ESA Graduate Trainee in Climate Science

Job title:

ESA Graduate Trainee in Climate Science

Company

European Space Agency

Job description

LocationECSAT, Harwell, United KingdomOur team and missionThe 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 – from past as well as currently active in-orbit instrumentation.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) (see the 2022 GCOS Implementation Plan | GCOS (wmo.int)) in support of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC, see https://unfccc.int/). Currently more than 27 Essential Climate Variables (ECV) of the 55 GCOS defined ECVs have been addressed by science teams involved in the CCI. Furthermore, drawing on multiple ECVs, the CCI includes cross-cutting projects on topics such as the carbon and sea level budgets, that address scientific questions in support of the UNFCCC Paris Agreement’s Global Stocktake, adaptation and mitigation goals.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.Interested candidates are encouraged to visit the ESA website: , the ESA Climate Program website: and the CMIP websiteField(s) of activity/research for the traineeshipYou will:

• Contribute to Earth Observation (EO) research and applications development in Terrestrial, Oceanography, Atmosphere or Cryosphere fields in relation to climate. A broad range of project opportunities exist across all domains (terrestrial, ocean, cryosphere and atmosphere), their interfaces (e.g. for carbon, hydrological cycles) and the interface between observations and models at global, regional and local scales;
• Analyse the outputs from CCI and data from ESA and third-party EO missions;
• Conduct a one-year project focusing on one of the areas below. This will involve 1) project planning and definition, 2) acquiring suitable EO data 3) developing algorithms and exploiting software e.g. via CCI Toolbox 4) analysing and validating EO data 5) documenting, publishing and presenting results. You may also help organise thematic workshops, prepare training courses, and be involved in knowledge exchange activities (outreach, education, presentation of programme results, visualisation of data).

This traineeship will be developed along one or more of the following activities:

• Examine the value of combinations of the Essential Climate Variable global data sets generated by the ESA Climate Change Initiative (www.climate.esa.int) in contributing answers to questions about climate and climate change raised by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This could, for example, address questions on the interacting links between components of the climate system that trigger abrupt change in other components, such as links between sea surface temperature and vegetation change in the Amazon, this shall include analysis of the quality, consistency, uncertainties, and inter-dependences of the CCI global data sets.
• Examine the contribution of satellite datasets for assessing climate impacts, mitigation and adaptation, for example for developing early warning systems.
• Examine the potential contribution of ESA, other European sensors and non-European sensors, not already covered by the ESA CCI, for Essential Climate Variables.
• Develop the interface between Earth Observation and modelling, for example by undertaking process evaluation studies, or analysis of model intercomparison projects such as CMIP using CCI data.

Technical competenciesKnowledge of relevant technical/functional domainsRelevant experience gained during internships, project work and/or extracurricular or other activitiesGeneral knowledge of the space sector and relevant activitiesKnowledge of ESA and its programmes/projectsBehavioural competenciesResult OrientationOperational EfficiencyFostering CooperationRelationship ManagementContinuous ImprovementForward ThinkingFor more information, please refer toEducationYou 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 requirementsKnowledge 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 should be able to work in a multicultural environment, both independently and as part of a team. Previous experience of working in international teams can be considered an asset. Your motivation, overall professional perspective and career goals will also be explored during the later stages of the selection process.During the interview, scientific motivation and domain of interest, and overall professional perspective/career goals will also be explored.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.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 via email at [email protected].Important Information and Disclaimer
During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Additionally, 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.The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have.Nationality and Languages
Please note that applications can only be considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Nationals from Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia as Associate Member States, or Canada as a Cooperating State, can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Malta as European Cooperating States (ECS).According to the , 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 be given to external candidates from *.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.*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.

Expected salary

Location

England

Job date

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 23:40:41 GMT

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