Internal Research Fellow (PostDoc) in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

This research fellowship will be carried out within ESA’s Advanced Concepts Team (ACT): a group of research fellows (post-docs) and young graduates from a broad variety of academic fields aiming for an academic career. Its task is to monitor, perform and foster research on advanced space systems, innovative concepts and working methods. It interacts externally almost exclusively with academia and operates as a truly interdisciplinary team bound to high scientific standards. Via its research, the team acts as a pathfinder exploring novel, potentially promising areas for ESA and the space sector, ranging from applied to  fundamental research topics. An important task of the team is to communicate scientific trends and results, as input for the strategic planning of the Agency.

The team entered the field of computer science and applied mathematics in 2004, performing research projects related to distributed-parallel-GPU optimisation (e.g. pagmo2), fast computer algebra (e.g. piranha, obake), differential algebra and automated differentiation (audi), to name just a few. The open science approach was pursued in all these research projects, it being considered a very valuable paradigm by the team.

Candidates are highly encouraged to familiarise themselves with the research done by the ACT (https://www.esa.int/gsp/ACT/), in particular in the field of artificial intelligence and computer science.

If recruited to this post, you will carry out research in the field of computer science and applied mathematics. Areas of research would then be chosen partly by you, based on your own expert judgement and insight into trends and developments, and partly by the team, so as to follow the Agency’s strategic directions.

Scientifically, you will, in particular:

• Propose and perform novel research in the field of computer science and applied mathematics, where appropriate together with universities of ESA Member States (in particular through the Ariadna scheme https://www.esa.int/ariadna)
• Propose and lead open-source projects, possibly building upon past ACT projects (pagmo2, audi, pykep, obake, d-CGP etc.). See https://www.esa.int/gsp/ACT/resources/software.html
• Organise and lead competitions rooted in computer science or applied maths via ESA’s Kelvins platform (https://kelvins.esa.int);
• Coordinate the team’s participation in coding initiatives, such as Google summer of code (GSOC), ESA Summer of Code (SOCIS) and Frontier Development Lab (FDL).
• Provide project support to all ACT science projects by proposing advanced computational paradigms and high-performance computing solutions.

As ACT researcher, you will:

• Publish results in peer-reviewed publications and use modern communication tools to communicate with the broader audience inside and outside ESA;
• Lead and assist interdisciplinary projects with other ACT researchers;
• Participate together with the team in the assessment of proposed space system concepts - these not being restricted to artificial intelligence and computer science - and propose new concepts and assessment studies;
• Perform and participate in assessments on subjects of strategic interest to ESA, provide in-house expertise for strategy development;
• Benefit for their research from the technology and engineering expertise available at ESTEC.

• PhD (completed before take-up of duty) in computer science, mathematics or informatics, the subject of which should be relevant to the description of the tasks outlined above and aim at an academic/research career.
• Degree in mathematics, computer science, informatics, artificial intelligence, engineering or a related field;

Solid programming skills in C++ and Python programming languages.

Experience in open source projects, GPU programming, distributed computing or cloud computing is considered a strong asset.

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.

Other requirements are:

Ability and interest in prospective interdisciplinary research;

Aptitude for contextualising specialised areas of research and quickly assess their potential with respect to other domains and applications;

Academic networking to add functioning links to universities and research institutes;

Ability to work in a team, while also being able to work individually on personal research plans and directions;

Natural curiosity and a passion for new subjects and research areas.

The position of Research Fellow in ESA’s Advanced Concepts Team is similar to a regular postdoctoral academic placement, with a few notable differences:

1. ACT RFs have no teaching obligations. However, they are likely to be involved in mentoring Young Graduate Trainees and student interns (stagiaires) within the team.
2. As the team does not have a professor-like position, ACT RFs are academically more independent than most post-docs. This implies more freedom but also more responsibility for their research directions and approaches.
3. ACT RFs join a diverse, changing and interdisciplinary research team embedded in a large space agency, in contrast to a more specialised, focused research group with similar competences.
4. ACT RFs need to actively reach out to other disciplines, contribute their competences to interdisciplinary research projects and encourage other researchers to join them in their core research projects (research at the intersections of disciplines).
5. ACT RFs need to communicate their expertise and research results internally and externally, including potential implications and importance for ESA’s long-term strategy.