Internal Research Fellow (PostDoc) - for Radiation Shielding

Our team and mission

The European Astronaut Centre's tasks are centered around the “human” component of human spaceflight: astronaut selection, training, medical support and surveillance, as well as support of astronauts and their families during preparation for and during while on space missions to the International Space Station (ISS). 

In order to make the operational experience of EAC available also to other ESA activities, in particular for the preparation of human exploration, EAC has created the Spaceship EAC initiative, to foster innovation and low technology readiness (TRL) concepts and technologies. Within this initiative, the topic of radiation shielding has been investigated, in particular understanding the shielding potential of processed lunar regolith. To date the research has been predominantly carried out with radiation transport code (e.g. FLUKA, GEANT) combined with empirical understanding of regolith material gained from literature, ESA and Spaceship EAC studies. 

This position is made available by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) as part of the ESA-ASI integrated team.

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

You will join the Spaceship EAC team, which is part of the Exploration Preparation, Research and Technology (ExPeRT) team of ESA. The Spaceship EAC team is composed of Research Fellows, Young Graduate Trainees and university interns performing their final year projects within the fields of research and development indicated below. You will mentor some university students and assure an appropriate level of research to be compliant with their university requirements. 

You will also be working on the following activities:

• Performing applied research in the area of radiation shielding for human spaceflight and exploration, in particular focusing on low TRL concepts and technologies in this domain;
• Supporting the on-going activities in the development of a strategy for radiation protection of hardware required for a medical system for future human exploration missions.
• Assuring that the research is coordinated and aligned with 
• The ESA Exploration Strategy, Space Resources Strategy and the objectives of the Directorate
• Currently discussed lunar exploration scenarios and related logistical constraints;
• Relevant on-going R&D activities at ESA or funded by ESA;
• Supporting the liaison with other ESA teams active in the area of radiation studies relevant to human spaceflight and exploration;
• Supporting the development of the Spaceship initiatives and related EAC and ExPeRT activities;
• Actively participating in conferences and meetings to share and promote your knowledge.
   

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking

Education

You should have recently completed, or be close to completion of a PhD in a related technical or scientific discipline. Preference will be given to applications submitted by candidates within five years of receiving their PhD.

Applicants must have research experience in at least one of the following domains: lunar research, advanced physics and radiation studies, In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), computational physics, monte-carlo simulations.

Additional requirements

You are required to have strong analytical, problem-solving and communication skills and must be able to work in a multi-cultural environment and in an autonomous manner. 

You should be proficient in the use of MS Office packages and have experience in working with research-relevant software tools.

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of English is required for this post. As the position is sponsored by the Italian Space Agency (ASI), Italian language knowledge at B1 level of the Common European Reference Framework for Languages (CERF) is required.  Knowledge of other member state languages is considered an asset.