Internal Research Fellow

**EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY**

Internal Research Fellow (Post-Doctoral) in Disruptive Innovation for Green and Sustainable Future

**Job Requisition ID**:18688**Closing Date**:3 June 2024 23:59 CET/CEST**Publication**:External Only**Type of Contract**:Internal Research Fellow**Date Posted**:13 May 2024- Internal Research Fellowship Opportunity in the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.-
- This post is classified F2 on the Coordinated Organisations’ salary scale.**Location**
ESRIN, Frascati, Italy**Our team and mission**
Reporting to the Head of the Explore Office in the ESA Φ-lab, you will work in close cooperation with other staff in the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.

We offer:

- a stimulating multinational and interdisciplinary open work environment;
- access to high-performance computing infrastructure and dedicated EO and technology expertise;
- a unique opportunity to work on innovative solutions to address global problems;
- freedom and focus to conduct creative research while making an impact related to ESA strategy;
- a wide network of relationships and collaborations with top academics, industry and research centres;
- the possibility to contribute to the Φ-lab’s strategy and activities.

**Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship**
This fellowship aims to explore the use of space and ground-based EO products integrated with disruptive technologies to address green solutions for a sustainable future. For example, you will deploy AI-automated algorithms to:

- identify suitable locations for new green energy facilities (such as on/offshore wind farms and solar power plants);
- forecast short-range renewable energy production for a hybrid energy system approach;
- quantify the uncertainty of low-cost real-time air sensing monitors;
- collect and harmonise data for operation in an intelligent digital system (digital twin);
- detect and quantify methane leakages from ‘institutional’ and ‘New Space’ satellite missions to monitor methane and other greenhouse gas emissions;
- detect natural disasters (such as wildfire ignition points and floods) through human sensor social networks (multimodal crowd sourcing and satellite imagery).
-1) What are the green solutions for a sustainable future that you would like to address?
2) What is your chosen disruptive technology?
3) Why is this research proposal important to society?
In particular, you will:

- undertake advanced research activities, exploring and expanding the use of disruptive/transformative innovation (AI, ML, Quantum Computing, Edge Computing, etcto develop new frameworks and solutions. Your research can cover a wide range of innovative topics, from the development of novel methods, algorithms and ML iterative pipelines to high-level products;
- support the definition and implementation of rapid prototyping activities, research sprints and open challenges of innovative EO solutions addressing upcoming lab activities and wider strategy;
- engage with the innovation ecosystem to promote the uptake of new techniques and capture the latest developments in EO and disruptive/transformative innovation;
- publish the research project outcomes in high-impact journals;
- drive collaboration within the Φ-lab community and ESA internal teams to promote the uptake of these new techniques and solutions;
- contribute to the Φ-lab’s strategy, activities and outreach on disruptive technologies for EO;
- maintain a continuous dialogue with the scientific community, including major international programmes and initiatives in the fields of AI, ML, Quantum Computing, Edge Computing, etc
- support the Φ-lab’s research network of Young Graduate Trainees, national trainees, interns and visiting researchers, as applicable;
- ensure solid scientific content for a Green and Sustainable Future.

**Technical competencies**
Knowledge relevant to the field of research
Research/publication record
Ability to conduct research autonomously
Breadth of exposure coming from past and/or current research/activities
Ability to gather and share relevant information
General interest in space and space research

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

**Education**

**Additional requirements**
You should also have:

- sound knowledge of themes of interest, such as EO, AI, ML, Quantum Computing, ICT revolution technologies in general, Edge Computing, etc..
- experience with one or more general purpose programming languages (e.g. Python) and with general purpose deep learning frameworks (e.g. Tensorflow or PyTorch)
- the ability to share knowledge with other ESA units
You should have good interpersonal and communication skills and should be able to work in a multi-cultural environment, both independently and as part of a team.
The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is requir