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October 2012

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[Hyperspace-list] Hyperspace Bulletin for October 2012
by hyperspace＠aei.mpg.de 01 Oct '12

01 Oct '12

################################################################# Table of Contents ################################################################# 1. Conferences 1.1 The Time Machine Factory, Turin, Italy (final circ.) 1.2 Workshop on holographic applications, out-of-equilibrium phenomena, gravity and analogue gravity, Paris 1.3 3rd Iberian Gravitational-Wave Meeting, in Valencia, Spain 1.4 GR20 and Amaldi10 in Warsaw, Poland 1.5 Equations of Motion in Relativistic Gravity, at Bad Honnef 1.6 V Black Holes Workshop in Lisbon (2nd circ.) 2. Jobs 2.1 Faculty position in Theoretical Astrophysics/Nuclear Astrophysics at Indiana University 2.2 Postdoc Positions in Numerical Relativity, Computational Relativistic Astrophysics, and Gravitational-Wave Science, Caltech 2.3 CIFAR Cosmology and Gravity Postdoctoral Fellowship (Canada) 2.4 Department Head, School of Mathematical Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology 2.5 Faculty position at CITA 2.6 CITA National Fellowships 2.7 CITA Postdoctoral Fellowships and Senior Research Associates 2.8 Postdoc and PhD studentship in Gravitational Wave Astrophysics at Nijmegen, NL 2.9 Postdoctoral positions at the Rochester Institute of Technology 2.10 Associate or full professor position in Applied Math at Waterloo 2.11 Postdoctoral Position at the University of Mississippi 2.12 Lecturer in Applied Mathematics at Southampton 3. News 3.1 Death of Alberto Lobo 3.2 Reminder to nominate Fellows of the GRG Society - Deadline 31 Dec 2012 3.3 Death of Leonid Grishchuk 3.4 "Relativistic Figures of Equilibrium", now in paperback edition (CUP) 3.5 New book: "Black Holes in Higher Dimensions", edited by Gary Horowitz 3.6 Living Reviews in Relativity: "Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND)" 3.7 GGR Membership ================================================================= 1. Conferences ================================================================= 1.1 The Time Machine Factory, Turin, Italy (final circ.) -------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/2012/09/28/the-time-machine-factory-final-anno… Starting Sun, Oct 14, 2012 to Fri, Oct 19, 2012 Location: Turin, Italy Additional Information: http://timemachine.polito.it/ This is the final announcement of the conference “The Time Machine Factory”, that will be held in Torino (Italy), from October 14 to 19, 2012, and is organized by INAF-Osservatorio Astrofisico of Torino, Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica and Politecnico di Torino. The Conference Program is available at http://tinyurl.com/TM2012Program. On behalf of the SOC, SOC Chairs, Mariateresa Crosta Marco Gramegna Matteo Luca Ruggiero SCIENTIFIC RATIONALE The conference focuses on causality and nonlocality in physics, with emphasis on its implications with time machines. In particular these issues will be dealt with from the viewpoints of General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics. The topological nature of spacetime in the framework of Quantum Mechanics suggests that both causality and locality need to be analyzed at a fundamental level, also by allowing the existence of entities that are more elementary than the spatial dimensions of everyday’s life. The interplay of these entities influences the very nature of time, and their dynamics could lead to understand the emergence of the arrow of time. Focusing on these issues would help to understand the ultimate nature of time, its role in fundamental physics and in the formation of the Universe, thus allowing for a better comprehension of its large scale structure, with apparent implications on the astronomical reference systems. INFORMATION Information about the conference, such as scientific program, venue, travel, accommodation, events and social activities, important deadlines and so on, are available at the web page http://timemachine.polito.it REGISTRATION *Participants Regular Registration, from June 2 to October 14, 350 euro. Registration fee includes registration kits, coffee breaks and conference dinner, as well as access to all satellite events. *Accompanying persons Regular registration, from June 2 to October 14, 150 euro. This fee includes only visitor registration kits, conference dinner, and access to all satellite events. *Students Students Registration Fee, up to October 14, 150 euro More information at the webpage http://tinyurl.com/TM2012reg SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZING COMMITTEE Mariateresa Crosta (chair, INAF,OATo); Marco Gramegna (co-chair, INRIM); Matteo Luca Ruggiero (co-chair, Politecnico di Torino, INFN); Orfeu Bertolami (Dep. Physics and Astronomy - Univ. Porto); Donato Bini (Ist. M. Picone - CNR, ICRA, INFN); Salvatore Capozziello (Dep. Phys. Sciences - Univ. Napoli, INFN); Mauro Francaviglia (President of SIGRAV, Dep. Mathematics - Univ. Torino); Sandro Coriasco (Dep. Mathematics - Univ. Torino); Fernando de Felice (Dep. Physics - Univ. Padova); Marco Genovese (INRIM); Robert T. Janzen (Villanova University, ICRA); Christophe Leponcin-Lafitte (SYRTE, Obs. de Paris); Oldrich Semerak (Inst. Th. Physics - Charles University, Prague); Angelo Tartaglia (DISAT - Politecnico di Torino, INFN). LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE Monica Capone (Dep. Mathematics - Univ. Torino, INFN); Tullia Carriero (INAF,OATo); Sandro Coriasco (Dep. Mathematics - Univ. Torino); Mariateresa Crosta (INAF,OATo); Ummi Abbas (INAF, OATo); Stefano Bertone (INAF, OATo; SYRTE, Obs. de Paris); Marco Gramegna (INRIM); Paolo Traina (INRIM); Matteo Luca Ruggiero (DISAT - Politecnico di Torino, INFN); Enzo Obiso (PHOS). +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.2 Workshop on holographic applications, out-of-equilibrium phenomena, gravity and analogue gravity, Paris ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/2012/09/25/workshop-on-holographic-application… Starting Mon, Oct 29, 2012 to Wed, Oct 31, 2012 Location: Paris, France Additional Information: http://www.cpht.polytechnique.fr/spip.php?article547 In the framework of a collaborative program on holographic applications, out-of-equilibrium phenomena, gravity & analogue gravity, we organize a 3-day workshop in Paris, from October 29 to October 31. We plan a few 75-min pedagogical talks per day aiming at covering some aspects of the above fields and creating a good synergy among the participants. Participation is free, registration is recommended. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.3 3rd Iberian Gravitational-Wave Meeting, in Valencia, Spain -------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/2012/09/13/3rd-iberian-gravitational-wave-meet… Starting Wed, Mar 20, 2013 to Fri, Mar 22, 2013 Location: Valencia, Spain Additional Information: http://congresos.adeit-uv.es/congresos/ficha.en.html?cc=159 Dear Colleagues, it is a pleasure to announce that the 3rd Iberian Gravitational-Wave Meeting will be organized by the Relativistic Astrophysics Group of the Universitat de València (Spain). Following the format of the previous meetings we plan to organize a 3-day meeting starting on March 20th and ending on March 22th, 2013. The style of the meeting will be informal, with significant time for discussions, and there will be no registration fee. Please visit the meeting's website for further information on registration, paper submission, accommodation, venue of the meeting, etc: http://congresos.adeit-uv.es/congresos/ficha.en.html?cc=159 The idea of the meeting is to bring together researchers with interest in the development of Gravitational Wave Astronomy, including researchers from related areas of Astrophysics, Cosmology, and Fundamental Physics. Please, feel free to send this announcement to scientists that may be interested in attending. Looking forward to seeing you in Valencia next March. The organizing committee: Pablo Cerda-Duran Jose A. Font Michael Gabler Jose M. Ibanez Martin Obergaulinger +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.4 GR20 and Amaldi10 in Warsaw, Poland --------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/2012/09/07/the-20th-international-conference-o… Starting Sun, Jul 07, 2013 to Sat, Jul 13, 2013 Location: Warsaw, Poland Additional Information: http://gr20-amaldi10.edu.pl/ Dear Relativists, it is a great pleasure to invite you to the 20th International Conference on General Relativity and Gravitation (GR20) and the 10th Amaldi Conference on Gravitational Waves (Amaldi10) which takes place from 7th - 13th July 2013 at Uniwersytet Warszawski, Warsaw, Poland. http://gr20-amaldi10.edu.pl/ GR20 is the latest in the series of triennial international conferences held under the auspices of the International Society on General Relativity and Gravitation. This conference series constitutes the principal international meetings for scientists working in all the areas of relativity and gravitation. The Amaldi conferences are held under the auspices of the Gravitational Wave International Committee. Since 1997, they have been held every two years and are regarded as the most important international conferences for the gravitational wave detection community. This time, in Warsaw, GR20 and Amaldi10 are organized as a joint event. The program of the conference, among many topics, includes: Planck Results, Dark Energy, Formation of the Trapped Surfaces, Dynamics of Asymptotically AdS spacetimes, Gravity and Condensed Matter Correspondence, Numerical Relativity and Its Applications to Astrophysics and High Energy Physics, Neutron Stars, Formation of Supermassive Black Holes, Modified Gravity as Alternatives to Dark Energy or Dark Matter, Cold Atoms for Equivalence Principle Tests and GW Detection, Quantum Fields in Curved Space-time, Higher-Dimensional Spacetimes, Loop Quantum Gravity, Strings and Branes. The conference venue is part of the prestigious historical Main Campus of the University, located in the touristic center of Warsaw, by the Royal Route. This puts it within walking distance of the Old Town, the Kings Castle and other anchor tourist attractions of the city of Fryderyk Chopin and Maria Sklodowska-Curie. We are planing to begin the reistration in mid October. We look forward to welcoming you to Warsaw 2013! Bala Iyer - Chair, GR20 Scientific Organizing Committee Sheila Rowan - Chair, Amaldi 10 Scientific Organizing Committee Jerzy Lewandowski - Chair, GR20/ Amaldi10 Local Organizing Committee, President, Polish Society on Relativity http://www.fuw.edu.pl/~potor/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.5 Equations of Motion in Relativistic Gravity, at Bad Honnef -------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/2012/09/06/equations-of-motion-in-relativistic… Starting Sun, Feb 17, 2013 to Sat, Feb 23, 2013 Location: Bad Honnef, Germany Additional Information: http://puetzfeld.org/eom2013.html The scientific focus of the seminar will be on the equations of motion in General Relativity and in alternative gravity theories. In particular on the motion of extended test bodies, self-force calculations, the motion of self-gravitating/heavy bodies, as well as test bodies with microstructure. Different approximations methods linked to the derivation of the equations of motion (e.g. multipolar, post-Newtonian, and post-Minkowskian techniques) will be covered. Furthermore, there will be an overview of current and future observations (gravitational waves, pulsars, celestial mechanics, astrometry, satellite experiments). This 524. WE-Heraeus-Seminar will take place at the Physikzentrum, Bad Honnef, Germany. More details and contact information can be found on the seminar webpage, http://puetzfeld.org/eom2013.html. We particularly encourage students and young researchers to participate in this seminar. There are no conference fees. The living expenses (overnight costs and meals) for all selected participants will be covered by the WE-Heraeus foundation. Since the number of participants to this seminar is limited we encourage early registrations (registration deadline: 15 November 2012). This seminar is organized by D. Puetzfeld (ZARM, U Bremen), C. Laemmerzahl (ZARM, U Bremen), B.F. Schutz (AEI, Potsdam), and is generously funded by the WE-Heraeus-Foundation. In case you need assistance or have questions regarding the seminar please contact: Dirk Puetzfeld ZARM University of Bremen Am Fallturm 28359 Bremen, Germany Email: eom2013[AT]puetzfeld.org +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.6 V Black Holes Workshop in Lisbon (2nd circ.) --------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/2012/09/05/v-black-holes-worksh%e2%80%8bop-in-… Starting Mon, Dec 17, 2012 to Tue, Dec 18, 2012 Location: Lisbon, Portugal Additional Information: http://blackholes.ist.utl.pt/blackholes5/ The fifth Black Holes Workshop will take place on 17-18 December 2012 in Lisbon, Portugal. The focus of the meeting will be on gravitational physics, with special emphasis on black hole physics. We remind that the deadline for registration and abstract submission is October 15. More details can be found in the official webpage, http://blackholes.ist.utl.pt/blackholes5/. We look forward to seeing you in Lisbon. ================================================================= 2. Jobs ================================================================= 2.1 Faculty position in Theoretical Astrophysics/Nuclear Astrophysics at Indiana University -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/2012/09/28/faculty-position-in-theoretical-ast… Institution: Bloomington, IN, USA Deadline: Tue, Jan 15, 2013 Additional Information: http://physics.indiana.edu The Department of Physics at Indiana University invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor position in theoretical astrophysics, cosmology, or nuclear astrophysics starting in the fall of 2013. We are interested in excellent candidates in several areas including neutrino astrophysics, gravitational wave astrophysics, supernova and neutron star merger simulations, gamma ray astronomy, dark matter, baryogenesis, nucleosynthesis, and properties of dense matter and neutron stars. The successful candidate will join astrophysics colleagues in both the Physics and Astronomy Departments at Indiana University and interact with very strong research groups in several related areas including neutrino physics, fundamental symmetries, high-energy physics, and nuclear physics. The candidate must have a Ph.D in physics or astrophysics and some postdoctoral experience. A commitment to excellence in teaching at the undergraduate and graduate level is essential. Candidates should submit a letter of application, curriculum vitae including a list of publications, statement of research, and a statement of teaching, and arrange for a minimum of three letters of reference. Applications should be submitted through the application portal located at http://indiana.peopleadmin.com. For questions please contact the Physics Department at 812-855-1247. Applications received by January 15, 2013 will be given full consideration. The position will remain open until filled. Further information about the IU Physics Department can be found at http://physics.indiana.edu. Indiana University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer strongly committed to excellence through diversity. Applications from women and minorities are especially encouraged. The University is responsive to the needs of dual-career families. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.2 Postdoc Positions in Numerical Relativity, Computational Relativistic Astrophysics, and Gravitational-Wave Science, Caltech ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/2012/09/26/caltech-postdoc-positions-in-numeri… Institution: Pasadena, CA, USA Deadline: Sat, Dec 01, 2012 Caltech Postdoc Positions in Numerical Relativity, Computational Relativistic Astrophysics, and Gravitational-Wave Science The California Institute of Technology invites applications for postdoctoral and senior postdoctoral appointments in theoretical aspects of gravitational-wave science. These positions are for researchers in any of the three focus areas of our group: 1) NUMERICAL RELATIVITY and COMPUTATIONAL RELATIVISTIC ASTROPHYSICS [Christian Ott, Mark Scheel, Bela Szilagyi, Christian Reisswig, Luke Roberts, Nick Taylor, Ernazar Abdikamalov, Roland Haas, Phillip Moesta, Tony Piro, Anil Zenginoglu, and grad students], including a strong collaboration with the Cornell group led by Saul Teukolsky and Larry Kidder. Systems and phenomena studied include compact binaries (BH/BH, NS/BH, NS/NS) as well as stellar collapse and supernova explosions. 2) GRAVITATIONAL-WAVE SOURCE ANALYSIS, DATA ANALYSIS, AND ASTROPHYSICS [Yanbei Chen, Christian Ott, Sterl Phinney, Kip Thorne, and grad students]. This effort has close ties to the Caltech theoretical astrophysics and observational astronomy programs, to the Caltech numerical relativity group, to the LIGO Laboratory, and to the JPL gravitational-wave group of Curt Cutler, Tom Prince, Massimo Tinto, Michele Vallisneri, John Armstrong, Frank Estabrook and postdocs Chad Galley, and Samaya Nissanke. 3) GRAVITATIONAL-WAVE DETECTORS [Yanbei Chen, Kip Thorne, Haixing Miao, and grad students.] This involves the application of quantum measurement and quantum control theory to advanced gravitational-wave detectors, as well as the formulation of experimental tests of quantum mechanics that can be performed on these detectors. This research is carried out in collaboration or interaction with members of the LIGO Lab, and other Caltech research groups, including those led by H. Jeff Kimble and Michael Roukes, and the Caltech Institute for Quantum Information and Matter (IQIM, an NSF Physics Frontier Center), http://www.iqim.caltech.edu, and the Moscow University research group of Vladimir Braginsky, Farid Khalili, Sergei Vyatchanin, Stefan Danilishin and Sergey Strigin. These three research programs are embedded in Caltech's TAPIR group (Theoretical Astrophysics Including Relativity), http://www.tapir.caltech.edu and are associated with the Caltech/JPL Association for Gravitational Wave Research, http://www.its.caltech.edu/~cajagwr/. By a single application one can be considered for Caltech's Prize Postdoctoral Fellowships in Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics, including Relativity [see http://www.pma.caltech.edu/GSR/fellowtheory.html] and for regular postdoctoral and senior postdoctoral positions. The application deadline is December 1, though late applications will continue to be considered until all positions are filled. PLEASE SUBMIT APPLICATIONS VIA THE WEB at the following website, until that website closes: http://www.beatricia.caltech.edu/astro-theoretical/apply.html Under Research Interests, please choose the button "Gravitational Physics" or "Astrophysics" Later applications should be sent to JoAnn Boyd, joann[AT]tapir.caltech.edu. Application materials should include curriculum vitae with email address and with citizenship indicated, bibliography of publications (with refereed articles identified), web locations of manuscripts not yet published, and a description of the desired research directions. Please ensure that at least three letters of recommendation are provided by the writers via the web at http://www.eas.caltech.edu/search/theo-astro/references before the website closes, or to joann[AT]tapir.caltech.edu afterwards. Caltech is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, Minorities, Veterans, and Disabled Persons are encouraged to apply. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.3 CIFAR Cosmology and Gravity Postdoctoral Fellowship (Canada) ---------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/2012/09/24/cifar-cosmology-gravity-postdoctora… Institution: one of several Canadian Universities Deadline: Fri, Nov 30, 2012 Additional Information: http://www.cifar.ca/JFA The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research brings together top international researchers to tackle many of the most interesting and pressing questions of our time. Our Junior Fellow Academy offers gifted, early career researchers the unique opportunity to participate in CIFAR’s global research network and to closely collaborate, and be mentored by, some of Canada's and the world’s best researchers. Junior Fellows take part in one of CIFAR's innovative research programs, where researchers meet regularly to establish new frameworks for thinking about the world with the potential to improve human health and the environment, transform technology, build strong societies, understand human culture and even chart the universe. To enhance leadership skills within an interdisciplinary network of peers, CIFAR also brings together Junior Fellows from all twelve programs for separate Academy meetings. CIFAR's Cosmology and Gravity Program is seeking an outstanding postdoctoral researcher to fill a Junior Fellowship position beginning in or after July 2013. The Junior Fellowship will be held in conjunction with a university postdoctoral appointment supervised by one or more program Fellows or Scholars. The position is tenable at any of the Canadian institutions where Fellows or Scholars of the Program are based. A list of eligible supervisors is provided below. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the program member(s) they wish to work with prior to submitting an application. Topics: The Cosmology and Gravity Program studies a wide range of topics spanning five major areas of research: physical cosmology, early universe physics, high energy astrophysics, gravitational astrophysics and numerical relativity, and particle astrophysics. Who should apply: Individuals who have completed or will complete their PhD no more than three years prior to the anticipated Fellowship starting date are eligible to apply. The successful candidate will have an exceptional record of accomplishment, excellent communication skills, and strong potential to collaborate with program members. The candidate will also be interested in exploring the contributions of research to society in collaboration with their peers from other CIFAR programs. Duration: Junior Fellows become members of the Junior Fellow Academy for a period of five years. The first two years are fully funded by CIFAR. Candidates may be able to negotiate for an additional year of salary and/or research support from their designated supervisor. For the last three years of the Junior Fellowship, CIFAR covers the cost to attend Academy meetings. Value: CIFAR provides $70,000 CDN/year for salary and benefits, plus $5,000 CDN/year for research support, for two years. However, candidates may be able to negotiate for a salary and/or research support top-up from their designated supervisor. How to Apply: Applications will be submitted through an online application system to be launched on October 1, 2012. Instructions are posted at www.cifar.ca/JFA. The application deadline for the Cosmology & Gravity Junior Fellowship is November 30, 2012. Visit the website today for more information about CIFAR and its Junior Fellow Academy. CIFAR is strongly committed to diversity within its community, and especially welcomes applications from visible minority group members, women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, members of sexual minority groups and others who may contribute to further diversification of ideas. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.4 Department Head, School of Mathematical Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/2012/09/22/department-head-school-of-mathemati… Institution: Rochester, NY, USA Deadline: Mon, Dec 31, 2012 Additional Information: http://careers.insidehighered.com/rochester-institute-technology/department… The Rochester Institute of Technology invites applications for the position of Head of the School of Mathematical Sciences (SMS). As the chief academic, fiscal, and administrative officer of the School, the Head provides leadership, advocacy, oversight, and management. To be considered, an applicant must have a Ph.D., a record of publications and external grants, and qualifications consistent with the rank of tenured full professor. Preference will be given to candidates who have served as department chairpersons or who have had other administrative experience. Applicants should have scholarly expertise in applied mathematics, computational science, mathematical biology, or discrete mathematics. Candidates should be able to attract and retain top-tier faculty members; to obtain external funding; to promote research; and to maintain the SMS service mission of educating RIT students. The Head of SMS is responsible for maintaining the School’s well-established undergraduate and graduate degree programs, undergraduate research program, for guiding junior faculty members toward tenure, for supporting the Center of Applied and Computational Mathematics and the Center for Computational Relativity and Gravitation, and for promoting publication and grant writing. The Head will also be responsible for helping to develop the School’s new Ph.D. program in Modeling and Computation, and for overseeing this program when it is in place. We seek an individual who is committed to the principles expressed in RIT’s core values, honor code, and statement of diversity. Required Minimum Qualifications • A Ph.D. or equivalent degree in the mathematical sciences or in a related field • Achievements consistent with the rank of tenured full professor • Leadership and administrative experience • A commitment to undergraduate and graduate education • Teaching experience at the collegiate level • A record of peer-reviewed publications • A record of externally funded research • A record of fostering interdisciplinary research • Experience in fostering growth of a research program • Research and teaching interests that align with focus areas of the SMS • The ability to contribute to the university’s continuing commitment to cultural diversity, pluralism, and individual differences Required Minimum Education Level: PhD Required Application Documents Curriculum Vitae or Resume Cover Letter Statement of Diversity Contribution List of References How To Apply Refers to Previous Requisition IRC60477. Apply online at http://careers.rit.edu. Please submit your cover letter addressing the listed qualifications; a vita; a contribution to diversity statement; and the names, addresses and phone numbers for three references. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.5 Faculty position at CITA ---------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/2012/09/19/faculty-position-at-cita/ Institution: Toronto, Canada Deadline: Sat, Dec 01, 2012 Additional Information: http://www.cita.utoronto.ca The Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CITA), a national centre for theoretical astrophysics hosted by the University of Toronto, invites applications for a tenure-stream faculty position, to commence July 1, 2013. The search is open to candidates at the Assistant or Associate Professor level. Applicants from any area of theoretical astrophysics, cosmology and early universe physics are encouraged to apply; we seek candidates with exceptionally strong and internationally recognized research records, and outstanding promise of future research accomplishments. Additional selection criteria include demonstrated excellence in teaching, in particular working with research fellows, graduate and undergraduate students, and to assume a leadership role in administering CITA’s active postdoctoral and visitor programs. The successful candidate will demonstrate excellence in research and have a strong commitment to excellence in teaching. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. CITA is an institute within the Faculty of Arts and Science, University of Toronto. The present complement of research staff includes six faculty and over 25 research fellows. The unique research environment at CITA is enhanced by close ties to the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, the Dunlap Institute, the Department of Physics, and the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research Cosmology and Gravity Program. We encourage applicants to apply online at http://www.cita.utoronto.ca/faculty-search. All enquiries should be sent to citadmin[AT]cita.utoronto.ca using the subject line “Faculty Search”. Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae, a bibliography, a statement of research interests, and provide the names and contact information of three referees who will be contacted by us for letter of recommendation. The deadline for all materials and letters of recommendation is December 1, 2012. The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from visible minority group members, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, members of sexual minority groups, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. This is an international search. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.6 CITA National Fellowships ----------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/2012/09/19/cita-national-fellowships/ Institution: Canada Deadline: Thu, Nov 15, 2012 As part of its mandate to promote research throughout Canada, CITA provides partial support for postdoctoral fellows working in theoretical astrophysics or closely related fields at Canadian universities other than the University of Toronto, through its National Fellows Program. The responsibility for identifying and nominating potential CITA National Fellows who will work at a given university lies with the faculty at that university. Only faculty at Canadian universities may submit nominations. The deadline for these nominations November 15, 2012 for fellowships to start in September 2013. Please check with the nominating institution for their internal deadlines. If you are interested in applying for National Fellowships at other universities in Canada, please contact any of the following faculty by email or check department websites for further research and application details: Professor Shantanu Basu, University of Western Ontario (basu[AT]uwo.ca) Professor Paul Charbonneau, Universite' de Montreal (paulchar[AT]astro.umontreal.ca>) Professor Alan Coley, Dalhouisie University (aac[AT]mathstat.dal.ca) Professor Andrew Cumming, McGill University (cumming[AT]physics.mcgill.ca) Professor Andrei Frolov, Simon Fraser University (frolov[AT]sfu.ca) Professor Mike Hudson, University of Waterloo (postdocjob[AT}astro.uwaterloo.ca) Professor Natasha Ivanova, University of Alberta (http://www.physics.ualberta.ca/en/Research/AstronomyAndAstrophysics.aspx) Professor Douglas Scott, University of British Columbia (http://www.astro.ubc.ca/citafellow.html) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.7 CITA Postdoctoral Fellowships and Senior Research Associates ---------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/2012/09/19/cita-postdoctoral-fellowships-senio… Institution: Toronto, Canada Deadline: Thu, Nov 15, 2012 Additional Information: http://www.cita.utoronto.ca POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS Postdoctoral research fellowships beginning September 1, 2013 are being offered at the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics. A Ph.D. in any field of theoretical astrophysics is required. Fellows are expected to carry out original research in theoretical astrophysics under the general supervision of the permanent faculty whose interests include: cosmology, interstellar matter, galaxy and planet formation, solar physics, high energy astrophysics, numerical relativity and gravitational waves. We only accept electronic submissions.Visit the CITA website at: http://www.cita.utoronto.ca for application instructions. Applicants will be asked to submit a curriculum vitae, statement of research interests and arrange for three letters of recommendation. The deadline for applications and all letters of recommendation is November 15, 2012. RESEARCH ASSOCIATE POSITIONS CITA expects to offer one or more Research Associate positions of three to five years duration. The start date will be September 1, 2013. Applicants should have an excellent research record in astrophysics and postdoctoral experience. Funds will be available for travel and other research expenses. The primary duty is to carry out original research in theoretical astrophysics, but Research Associates are also expected to work with postdoctoral fellows and to assist with the administration of the Institute. All applicants for these positions are also considered automatically for postdoctoral fellowships. We only accept electronic submissions.Visit the CITA website at: http://www.cita.utoronto.ca for application instructions. Applicants will be asked to submit a curriculum vitae, statement of research interests and arrange for three letters of recommendation. The deadline for applications and all letters of recommendation is November 15, 2012. The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from visible minority group members, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, members of sexual minority groups, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. This is an international search. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.8 Postdoc and PhD studentship in Gravitational Wave Astrophysics at Nijmegen, NL ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/2012/09/19/post-doc-and-phd-studentship-in-gra… Institution: Nijmegen, the Netherlands Deadline: Mon, Oct 15, 2012 Additional Information: http://www.asto.ru.nl Applications are invited for a (2+yr) postdoc and a (4yr) PhD position in GW Astrophysics at the Radboud University Nijmegen. The positions are funded through a large national program focusing on direct detection of GWs and GW Astrophysics. Our group recently joined the Virgo collaboration and will focus on enhancing the (astro)physics of GW detection using electro-magnetic data. The postdoctoral researcher must have a PhD in Physics or Astronomy and preferably have experience with GW data analysis. The post-doc will work on joint EM-GW data analysis and play a role in the supervision of PhD students. Part of the time can be spent on own research projects. The PhD project will focus on expected electro-magnetic signals and rates of compact binary star mergers and/or the design and use of a dedicated optical follow-up telescope array. The project can be more technically or more astronomically focused. Applications, consisting of a letter of interest and an extended CV should be submitted by e-mail, as well as details of three possible references. The Department of Astrophysics is a young, vibrant group (~10 faculty, ~10 postdocs, ~30 PhD students, ~10 Master students) working in the fields of astroparticle physics, compact binaries, stellar evolution, transients, radio astronomy, black holes, magnetic fields and extragalactic astronomy. It is located in the student town Nijmegen, an old (Roman) city, within easy reach of other places in the Netherlands. Included Benefits: University positions (including PhD positions) in the Netherlands include good medical and social benefits (including maternity and paternity leave and child care) plus holiday and end-of-year allowances. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.9 Postdoctoral positions at the Rochester Institute of Technology ------------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/2012/09/17/postdoctoral-positions-at-the-roche… Institution: Rochester, NY, USA Deadline: Mon, Dec 31, 2012 Additional Information: http://ccrg.rit.edu/ The Center for Computational Relativity and Gravitation (CCRG) at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) anticipates filling several postdoctoral positions in the coming year. We are looking for postdoctoral candidates interested in working on numerical relativity. Binary black hole simulations, relativistic magneto-hydrodynamics (GRMHD) simulations of coalescing astrophysical compact objects, such as black-hole and/or neutron star binaries, supermassive black hole mergers and their interactions with their surrounding accretion disks, and core-collapse supernovae. There are currently eleven senior researchers working in a broad range of areas of gravitational physics and astrophysics at the CCRG. Six faculty members work in numerical relativity and/or gravitational wave science: Manuela Campanelli, Joshua Faber, Carlos Lousto, Yosef Zlochower, John Whelan, and Hans-Peter Bischof (a visualization expert), as well as five postdoctoral fellows: Miguel Zilhao, Bruno Mundim, Scott Noble, Jason Nordhaus, and Hiroyuki Nakano, and several graduate students. The successful postdoctoral candidates will be will have the possibility to collaborate on a broad range of research topics in computational astrophysics and gravitational physics. Our group is involved in several large collaborations, including the LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC), The Einstein Toolkit Consortium, a petascale computing project with NCSA, the NINJA (Numerical Injection Analysis) project, and the NRAR (numerical relativity-analytical relativity) collaboration. Several group members also have an ongoing collaborative research project with Johns Hopkins University to study accretion disks around supermassive black holes and explore relativistic phenomena in active galactic nuclei such as jets in active galactic nuclei. The positions are for two years and renewable depending on satisfactory performance and the availability of funds. CCRG researchers have access to several computing cluster facilities at national computing centers as well as a dedicated 1500-core cluster hosted in the Center. More information about the CCRG is available at http://ccrg.rit.edu/ And about Rochester in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochester,_New_York Applications should consist of a cover letter, a brief statement of research interests, a curriculum vitae including publication list, and at least three letters of recommendation. All materials should be sent electronically as soon as possible to: CCRG-postdoc[AT]ccrgweb.rit.edu Enquiries can be addressed to: Carlos Lousto, colsma[AT]rit.edu Center for Computational Relativity and Gravitation, and School of Mathematical Sciences (SMS) Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) 85 Lomb Memorial Drive Rochester, New York 14623 USA Review of completed applications will begin December 31st, 2012 and will continue until February 1st, 2013 or until all positions are filled. RIT is committed to equal employment opportunity and affirmative action. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.10 Associate or full professor position in Applied Math at Waterloo --------------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/2012/09/16/associate-or-full-professor-positio… Institution: Waterloo, Canada Deadline: Thu, Nov 15, 2012 Additional Information: https://math.uwaterloo.ca/applied-mathematics/faculty-positions/senior-facu… Associate or full professor position in Applied Math including all theoretical/mathematical physics: Applications are invited for a faculty position in the Department of Applied Mathematics at the University of Waterloo. The appointment is intended as a senior position at the Professor or Associate Professor level and includes a University Research Chair. Applicants should have a strong international reputation in a research area complementing current activity in the department. An enthusiasm for the supervision of graduate students and for teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate level is expected. The Department of Applied Mathematics has 21 regular faculty and three lecturers. Research interests include computational mathematics/scientific computing, control theory, differential equations and dynamical systems, fluid dynamics, mathematical biology and medicine, and mathematical physics. The department has a substantial graduate program with over 60 graduate students pursuing Masters or PhD degrees and our undergraduate programs in applied mathematics and mathematical physics attract strong students. More information about the department can be found at http://math.uwaterloo.ca/applied-mathematics/ Candidates interested in this position should have a PhD or equivalent in Applied Mathematics, or a related field, and an outstanding record in research. The candidate's record in graduate supervision and in teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate level will be a factor. Rank and salary will be commensurate with experience. This appointment is expected to commence during the 2013 calendar year. To apply please email a curriculum vitae, including a statement of research interests, to amdept[AT]uwaterloo.ca. Names of referees are not required at this stage. Applications will be considered beginning November 15, 2012. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. The University of Waterloo encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including women, members of visible minorities, native peoples, and persons with disabilities. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.11 Postdoctoral Position at the University of Mississippi ----------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/2012/09/05/postdoctoral-position-at-the-univer… Institution: Oxford, MS, USA Deadline: Mon, Dec 31, 2012 Additional Information: http://www.phy.olemiss.edu/GR/?x=entry:entry120905-184157 The University of Mississippi invites applications for a postdoctoral position in the area of Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics. The applicant must have a Ph.D. in Physics or Astrophysics and a good track record in one or more of the following research areas: gravitational-wave source modeling, numerical relativity, post-Newtonian theory, alternative theories of gravity, perturbation theory of stars and black holes. The Gravitational and High-Energy Theory Group at the University of Mississippi is active in various areas of theoretical and experimental gravity, and is part of the LIGO collaboration. Members of the group include Emanuele Berti, Luca Bombelli, Marco Cavaglia, Alakabha Datta and Tibor Torma, adjunct professors Vitor Cardoso and Ulrich Sperhake, postdoc Michael Horbatsch, and several graduate students. More information on the gravity group in Mississippi is available at the following URL: http://www.phy.olemiss.edu/GR/ The successful applicant is expected to engage in a collaborative research program involving several institutions, including Caltech and Princeton in the USA, Lisbon, Barcelona, Rome and Aveiro in Europe, and Para' University in Brazil (among others). A curriculum vitae (including a list of publications and a statement of research interests) should be sent to the following e-mail address: grpostdoc[AT]phy.olemiss.edu Please use the subject "Gravitational theory postdoc". Applicants must also arrange to have at least three recommendation letters to be sent to the same email address. Applications must be sent before 12/31/2012, and possibly earlier. Late applications may be considered until the position is filled. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.12 Lecturer in Applied Mathematics at Southampton --------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/2012/09/01/lecturer-in-applied-mathematics-at-… Institution: Southampton, UK Deadline: Sun, Oct 07, 2012 Additional Information: http://www.jobs.soton.ac.uk Lecturer in Applied Mathematics Salary: 34,895 to 44,166 GBP per annum Full Time Fixed Term Closing Date: Sunday 07 October 2012 Reference: 154612PJ The School of Mathematics at the University of Southampton is seeking to appoint a full-time, fixed-term lecturer to strengthen the General Relativity research group in Applied Mathematics. You will be expected to play a major role in further enhancing the research profile of the group, by conducting research of international status, applying for external grants, and supervising research students. You will also participate in developing and delivering our teaching programme in mathematics at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The overall teaching load will be reduced in the first three years of the appointment. Applicants need to hold a PhD or equivalent in Physics, Mathematics or a related discipline, and have an excellent track record of original research and publications in the broad area of classical general relativity and/or associated theoretical astrophysics. To be considered, you must be able to demonstrate a potential for international leadership in your field of research. The University of Southampton (UK) is home to a large research group in General Relativity. The Group currently comprises 6 staff members (Nils Andersson, Leor Barack, Carsten Gundlach, Ian Hawke, Ian Jones and James Vickers), 5 postdocs and 9 research students. Research in the group covers topics in black-hole and neutron-star astrophysics, gravitational waves and numerical relativity. In September 2012 the group will be joined by Kostas Skenderis and Marika Taylor, with expertise in string-inspired gravity and holography. The position is available from January 2013 or as soon as possible thereafter, initially for a fixed-term period of 5 years. It is anticipated that interviews will be held around the end of October 2012. The closing date for applications is 7 October 2012. Please apply online via www.jobs.soton.ac.uk (use the top-right search bar quoting Job Ref. 154612PJ, and proceed as instructed). As part of your application you will be required to provide your full CV, a statement of research interests, and the contacts of 3 referees. Informal enquiries may be addressed to Nils Andersson (na[AT]maths.soton.ac.uk) or to Leor Barack (leor[AT]soton.ac.uk). ================================================================= 3. News ================================================================= 3.1 Death of Alberto Lobo ------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/2012/09/30/death-of-alberto-lobo/ Additional Information: http://www.ice.csic.es/view_staff.php?MID=36 Dear colleagues, It is with our deepest sorrow that we must announce that Prof. Jose' Alberto Lobo Gutierrez passed away yesterday evening. He leaves behind a wife (Rosa Maria), a son (Albert), and a daughter (Montserrat). Prof. Lobo has been a pioneer of the field of Gravitational Wave Astronomy in Spain, devoting his life to resonant ground-based detectors and to space-based ones. His contributions range from theoretical studies to the development of instrumentation, including data analysis methods. Even in the final stages of his cancer, he has been mainly concerned and actively planning towards maintaining and promoting the Spanish team activities and involvement into LISA PathFinder and its successor mission LISA. The Institut de Ciencies de l'Espai (CSIC-IEEC) will honour such vision and dedication. Those who had the opportunity to work with Alberto know that he has always been a very close colleague and many times a friend. His dedication to research and to those who work with him has always been complete, transmitting his passion and joy to everybody. In case you would like to express your condolences to the family, please, send them to gwart[AT]ice.csic.es, where they will be collected and forwarded to the family. Sincerely, The LPF/LISA Spanish team (Lluis Gesa, Ferran Gibert, Victor Hernandez, Nikos Karnesis, Ivan Lloro, Ignacio Mateos, Miquel Nofrarias, Carlos F. Sopuerta, Ulrich Sperhake) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3.2 Reminder to nominate Fellows of the GRG Society - Deadline 31 Dec 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/2012/09/19/reminder-to-nominate-fellows-of-the… The International Society on General Relativity and Gravitation has instituted Fellowships to recognize its outstanding members. The primary criterion for election is excellence in research, especially the impact of candidate’s work on the development of our field. The candidate will be generally expected to have made additional contributions to the field, for example through service, and/or outreach, and/or books and monographs, etc. In exceptional cases such criteria could constitute the primary basis of nomination provided these activities have had influence on a significant portion of our community, not just the home institution of the candidate. Nominations are due by December 31st, 2012. Any member of the Society can make nominations but self-nominations will not be considered. The nomination packet will consist of: i) A letter summarizing the basis for nomination; ii) An up-to-date CV and publication list of the nominee; iii) 1 to 3 supporting letters from members of the Society, and, iv) A proposed citation. Once made, the nomination will remain active for two additional rounds. Further details can be found at http://www.isgrg.org/fellowrules.php Electronic nominations in the form of emailed PDF files are strongly preferred. The nomination PDF files should be sent to the Chair of the Fellowship committee, Clifford Will (cmw_AT_physics.ufl.edu). If an electronic nomination is not possible, a single paper copy of the nomination should be mailed or faxed to Clifford Will at Department of Physics University of Florida P.O. Box 118440 Gainesville FL 32611-8440 Fax: 1-352-392-0524 The elected Fellows will be inducted during the Business Meeting of the Society at GR 20 in Warsaw, 8 – 13 July, 2013. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3.3 Death of Leonid Grishchuk ------------------------------ Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/2012/09/14/death-of-leonid-grishchuk/ Additional Information: http://www.astro.cf.ac.uk/pub/Leonid.Grishchuk/index.html Dear Friends, With deep sadness we inform you that our colleague Leonid Grishchuk passed away in his sleep, on13 September 2012, 2:25 am, after a brief battle with brain cancer. He leaves behind three daughters: Ekaterina Grishchuk, Alexandra Grishchuk, and Olga Grishchuk. One of us (Sathya) is collecting messages of condolence, which we will forward to them. Please send messages to B.Sathyaprakash[AT]astro.cf.ac.uk. You can read a brief scientific biography of Leonid at: http://www.astro.cf.ac.uk/pub/Leonid.Grishchuk/index.html Kip Thorne Malcolm MacCallum B.S. Sathyaprakash +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3.4 "Relativistic Figures of Equilibrium", now in paperback edition (CUP) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/2012/09/14/relativistic-figures-of-equilibrium… Additional Information: http://www.cambridge.org/9781107407350 A paperback edition of the book "Relativistic Figures of Equilibrium" by R. Meinel, M. Ansorg, A. Kleinwachter and G. Neugebauer has recently been published. For more information, see http://www.cambridge.org/9781107407350 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3.5 New book: "Black Holes in Higher Dimensions", edited by Gary Horowitz ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/2012/09/11/new-book-black-holes-in-higher-dime… Additional Information: http://www.cambridge.org/gb/knowledge/isbn/item6633780/?site_locale=en_GB A new book devoted to higher dimensional black holes has recently been published. This edited volume includes contributions from the leading experts in the field. "Black Holes in Higher Dimensions" Gary T. Horowitz, editor 422 pages Cambridge University Press For more information, see http://www.cambridge.org/gb/knowledge/isbn/item6633780/?site_locale=en_GB +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3.6 Living Reviews in Relativity: "Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND)" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/2012/09/07/living-reviews-in-relativity-modifi… Additional Information: http://www.livingreviews.org/lrr-2012-10 Living Reviews in Relativity has published a new review article on "Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND): Observational Phenomenology and Relativistic Extensions" by Benoît Famaey and Stacy S. McGaugh on 7 September 2012. Please find the abstract and further details below. ------------------ PUB.NO. lrr-2012-10 Famaey, Benoît and McGaugh, Stacy S. "Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND): Observational Phenomenology and Relativistic Extensions" ACCEPTED: 2012-04-30 PUBLISHED: 2012-09-07 FULL ARTICLE AT: http://www.livingreviews.org/lrr-2012-10 (incl. 518 references and 48 figures) ABSTRACT: A wealth of astronomical data indicate the presence of mass discrepancies in the Universe. The motions observed in a variety of classes of extragalactic systems exceed what can be explained by the mass visible in stars and gas. Either (i) there is a vast amount of unseen mass in some novel form -- dark matter -- or (ii) the data indicate a breakdown of our understanding of dynamics on the relevant scales, or (iii) both. Here, we first review a few outstanding challenges for the dark matter interpretation of mass discrepancies in galaxies, purely based on observations and independently of any alternative theoretical framework. We then show that many of these puzzling observations are predicted by one single relation -- Milgrom's law -- involving an acceleration constant $a_0$ (or a characteristic surface density $\Sigma_\dagger = a_0/G$) on the order of the square-root of the cosmological constant in natural units. This relation can at present most easily be interpreted a s the effect of a single universal force law resulting from a modification of Newtonian dynamics (MOND) on galactic scales. We exhaustively review the current observational successes and problems of this alternative paradigm at all astrophysical scales, and summarize the various theoretical attempts (TeVeS, GEA, BIMOND, and others) made to effectively embed this modification of Newtonian dynamics within a relativistic theory of gravity. UPCOMING ARTICLES AT: http://relativity.livingreviews.org/Articles/upcoming.html +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3.7 GGR Membership ------------------ Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/2012/09/05/ggr-membership/ Additional Information: http://www.aps.org/units/ggr/ Dear Colleague, This message is to invite you to join the Topical Group in Gravitation (GGR) of the American Physical Society (APS). The GGR is the community of physicists in the APS that specialize in anything related to Gravitation, from quantum gravity or string theory to analytical and numerical relativity, from gravitational wave theory, astrophysics, and data analysis to experimental relativity. The GGR is responsible for advocating and defending the interests of the Gravitation community in the APS and in the United States. This includes the sponsoring and organization of talks on Gravitation at the April APS meetings (20 sessions last year), sponsoring the student Travel Grants and issuing, the bi-annual newsletter, Matters of Gravity (http://www.phys.lsu.edu/mog/). The impact GGR has in APS is proportional to the number of members we have, and thus, we are asking here that you and your students and postdocs join the APS and become GGR members. Some of you may already be APS members, but not GGR members. If so, we encourage you to join GGR by following the “Join this unit” link at http://www.aps.org/units/ggr/. You can also become GGR members when you pay your yearly APS dues online, by checking the GGR box when asked about joining Divisions and Topical Groups. Notice that some students may not check the GGR box simply out of ignorance of what GGR is. Before listing the benefits of APS membership, we want to emphasize that for students and postdocs the cost to join is really very low: -Students: APS membership costs $33/yr, and the first year is actually free for students in North America. Students may join up to two Divisions and/or Topical Groups for free. -Postdocs: Within one year of receiving their Ph.D., postdocs can become Junior Members of the APS for $67/yr, and may remain Junior Members at this price for up to three years. Junior Members, like Regular Members, can add units for $8. Most of the dues charged for membership to GGR are expended in supporting the participation of both graduate and undergraduate students at APS Meetings, where no restriction is made on the nationality of the student. Needless to say, the larger the membership pool, the bigger the budget for these awards. But even for a modest financial cost, you deserve good reasons for joining. If you are a US physicist, perhaps the most important reason is to take your rightful place in the US physics community. The APS plays many essential roles in our community, including running the APS meetings, publishing journals such as the Physical Review, keeping members informed on news and community issues via the APS News, and taking the lead in Physics advocacy within the U.S government. Joining the APS is therefore part of being a good citizen in our community. (The alternative is to be a “free-rider,” relying on others to foot the bill for an institution that benefits all of us.) If you are a non-US physicist, you may wonder why joining the APS and the GGR is desirable. Statistically, a high percentage of APS and GGR members are non-US physicists. The GGR has worked hard in recent years to ensure that non-US members are given equal consideration for APS fellowships. Approximately 25% of APS fellows nominated by GGR in the past 4 years are non-US physicists. Of course, whether you are a US or a non-US physicist, there are tangible personal benefits to being an APS member. For example, members receive a free monthly issue of Physics Today and the APS news, discounted registration at APS meetings, and full access to the APS Physics Job Center. A more complete list of benefits can be found at http://aps.org/membership/student.cfm We are pushing to increase GGR membership now because one of our goals is to grow from a Topical Group to a Division, just like Astrophysics or Particle Physics communities have done in the past. The GGR is the largest topical group in the APS and it is getting close in size to being eligible to become a Division: we currently have ~1100 GGR members and need an additional ~400 to become a Division. We believe this is an achievable goal, given the size of our community. Achieving Division status would give substantial benefits to the gravity community: a permanent seat in the APS council, the ability to choose a plenary speaker for the April Meetings, a larger budget allocation from the APS, which in turn would mean an increase in student travel support and free food and wine at our business meetings, which are open to all GGR members. We look forward to welcoming you and your students and postdocs into the APS and the GGR. Best regards, Nicolas Yunes (GGR Membership Committee Chair) Curt Cutler (GGR Membership Committee Chair-Elect) Manuela Campanelli (GGR, Chair) Daniel Holz (GGR, Chair-Elect) Beverly Berger (GGR, Vice-Chair) James Isenberg (Secretary/Treasurer)

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