Research Division The Research Division is the research wing of the Mars Institute. It hosts and directly supports, coordinates, and manages, all research activities at the Mars Institute. The Research Division is divided into 4 branches: Science, Engineering, Operations and Humanities and Social Sciences. Science Branch The Science Branch of the Mars Institute focuses on research relating to the scientific study of Mars, including but not limited to the analysis of telescopic and spacecraft data about Mars, theoretical studies of Mars, the investigation of "Mars analogs" (on Earth, in LEO, on the Moon), the study of martian meteorites, the study of the moons of Mars and of other small bodies, and the development of future scientific missions to explore Mars. Engineering Branch The Engineering Branch of the Mars Institute focuses on research relating to the development of new strategies and technologies for future Mars exploration, including new mission concepts, scientific instruments, robotic systems, human surface operations systems, habitat designs, life support systems, and analog studies on the Earth, in LEO, on the Moon, and on small bodies. Operations Branch The Operations Branch of the Mars Institute focuses on space operations research. Within the Operations Branch the Mars Institute has created as of January 1, 2007 the Medical Operations Laboratory. Humanities and Social Sciences Branch The Humanities & Social Sciences Branch of the MI focuses on: A) research relating to identifying, logging, interpreting, preserving, and sharing humanity's historical record of Mars science and exploration, and B) interdisciplinary research in other fields such as economics, law, history and political science in relation to Mars science and exploration. Definition of Positions Research Faculty The body of Mars Institute researchers formed by all Permanent and Non-Permanent Researchers. Permanent Researchers The body of Mars Institute researchers formed by Emeritus Researchers, Senior Researchers, and Researchers. Non-Permanent Researchers The body of Mars Institute researchers formed by Distinguished Guest Researchers, Associate Researchers, Postdoctoral Research Associates, and Postgraduate Research Associates. Student Interns The body of Mars Institute research assistants formed by Graduate Student Interns and Undergraduate Student Interns. Staff The body of Mars Institute research assistants who are permanent personnel of the Mars Institute Research Division. Privileges Research Faculty members at the Mars Institute Research Division may: have other institutional affiliations. conduct a portion or all their Mars-related research as affiliates of the Mars Institute. apply for research grants as Principal Investigators with the Mars Institute as their home institution. serve as Graduate Research Advisors to Graduate Student Interns. serve as Undergraduate Research Advisors to Undergraduate Student Interns. Permanent researchers at the Mars Institute Research Division may, in addition: serve as Postdoctoral Research Advisors to Postdoctoral Research Associates. serve as Postgraduate Research Advisors to Postgraduate Research Associates. submit nominations for inviting Distinguished Guest Researchers to join the Mars Institute Research Division. Researcher Definitions Emeritus Researcher Position Description: This permanent position is honorary and held by credentialed and experienced researchers who have retired from active professional research at the Mars Institute Research Division where they served formerly as Senior Researchers, and who wish to remain involved in research or research support at the Mars Institute Research Division beyond their retirement. Admission: Applicants must have been Senior Researchers at the Mars Institute Research Division up to the time of their retirement from their Senior researcher position at the Mars Institute. Applications are reviewed by the Mars Institute CEO and Mars Institute Research Division Director who forward their individual recommendations to the Mars Institute Board of Directors. The Mars Institute Board of Directors decides on admission by majority vote. Term: Permanent. The tenure of an Emeritus Researcher may not be revoked or terminated except by resignation of the Emeritus Researcher or by majority vote of the Mars Institute Board of Directors. Senior Researcher Position Description: This permanent position is held by active, credentialed and experienced researchers who have more than 10 years of active professional research experience since acquiring their graduate research credentials and who have either a) been Researchers at the Mars Institute Research Division for more than 5 years, or b) made, prior to joining the Mars Institute Research Division, outstanding contributions to Mars science, engineering, and/or humanities and social sciences. Admission: Applicants must hold a graduate degree (for Science Branch applicants: a Ph.D. degree or equivalent) in a discipline of relevance to research conducted at the Mars Institute and have had more than 10 years of active professional research experience in relevant fields since acquiringtheir graduate research credentials. Applicants must have been Researchers at the Mars Institute Research Division for more than 5 years or have made, prior to joining the Mars Institute Research Division, outstanding contributions to Mars science, engineering, and/or history studies. Applications are reviewed by the Mars Institute CEO, Mars Institute Research Division Director, and Senior Researchers, who forward their individual recommendations to the Mars Institute Board of Directors. The Mars Institute Board of Directors decides on admission by majority vote. Term: Permanent. The tenure of a Senior Researcher may not be revoked or terminated except by resignation of the Senior Researcher or by majority vote of the Mars Institute Board of Directors. Researcher Position Description: This permanent position is held by active, credentialed and experienced researchers who have more than 5 years of active professional research experience since acquiring their graduate research credentials and who have been Associate Researchers at the Mars Institute Research Division for more than 2 years. Admission: Applicants must hold a graduate degree (for Science Branch applicants: a Ph.D. degree or equivalent) in a discipline of relevance to research conducted at the Mars Institute and have had more than 5 years of active professional research experience in relevant fields since acquiring their graduate research credentials. Applicants must have been Associate Researchers at the Mars Institute Research Division for more than 2 years. Applications are reviewed by the Mars Institute CEO, Mars Institute Research Division Director, Senior Researchers, and Researchers, who forward their individual recommendations to the Mars Institute Board of Directors. The Mars Institute Board of Directors decides on admission by majority vote. Term: Permanent. The tenure of a Researcher may not be revoked or terminated except by resignation of the Researcher or by majority vote of the Mars Institute Board of Directors. Distinguished Guest Researcher Position Description: This non-permanent position is held by active, credentialed and experienced researchers who have more than 10 years of active professional research experience since acquiring their graduate research credentials and who have made outstanding contributions to Mars science, engineering, and/or history studies. Admission: By invitation only. Candidates may be nominated by any Permanent Researcher at the Mars Institute Research Division in a nomination statement to the Mars Institute CEO and the Mars Institute Research Division Director, who then forward the nomination with their recommendation to the Mars Institute Board of Directors. The Mars Institute Board of Directors decides on admission by majority vote. Term: 2 Years. Renewable, if desired by the Distinguished Guest Researcher, by recommendation of the Mars Institute CEO, the Mars Institute Research Division Director, and by majority vote of the Mars Institute Board of Directos. Associate Researcher Position Description: This non-permanent position is held by credentialed and experienced researchers who have more than 4 years of active professional research experience since acquiring their graduate research credentials. Admission: Applicants must hold a graduate degree (for Science Branch applicants: a Ph.D. degree or equivalent) in a discipline of relevance to research conducted at the Mars Institute and have had more than 4 years of active professional research experience in relevant fields since acquiring their graduate research credentials. Applications are reviewed by the Mars Institute CEO, Mars Institute Research Division Director, Senior Researchers, and Researchers, who then forward their individual recommendations to the Mars Institute Board of Directors. The Mars Institute Board of Directors decides on admission by majority vote. Term: 1 Year. Renewable, if desired by the Associate Researcher, by recommendation of the Mars Institute CEO, the Mars Institute Research Division Director, and by majority vote of the Mars Institute Board of Directors. Postdoctoral Research Associate Position Description: This non-permanent position is held by credentialed researchers who have less than 4 years of active professional research experience since acquiring their Ph.D. degree or equivalent. The work of Postdoctoral Research Associates at the Mars Institute Research Division is placed under the advisement of a Postdoctoral Research Advisor who must be a Permanent Researcher at the Mars Institute Research Division. Admission: Applicants must hold a Ph.D. degree or equivalent in a discipline of relevance to research conducted at the Mars Institute. Applicants must identify a proposed Postdoctoral Research Advisor among the Permanent Researchers at the Mars Institute Research Division, and a research program to work on. Applications are reviewed by the proposed Postdoctoral Research Advisor, the Mars Institute CEO, and the Mars Institute Research Division Director, who then forward their individual recommendations to the Mars Institute Board of Directors. The Mars Institute Board of Directors decides on admission by majority vote. Term: 1 Year. Renewable, if desired by the Postdoctoral Research Associate, by recommendation of the Postdoctoral Research Advisor, the Mars Institute CEO, the Mars Institute Research Division Director, and by majority vote of the Mars Institute Board of Directors. Postgraduate Research Associate Position Description: This non-permanent position is held by credentialed researchers who have less than 4 years of active professional research experience since acquiring their non-doctoral graduate degree. The work of Postgraduate Research Associates at the Mars Institute Research Division is placed under the advisement of a Postgraduate Research Advisor who must be a Permanent Researcher at the Mars Institute Research Division. Admission: Applicants must hold a graduate degree in a discipline of relevance to research conducted at the Mars Institute. Applicants must identify a proposed Postgraduate Research Advisor among the Permanent Researchers at the Mars Institute Research Division, and a research program to work on. Applications are reviewed by the proposed Postgraduate Research Advisor, the Mars Institute CEO, and the Mars Institute Research Division Director, who forward their individual recommendations to the Mars Institute Board of Directors. The Mars Institute Board of Directors decides on admission by majority vote. Term: 1 Year. Renewable, if desired by the Postgraduate Research Associate, by recommendation of the Postgraduate Research Advisor, the Mars Institute CEO, the Mars Institute Research Division Director, and by majority vote of the Mars Institute Board of Directors. Graduate Student Intern Position Description: This non-permanent position is held by graduate students who are enrolled full-time in an academic institution and who participate in research as research assistants at the Mars Institute Research Division. The work of each graduate student intern at the Mars Institute is placed under the supervision of a Graduate Research Advisor who must be member of the Mars Institute Research Division Research Faculty. Admission: Applicants must be in good standing in their academic institution and have the concurrence of their academic advisor(s) to participate in research at the Mars Institute. Applicants must identify a proposed Graduate Research Advisor among the Research Faculty at the Mars Institute Research Division, and a research program to work on. Applications are reviewed by the proposed Graduate Research Advisor, the Mars Institute CEO, and the Mars Institute Research Division Director, who decide on admission by concurrence. Term: 1 Year or less. Renewable, if desired by the Graduate Student Intern, by concurrence of the student’s academic advisor(s), his/her Graduate Research Advisor at the Mars Institute, the Mars Institute CEO, and the Mars Institute Research Division Director. Undergraduate Student Intern Position Description: This non-permanent position is held by undergraduate students who are enrolled full-time in an academic institution and who participate in research as research assistants at the Mars Institute Research Division. The work of each undergraduate student intern at the Mars Institute is placed under the supervision of an Undergraduate Research Advisor who must be member of the Mars Institute RD Research Faculty. Admission: Applicants must be in good standing in their academic institution and have the concurrence of their academic advisor(s) to participate in research at the Mars Institute. Applicants must identify a proposed Undergraduate Research Advisor among the Research Faculty at the Mars Institute Research Division, and a research program to work on. Applications are reviewed by the proposed Undergraduate Research Advisor, the Mars Institute Research Division Director, and the Mars Institute CEO who decide on admission by concurrence. Term: 1 Year or less. Renewable, if desired by the Undergraduate Student Intern, by concurrence of the student’s academic advisor(s), his/her Undergraduate Research Advisor at the Mars Institute, the Mars Institute CEO, and the Mars Institute Research Division Director.

Mars Institute TM Copyright © 2002-2009 Mars Institute. All rights reserved. Contact Us · Home