Closing Date: 28 February 2025 23:59 CET/CEST
Directorate: Earth Observation Programmes
The European Space Agency (ESA) leads on observing the Earth’s changing climate from space. The ESA Actionable Climate Information (EOP-SCA) is part of the ESA Climate and Long-term Action Division. Its flagship programme, the Climate Change Initiative (CCI), draws together over 40 years of data from ESA’s own satellite missions and those from other space agencies.
The science teams focus on research and development activities to generate long-term, global climate data records that describe the evolution of key components of the Earth’s climate system, as defined by the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) in support of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Currently, more than 27 Essential Climate Variables (ECV) of the 55 GCOS defined ECVs have been addressed by science teams involved in the CCI.
The ESA Climate and Long-term Action Division is also host to the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project International Project Office (CMIP-IPO), which coordinates the climate modelling community in support of its scientific goals, and climate change assessments such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
All ECV datasets are fully validated and have high levels of traceability and consistency, including quantitative estimates of uncertainty required by both climate science and modelling communities. In its contribution to climate and Earth system science, this programme has published over 1000 peer-reviewed articles and supported the IPCC headline statements on climate in its Assessment Reports.
Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship
You will:
1. Contribute to Earth Observation (EO) research and applications development in Terrestrial, Oceanography, Atmosphere or Cryosphere fields in relation to climate.
2. Analyse the outputs from CCI and data from ESA and third-party EO missions.
3. Conduct a one-year project focusing on one of the areas below, involving project planning and definition, acquiring suitable EO data, developing algorithms and exploiting software, analysing and validating EO data, and documenting, publishing, and presenting results.
This traineeship will be developed along one or more of the following activities:
1. Examine the value of combinations of the Essential Climate Variable global data sets generated by the ESA Climate Change Initiative in contributing answers to questions about climate and climate change raised by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
2. Examine the contribution of satellite datasets for assessing climate impacts, mitigation and adaptation.
3. Examine the potential contribution of ESA, other European sensors and non-European sensors for Essential Climate Variables.
4. Develop the interface between Earth Observation and modelling.
Knowledge of relevant technical/functional domains
You should have just completed, or be in the final year of your master’s degree in a technical or scientific discipline e.g. Physics, Electronic Engineering, Computing, Oceanography, Atmospheric Physics, Remote Sensing, Geophysics.
Additional requirements
Knowledge of Earth Observation systems, data products & algorithms is necessary.
Applicants planning to undertake a PhD degree are welcome to apply.
You should have good interpersonal and communication skills and be able to work in a multicultural environment, both independently and as part of a team.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness
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.
Important Information and Disclaimer
During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Successful candidates will need to undergo basic screening before appointment, which will be conducted by an external background screening service, in compliance with the European Space Agency's security procedures.
Nationality and Languages
Please note that applications can only be considered from nationals of specific States. The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required.
#J-18808-Ljbffr