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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.    Announcement: Frontiers Special Issue on Variability in the Solar Wind and its Impact on the Coupled Magnetosphere-Ionosphere-Thermosphere System
2.    JOB OPENING:  Ph.D. Student in Numerical Modeling of Space Plasmas, Paris, France
3.    JOB OPENING: Postdoc Positions at Queen Mary University, London, UK
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 1.    ANNOUNCEMENT: Frontiers Special Issue on Variability in the Solar Wind and its Impact on the Coupled Magnetosphere-Ionosphere-Thermosphere System

From Guram Kervalishvili (gmk@gfz-potsdam.de)

Dear Colleagues,

We would like to draw your attention to a special issue in Frontiers in Physics and Astronomy and Space Sciences on the topic of "Variability in the Solar Wind and its Impact on the Coupled Magnetosphere-Ionosphere-Thermosphere System”. We invite you to submit your manuscripts and learn more about this topic at https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/60115/variability-in-the-solar-wind-and-its-impact-on-the-coupled-magnetosphere-ionosphere-thermosphere-system. 

Please note that the Manuscript Summary's nominal submission deadline is on November 14, 2023, and the Manuscript itself should be submitted by March 13, 2024. This research topic aims to bring together research from different aspects of the Space Weather domain to highlight how solar wind variability governs energy flow through the heliosphere. It includes three main sub-topics (see https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/60115/variability-in-the-solar-wind-and-its-impact-on-the-coupled-magnetosphere-ionosphere-thermosphere-system):

• Properties of solar wind structures from the Sun to the magnetosphere. This subsection is dedicated to the various properties of solar wind fluctuations, including their origin, propagation, and evolution from the Sun to the Earth's magnetosphere.
• Mechanisms governing the interaction between the solar wind and the magnetosphere. This subsection aims to explore various processes that govern the interaction between solar wind structures and the Earth's magnetosphere. 
• Effects of solar wind structures on the ionosphere, thermosphere and human infrastructure. This subsection aims to assess the potential consequences of solar wind fluctuations and their magnetospheric responses on the ionosphere, thermosphere, critical infrastructure and humans, with an emphasis on understanding how these fluctuations could impact various aspects of human life and infrastructure. 

We welcome and encourage contributions to this research topic from diverse research approaches, including theoretical analyses, observational data from ground-based and space-based instruments, and advances in numerical simulations. Combining these methods can offer a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of solar wind structures and their impact on the coupled Magnetosphere-Ionosphere-Thermosphere system, ultimately improving our ability to predict develop mitigation strategies and prepare for extreme space weather events.

Thank you for your attention, and we look forward to receiving your contributions.

Sincerely yours, 

The Topical Editors,

Yi Wang,
Boyi Wang,
Andrey Samsonov,
Nithin Sivadas,
Yulia Bogdanova,
Guram Kervalishvili

2.  JOB OPENING:  Ph.D. Student in Numerical Modeling of Space Plasmas, Paris, France
From: Nicolas Aunai (nicolas.aunai@lpp.polytechnique.fr)

The Laboratory of Plasma Physics is seeking candidates for a PhD thesis in numerical modeling of space plasmas. The position is funded for 3 years, for a start around October 2024.

The PhD project will focus on coupling fluid and kinetic solvers in the adaptive mesh hierarchy of the code PHARE http://github.com/phAREHUB/PHARE/, and use it to study the multiscale aspects of key plasma processes such as magnetic reconnection and shocks.

Work will take place at the Laboratory of Plasma Physics (LPP), at Ecole Polytechnique, nearby Paris, and at Sorbonne University, in Paris. The successful candidate will join the development team with researchers and HPC engineers. The ideal candidate is highly motivated for numerical modeling for plasma physics and a very strong interest and skill set in C++/Python development for HPC. Prior contribution to open source projects is a strong asset.

Application should include:

a CV, 

copies of academic transcripts,

previously written reports/publications,

a short letter explaining the motivation for the project and demonstrating skills in development. Links to existing open source contributions, GitHub profiles, are encouraged. 

Applications should be sent by email to: nicolas.aunai@lpp.polytechnique.fr and andrea.ciardi@obspm.fr 

3.   JOB OPENING:  Postdoc Positions at Queen Mary University of London, UK
From: Christopher Chen (christopher.chen@qmul.ac.uk)

We are advertising three new postdoc positions to join our growing Space & Astrophysical Plasmas group at QMUL. The available positions cover spacecraft observations, numerical simulations, plasma theory, and laboratory experiments in areas of heliospheric physics, magnetospheric physics, fundamental plasma processes, and space weather. Further detail on the positions, along with application information is given below.

Role of fundamental plasma processes in shaping the near-Earth space environment

Application deadline: 31st December 2023

Contact: Dr Christopher Chen (christopher.chen@qmul.ac.uk)

Application link and more information: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/jobs/vacancies/items/9054.html 

Description: One position is available to work in Dr Christopher Chen’s research team on the STFC Consolidated Grant project “Plasma physics of the Earth's magnetosheath”. The research involves primarily space data analysis, with supporting theory & simulation, to study a range of fundamental plasma processes, such as turbulence / waves / instabilities / reconnection / kinetic physics / wave-particle interactions, to reveal how they operate and shape near-Earth space. The work will involve both single and multi-spacecraft analysis, e.g. using MMS, and develop techniques in preparation for future missions such as NASA Helioswarm and ESA Plasma Observatory. This will be a collaborative effort, together with Dr Chen's broader research team, the group at QMUL, and multiple leading international collaborators. The research programme also offers extensive dedicated career support for all team members

Role of plasma turbulence in heliophysics, space weather, and lab experiments

Application deadline: 31st December 2023

Contact: Dr Christopher Chen (christopher.chen@qmul.ac.uk)

Application link and more information: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/jobs/vacancies/items/9056.html 

Description: One position is available to work in Dr Christopher Chen’s UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship (FLF) team on the research programme “Exploring New Regions of Space: Fundamentals and Impacts of Astrophysical Plasma Turbulence”. The research involves space data analysis, lab plasma experiments, theory & simulation, so applicants with expertise in any of these areas (and interest in getting involved in the others) are encouraged. The research aims are to understand turbulence as a fundamental process in space/lab/astrophysics, the role it plays in controlling the dynamics of these systems, and modelling its effects, including space weather, in the heliosphere and more distant astrophysical plasmas. This is a highly collaborative team effort, involving interlinking (and flexible) sub-projects, and multiple leading international project partners. The FLF programme also offers extensive dedicated career support for all team members.

Turbulence as a controlling agent in the inner heliosphere

Application deadline: 31st December 2023

Contact: Prof David Burgess (D.Burgess@qmul.ac.uk)

Application link and more information: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/jobs/vacancies/items/9108.html 

Description: A postdoctoral researcher position is available to work on a project exploring the controlling role that turbulence plays in the inner heliosphere primarily using plasma simulations. The post is funded by STFC as part of a Consolidated Grant. The project will use plasma simulations to study how turbulence can control the key plasma processes of particle energization, shock dynamics, and turbulence-driven reconnection. The simulations will be motivated and tested against results from Parker Solar Probe (PSP), Solar Orbiter and Magnetospheric Multiscale MMS. The project will build on collaborations within the Space Plasma group and there will be opportunities for collaborations across the data/simulation boundary.

Closing date: 31st December 2023