Physical Scientist (Program Director)

The National Science Foundation is seeking qualified candidate for a Physical Scientist (Program Director) position for the Geospace Facilities (GF) program in the Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS) within the Directorate for Geosciences (GEO), Alexandria, VA.

AGS supports fundamental research into the physical, chemical, and biological processes that impact the composition and physical phenomena and behavior of matter between the sun and the surface of the Earth. This includes a wide variety of important processes that impact humans and society, such as weather, climate, air quality and space weather. Specific programs include studies of the physics, chemistry, and dynamics of earth's upper and lower atmosphere and its space environment, and research on climate processes and variations.

The Geospace Section (GS) funds research and facilities to add new understanding to how the geospace system responds to driving from the Sun. Specific research areas and activities supported by GS include:

• Studies of physics and chemistry of mesosphere through the outer thermosphere and ionosphere,
• Investigations of the plasma environment of magnetosphere,
• Explorations of the Sun and how its energy output is transported to the Earth,
• Examinations into origins and nature of space weather.

The Geospace Facilities Program promotes basic research on the structure and dynamics of the Earth's upper atmosphere through the support of several large incoherent-scatter radar facilities. The radars are located at widely distributed sites throughout North and South America, including Alaska, Northern Canada, Puerto Rico, and Peru. Each of the incoherent scatter facilities is also equipped with powerful optical and electromagnetic diagnostics instruments.  Research efforts utilizing these facilities have strong links to the Geospace Section science programs: Aeronomy, Magnetospheric Physics, Solar-terrestrial Research, and Space Weather Research.

Duties

Working closely with colleagues in the Geospace Section, AGS, and throughout NSF, the incumbent will have primary responsibility for the programmatic oversight, award management and lifecycle planning of the AGS-funded geospace observing facilities. Specific duties will include:

• Manage solicitations, programs and budgets for operating geospace observing facilities.
• Conduct program reviews and other evaluations.
• Work with NSF science program officers to ensure that the utilization of the geospace observing facilities is well-coordinated, technically feasible and equitable.
• Working with colleagues, the scientific community and facility managers, lead the development of long-range plans for the AGS geospace observing facilities.
• Serve on intra-agency, interagency and international committees involving geospace observing facilities.
• Undertake other program officer responsibilities as needed. Develop solicitations and Dear Colleague Letters. Manage proposal review, ensuring a rigorous and fair process with appropriate participation by members of underrepresented groups.
• Proactively support NSF’s strategic goals in the area of broadening participation.