support the connections among research networks, rather than supporting fundamental research as the primary activity. Each network of networks is expected to engage in innovative collaborative activities that promote synergy of efforts across the networks and provide professional development for students, postdoctoral scholars, and early-career researchers. There are two proposal categories covered by this solicitation: Catalytic and Full-Scale Implementation. Full proposal deadline date: January 31, 2020.
The goal of the RCN program is to advance a field or create new directions in research or education by supporting groups of investigators to communicate and coordinate their research, training, and educational activities across disciplinary, organizational, geographic, and international boundaries. The RCN-UBE program originated as a unique RCN track to “catalyze positive changes in biology undergraduate education” (NSF 08-035) and is now supported by the collaborative efforts of the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) and the Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR). It has been responsive to the national movement to revolutionize undergraduate learning and teaching in the biological sciences as described in the “Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education” report. The RCN-UBE program seeks to improve undergraduate biology in different areas by leveraging the power of a collaborative network. The theme or focus of an RCN-UBE proposal can be on any topic likely to advance the goal of enhancing undergraduate biology education. Collectively, the program has contributed to developing and disseminating educational research resources and modules, to forging of new collaborations, and to sharing of best practices and ideas for scalability and sustainability of activities. These efforts have involved a large cadre of faculty, students, and other stakeholders. Proposed networking activities directed to the RCN-UBE program should focus on a theme to give coherence to the collaboration. Full proposal deadline: January 21, 2020.
The University of Southern California (USC) is excited to host the 17th annual Southern California Geobiology Symposium. The symposium will be held on April 4th, 2020. Information about registration/abstract submissions, program details, and specific location will be available in January 2020. 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. Abstract submission and registration will close on March 4, 2020.
The Earth and Environmental Sciences department at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is seeking graduate student applications. We have a rich geology, environmental science, and astrobiology program, as well as data science/ geoinformatics. Applications are welcome at any time.
Despite centuries of discovery, most of our planet’s biodiversity remains unknown. The scale of Earth’s unknown diversity is especially troubling given the rapid and permanent loss of biodiversity across the globe. The goal of the Dimensions of Biodiversity campaign is to transform how we describe and understand the scope and role of life on Earth. This campaign promotes novel integrative approaches to fill the most substantial gaps in our understanding of the diversity of life on Earth. It takes a broad view of biodiversity, and focuses on the intersection of genetic, phylogenetic, and functional dimensions of biodiversity. Successful proposals must integrate these three dimensions to understand interactions among them. The 2020 Dimensions of Biodiversity program is restricted to projects supported by international partnerships with the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) of Brazil, and the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa. Full Proposal Deadline extended: April 20, 2020.
Join us for a National Science Foundation (NSF) sponsored workshop focused on the integration of Ocean Observing Initiative (OOI) data into undergraduate teaching of oceanography themes and concepts. Participants will explore a collection of Data Labs created by oceanography professors who attended the 2019 OOI Data Lab summer workshops. Learn from your peers lessons learned on how to effectively teach with data. Participants will share new teaching resources and brainstorm new ideas for how to integrate OOI data into introductory oceanography and Earth and environmental science courses. Professors who teach introductory (100 and 200 level) oceanography courses are encouraged to attend. Participants will receive a $300 stipend (issued post-workshop) along with complimentary light breakfast and lunch. Attendance is limited to 35 people. We will accept online submissions until January 15, 2020 or capacity is reached, whichever is sooner.
The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is a Foundation-wide activity that offers the National Science Foundation’s most prestigious awards in support of early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization. Activities pursued by early-career faculty should build a firm foundation for a lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research. NSF encourages submission of CAREER proposals from early-career faculty at all CAREER-eligible organizations and especially encourages women, members of underrepresented minority groups, and perso
