Internal Research Fellow (PostDoc) Space Weather Impact on Upper Atmosphere and Satellite Operations
JOB DETAIL
Internal Research Fellowship Opportunity in the Directorate of Operations.
ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. For this purpose, we welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. Applications from women are encouraged.
This post is classified F2 on the Coordinated Organisations’ salary scale.
Location
ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany
Our team and mission
You will be based in ESA’s Space Weather Office, part of ESA’s Space Safety Programme Office.
ESA’s Space Safety Programme Office aims to detect, predict and assess threats from space and their potential risk to life, property and infrastructure. The Space Weather Office addresses risks associated with the activity of our Sun with the goal of providing owners and operators of critical spaceborne and ground-based infrastructure with timely and accurate information that will enable mitigation of the adverse impacts of space weather.
You are encouraged to visit the ESA Space Weather Service Network website for more information about current space weather service capabilities and activities ongoing within the ESA Space Weather Office: https://swe.ssa.esa.int
The research is expected to include collaboration with other teams at ESA involved in, for instance, flight dynamics and mission operations.
You are also encouraged to visit the ESA website: https://www.esa.int/
Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship
For satellites in low Earth orbit, thermospheric drag makes a significant contribution to the forces acting on the spacecraft, leading to orbital decay and associated along-track dispersions. The local temperature, composition and resulting densities are strongly driven by space weather effects from solar Extreme Ultraviolet Radiation (EUV) and from Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) leading to geomagnetic storms. Current models used operationally to predict thermospheric drag include a number of uncertainties due to, for example, use of space weather proxies to characterise space weather impact on the thermosphere and/or limited data underpinning the models.
Your tasks will include:
- assessing space weather data, indices and proxies used to drive thermospheric models, their availability and suitability for use in operational thermospheric modelling;
- assessing forecasts of the above data and proxies, their lead times and uncertainties where provided;
- performing independent research on space weather indices forecasting and associated uncertainties, with a focus on improved space weather services for spacecraft operators. This will include the demonstration of the potential improvement in thermospheric density forecasting, utilising appropriate models;
- participating in operational test campaigns with ESA mission operators to demonstrate new capabilities;
- following up and contributing to ongoing ESA R&D in the field;
- contributing to the ESA Space Weather Service Roadmap for both the spacecraft operations and space traffic coordination domains and, where relevant, standardisation work ongoing as part of European Cooperation for Space Standardisation (ECSS) and/or CEN-CENELEC.
It is also anticipated that your research work will form the basis of one or more scientific publications.
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 physics or engineering with research experience and peer-reviewed publications in relevant topics for the fields of research proposed. Preference will be given to applications submitted by candidates having received their PhD within the past five years.
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.
Other information
For behavioural competencies expected from ESA staff in general, please refer to the ESA Competency Framework.
For further information on the Internal Research Fellowship Programme please visit: Internal Research Fellowship
The Agency may require applicants to undergo selection tests.
In addition to your CV and your motivation letter, please add your proposal of no more than 5 pages outlining your proposed research in the “additional documents” field of the “application information” section.
At the Agency we value diversity and we welcome people with disabilities. Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss this further please contact us at [email protected].
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, Slovakia and Slovenia, as Associate Member States, or Canada as a Cooperating State, can apply as well as those from Bulgaria and Cyprus as European Cooperating States (ECS).
According to the ESA Convention, the recruitment of staff must take into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the ESA Member States*. When short-listing for an interview, priority will first be given to candidates from under-represented or balanced Member States*.
In accordance with the European Space Agency’s security procedures and as part of the selection process, successful candidates will be required to undergo basic screening before appointment conducted by an external background screening service.
*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.
