Call for Nominations to the Executive Committee of the Physics of the Cosmos Program Analysis Group (PhysPAG)

Dear Colleagues:

The Astrophysics Division of NASA's Science Mission Directorate is pleased to issue this open call for nominations, including self-nominations, to serve on the Executive Committee of NASA's Physics of the Cosmos Program Analysis Group, or PhysPAG (http://pcos.gsfc.nasa.gov/physpag/). In the coming months, NASA anticipates making at least three new appointments to the PhysPAG Executive Committee, in order to replace current members who will be rotating off the committee. Appointments will be for a period of three years for each selected candidate.

NASA's Physics of the Cosmos (PCOS) Program has a wide breadth of scientific interests, covering topics from cosmology to fundamental physics (http://pcos.gsfc.nasa.gov). The PCOS operating mission portfolio includes the Chandra X-ray Observatory, the X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) Observatory, and the Fermi Gamma-ray Observatory, while missions under active development include the European Space Agency (ESA)-led observatories Euclid and Lisa Pathfinder. Several other operating missions under separate programs, such as the Explorers and the suborbital program, provide observations of high interest to the PCOS community. Also relevant to PCOS science is the ESA-led X-ray observatory Athena, to which NASA will contribute; early-stage discussions about NASA's participation in ESA's L3 mission; and ongoing data analysis from the Planck mission.

The PhysPAG is an open, interdisciplinary forum that provides a conduit for community input into NASA's PCOS Program and for conducting analyses in support of science objectives and their implications for planning and prioritization of Program activities. The PhysPAG is led by an Executive Committee (EC), whose membership is chosen to reflect the broad range of scientific disciplines and interests represented in PCOS. The current EC Chair serves on the Astrophysics Subcommittee. Together, the PhysPAG EC and the Chair are responsible for capturing and organizing community input, overseeing PhysPAG analyses, reporting PhysPAG findings and inputs to the Astrophysics Subcommittee, and keeping the scientific community apprised of ongoing activities and opportunities within NASA's Physics of the Cosmos. Detailed information about the structure and function of the PhysPAG can be found on the web at http://pcos.gsfc.nasa.gov/physpag/.

Nominations, including self-nominations, for the PhysPAG Executive Committee should be submitted via E-mail to Daniel.A.Evans@nasa.gov. Nominations must include both a cover letter and a one-page curriculum vitae summarizing the nominee's relevant background, all bounded in a single PDF file. The cover letter should provide a description of the nominee's area of expertise and qualifications for service on the PhysPAG Executive Committee. The deadline for receipt of nominations is September 1, 2015, with announcement of selections anticipated by early October 2015.

Nominations will only be accepted for scientists who reside at a U.S. Institution for the period of the service. There is no limitation on citizenship.

We look forward to working with all of our stakeholders to continue a robust and compelling Physics of the Cosmos Program.

Sincerely,

Daniel A. Evans
Deputy Program Scientist, Physics of the Cosmos
NASA Headquarters

Ann Hornschemeier
Chief Scientist, Physics of the Cosmos
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center