EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY
Internship Opportunity in the Directorate of Science.
ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. Applications from women are encouraged.
Post
Intern in the Mission Operations Division
Location
ESAC, Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain
Our team and mission
Under the direct authority of the Director of Science, the Head of the Science and Operations Department is responsible for ensuring that maximum scientific return, within applicable constraints, is maintained as an objective for the Directorate’s missions through their lifetime, by providing scientific oversight of the Directorate’s missions throughout their lifecycle, managing and being responsible for the operation of the Directorate’s missions once successfully commissioned, and curating the scientific data in their legacy phase, while establishing and maintaining the necessary science interfaces to the community.
These responsibilities are discharged in full coordination with the Directorate’s Departments and Offices and, as appropriate, with the Directorate of Operations.
In implementing the duties, the Head of the Science and Operations Department is supported by the:
- Science Division
- Mission Operations Division
- Operations Development Division
- Data Science and Archive Division
- Mission Support Office
You are encouraged to visit the ESA website: www.esa.int/ESA
Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship
Topic 1: Exploring the data from the X-ray cameras on-board XMM-Newton with Machine Learning
Topic 2: FLASHy alerts for interesting X-ray sources
Topic 3: A new building block for the Gaia Catalogue of AGB Stars
Topic 4: Characterization of Solar Wind Composition with Solar Orbiter Data
For the detailed topics descriptions please go to this web page:
https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/esac-trainees/projects-2022
Behavioural competencies
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking
Education
You must be enrolled at university for the entire duration of the internship. You should preferably be in your final or second to last year of a University course at master's level in a technical or scientific discipline.
Additional requirements
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.
The topics mentioned above require educational knowledge such as:
Topic 1
- python programming;
- machine Learning clustering algorithms;
- XMM-Newton EPIC cameras data processing;
- astronomical X-ray detection basics.
Topic 2
- programming experience in Python;
- some experience in developing with Web frontend technologies like Javascript, Bokeh, or similar;
- an astronomy background, especially X-ray astronomy would be an asset.
Topic 3
- good level of English (B2 or higher in the scale of the European Framework of Languages);
- basic Astronomy knowledge;
- interest in computer-based data analysis using VO tools is required;
- experience working with astronomical data would be helpful.
Topic 4
- first experience in the analysis of spaceborne particle measurements;
- solid experience with a scientific programming language (preferably Python).
Other information
For behavioural competencies expected from ESA staff in general, please refer to the ESA Competency Framework.
The closing date for applications is 30 November 2021.
If you require support with your application due to a disability, please email contact.human.resources@esa.int.
Internships can take place remotely, on-site or partially on-site depending on the pandemic situation, and in line with the relevant Establishment’s policy (e.g. possible Green Pass requirement) applicable at the time of starting the internship.
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Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Nationals from Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia, as Associate Member States, or Canada as a Cooperating State, can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Cyprus and Slovakia as European Cooperating States (ECS).