Young Graduate Trainee for Earth Observation Science and Data Applications

The Data Applications Division in the Department of Science, Applications & Climate based at ESRIN in Frascati, Italy, is a dynamic team in charge of engaging scientific, public and commercial sector user communities, identifying their needs, implementing EO data exploitation projects, tools and platforms to address these needs, and transferring validated results and applications from research to operations.

The Division builds up new scientific, governmental and private sector communities and works with them in EO-related research and innovative development and demonstration activities. These range from basic science through the development cycle up to pre-commercial applications development. Activities cover new sensors and measurement techniques, new algorithms, application of AI and testing the application of state-of-the-art processing capabilities to address emerging EO opportunities. One Division objective is to advance Earth system knowledge and develop new applications and methods to maximise the societal impact of ESA EO missions in particular for mitigation of and adaptation to environmental change. The Division is also responsible for coordinating ESA’s EO training and education activities.

The Trainee will be integrated within a group of early-career researchers to foster exchange, innovation and team working.

Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int

As a YGT you will contribute to a project including typically: 1) project planning and definition, 2) accessing and exploiting open data and open source tools 3) proposing an approach for validating EO data 4) documenting, publishing and presenting results. You  will have the opportunity to develop a project in one of the following domains:

Education Activities:  you will be involved in ESA education activities,  transforming scientific and application results into new teaching material, supporting training & education activities,  and  targeting middle, secondary and tertiary levels.

Data Analytics: you will develop and test prototype capabilities to use state-of-the-art data fusion and analytics tools (e.g. machine learning), integrating large volumes of EO data (e..g. Sentinels, Earth Explorers, ) with non-EO data sets (e.g. in situ sensor networks).

Open Data Science: you will review the state of the art you will implement an Open Data Science prototype project and participate in the design, development testing and validation of algorithms for open data analysis, knowledge discovery and representation.

New Space Sensors Exploitation: you will develop and test technical approaches to extract geophysical information from new sensors (hyperspectral imagery, long wavelength SAR, satellite video) or using new techniques (bistatic SAR, inverse SAR, super-resolution, multi-platform data fusion).

Digital Platform Engineering: you will contribute to design, prototype and evaluate platform services that can be used by scientists or value-adders to perform their activities on such shared platforms.

Synthetic Aperture Radar: you will be involved in ESA SAR research activities aimed at developing novel methods and techniques for the scientific exploitation of SAR missions (Sentinel 1, Biomass).

Altimetry: you will be involved in ESA altimetry research mainly in the areas of SAR altimetry and SARIn altimetry for coastal areas, ice sheets, in-land waters and estuaries.

Optical:  you will be involved in the  definition and prototyping of new product for mitigation and adaptation measures using Sentinel 2, Sentinel 3 and Landsat time series.

For more information in the domains please visit https://eo4society.esa.int

You should have just completed, or be in the final year of a university course at Master's level (or equivalent) in a technical or scientific discipline. e.g. physics, electronic engineering, computing, oceanography, atmospheric physics, remote sensing, geophysics, environmental engineering.

First hand experience of working with Earth Observation data products and software tools is necessary, as are to date programming skills and knowledge of advanced visualization tools. Applicants planning to undertake a PhD course are welcome to apply. 

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.　

In addition, you should demonstrate good interpersonal skills and the capacity to work both independently and as part of a team. 　

During the interview your motivation and overall professional perspective/career goals will also be explored.