Extraterrestrial Materials Analysis Group (ExMAG) Call for Applications for 2025 Membership

The Extraterrestrial Materials Analysis Group (ExMAG) is seeking applications for open volunteer service positions starting in 2025.

The Extraterrestrial Materials Analysis Group (ExMAG) is a community-based, interdisciplinary group providing a forum for discussion and analysis of matters concerning the collection, curation, and analysis of extraterrestrial samples, including future sample return missions.

ExMAG also supports human exploration objectives and their implications for architecture planning and activity prioritization for future exploration of planetary surfaces insofar as they plan on collecting samples for return and analysis.

ExMAG members organize ExMAG meetings, sponsor workshops and studies relevant to sample science and future mission, curation, and analysis plans, and communicate analysis findings to the planetary science community and to NASA. ExMAG Subcommittee members bring specialized knowledge and expertise to advise NASA on specific curatorial collections and issues.

Appointments are for three-year terms, such that roll-off is staggered. ExMAG seeks to have membership as diverse as the community in career stage, demographics, type of employer, and area of expertise.

The expected commitment of members averages around 0.1 FTE (4–6 weeks) over each year, including participating in bimonthly ExMAG meetings; participating in subcommittee, community, or ad hoc meetings; contributing to analyses of issues; reviewing documents; and participating and preparing for community ExMAG meetings and special sessions.

How to Apply

Applications should be made online by December 6th, 2024 here.

Applications consist of a maximum two-page CV, optional demographic information, and short statements describing your interest and qualifications to the following criteria (all answers will be normalized to the Applicant’s career stage):

• Understanding of the ExMAG position (don’t hesitate to email [email protected] to discuss!)
• Ability and desire to conduct ExMAG analysis and activities
• Organizational and leadership potential / experience applicable to ExMAG position

Please submit a separate application to each position for which you wish to be considered.

These positions are not paid by NASA, but should be supported by the applicant’s institutional commitment to service activities. Potential members should be prepared to attend ExMAG Committee meetings starting in January 2025, which will be held virtually for the foreseeable future, in addition to one full committee meeting in person in May 2025 (if scheduling allows).

Positions sought

ExMAG Roles and Responsibilities can be viewed here: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/exmag/charter/index.shtml#roles

We are currently seeking Full members and Subcommittee members in the following areas:

Lunar Subcommittee Chair (1 position): The Lunar Subcommittee provides assessment and analysis for all aspects of current and future lunar sample curation, including sample and hardware handling processes, contamination control, documentation, and facilities design, care, and use. We seek to appoint a new subcommittee chair for a three-year term. We are especially interested in applications from people with expertise relevant to the upcoming Artemis missions. The Lunar subcommittee chair should have prior experience serving on CAPTEM, LEAG, or ExMAG, and/or participating in the lunar subcommittee or other relevant CAPTEM/ExMAG sample subcommittees.

At-large member (1 position): At-large members have general expertise in sample analysis and/or curation and serve a vital role in conducting analyses and providing community input to all ExMAG subcommittees and activities. At-large ExMAG committee member duties include participating in and contributing to the activities of the committee during regular meetings of the ExMAG committee and community, discussion and analysis of issues brought before the committee, assuming responsibility for activities, analyses, or initiatives as appropriate, identifying actions and findings coming from committee meetings and activities, and communicating with the chair and other members between meetings regarding projects and concerns. We especially encourage applications from early career members of the community who want to contribute toward analysis and recommendations for NASA Research and Analysis (R&A) programs, enabling technology for sample-return missions, canvassing analog collections, and/or other topics of interest to the member and to the ExMAG community.

IDEA Cross-AG Working Group Member (1 position): We are seeking one representative with general expertise in sample analysis and/or curation who also has a strong interest and experience in advancing diversity in the sample analysis and planetary communities. This member will serve on the ExMAG executive committee, and will also contribute to the Cross-AG EDIA Working Group in a three-year term. The representative will attend Cross-AG WG meetings and communicate the WG’s IDEA related recommendations to ExMAG and vice versa. They will also organize the IDEA session at ExMAG’s annual meetings. In general, the representative will be responsible for guiding ExMAG in fostering IDEA principles within the AG and sample science community, in general.

Meteorites Subcommittee Member (1 position): The Meteorite Subcommittee provides assessment and analysis for all aspects of current and future Antarctic meteorite sample curation, including sample and hardware handling processes, contamination control, documentation, and facilities design, care, and use. Subcommittee members are not full ExMAG Executive Committee members, but serve vital roles conducting analysis and providing community input to the Subcommittee and the collection.

Astrobiology, Astrogeology,