Community:Announcement nasa06b
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Two Scientist Positions at NASA HQ Heliophysics Division
Phil Richards worked at NASA HQ for three years and has departed without a replacement identified to assist in the important business of administering the ITM research program. Craig Pollock has been at HQ now for 19 months. He will return to Southwest Research Institute in early March, 2007 - just 6.5 months from now. Thus far, no replacement has been identified for Craig. Therefore, the NASA HQ Heliophysics Division is searching for two scientists to provide expert assistance to help run the Geospace Program. These are one to three year assignments at NASA HQ under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) program. HQ IPAs are treated as civil servants and are fully integrated into the program. Although the main duties involve formation of review panels, selection of proposals, and grants administration, IPAs are called upon to contribute expertise to a wide range of other activities. IPA assignees coordinate Division Roadmapping activities, arrange press briefings, help select and coordinate advisory committees, and help write Announcements of Opportunity.
IPA assignees participate as Program Scientists for current and future flight projects. As Program Scientists, IPA's work with teams that include Program Executives, PIs, and Project Scientists to ensure maximum scientific return for the missions. In the Geospace Sciences Cluster, IPAs administer the SR&T program, Low Cost Access to Space program, the Instrument Development program, and the Guest Investigator Program. IPAs play leading roles in collecting proposals submitted in response to annual NRAs, implementing the review process, assembling consensus reviews, and assisting in formulation of selection recommendations.
IPA assignments are beneficial to the IPA scientists, to NASA, and to the wider community. The IPA scientist gains a broad view of NASA by interacting with the personnel, programs, and culture at HQ. NASA gains from the perspectives and skills of the IPA scientist. Finally, the scientific community gains by having members with inside insight into the NASA perspective. We've found that the experience provides an important education and "demystification" with respect the HQ environment that is valuable, both personally and professionally. Working at HQ provides an opportunity to learn how things really work at HQ. This includes understanding the mission selection process, grant writing and evaluation, and learning how decisions are actually made. Furthermore, the nation's capital is a vibrant and exciting place to live and work.
IPA assignees remain employees of their home institution, essentially executing a contract off-site while at NASA HQ. Options include either provision of relocation expenses or of a cost of living allowance during the period of the assignment.
A Ph.D. (or equivalent experience) in physics, with expertise in geospace physics, and 3-years experience in a NASA-sponsored research program are required. Knowledge of space flight instrumentation and experience with NASA flight project development is especially valuable. Scientists from academic, federal, and non-profit institutions are eligible; US permanent residents are eligible to apply.
For further information, please contact either Craig Pollock (craig.j.pollock@nasa.gov; 202-358-0080) or Mary Mellott (mary.m.mellott@nasa.gov; 202-358-0893).
-- Revised 10 Oct 2006 by emery@ucar.edu
