Internal Research Fellow in Planetary Protection

This opportunity is for an Internal Research Fellow in Planetary Protection within the Independent Safety Office, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

The Research Fellow in Planetary Protection will work in close cooperation with other staff of the Independent Safety Office.

The Independent Safety Office is responsible for overseeing the development, implementation and maintenance of ESA policies, requirements, standards and functional support to ESA projects for:

• Planetary Protection
• Space Debris Mitigation
• Nuclear Safety for applications in space
• Re-entry safety
• Human Spaceflight Safety

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

This fellowship aims to advance the development of a risk-informed decision culture at ESA and application of probabilistic frameworks in the planetary protection domain. The overall goal is to support ESA planetary protection function in its effort to modernise current approaches with the use of new statistical models to assess biological and chemical contamination risks.

The Research Fellow in Planetary Protection primary role is to develop mathematical frameworks to be used for modelling the probability to:

1. transfer harmful contamination to solar system bodies for robotic or crewed missions (or a combination of both);
2. transfer harmful contamination from outer space to Earth.

As an internal researcher, the candidate will perform research activities exploring new ways or expanding the scope of existing studies to promote the use of risk-informed decision frameworks, prediction models, and AI applied to planetary protection.

Tasks include:

Support the creation of probabilistic models for planetary protection:

• Liaise with European and international partners involved in planetary protection activities, studying the current scientific data available (i.e. datamining) and identify knowledge gaps to build credible models.
• Coordinate relevant activities for modelling contamination.
• Support the definition and the development of mathematical frameworks for planetary protection.
• Communicate to the astrobiology community and provide guidance in providing useful inputs for the model.
• Integrate the data provided by multidisciplinary teams and establish the number/type of lab tests needed for model validation.

Develop new protocols, tools for planetary protection purposes:

• Develop probabilistic standards, software, procedures, processes and handbook related to planetary protection as applicable.
• Provide support for ongoing missions and use past missions’ data for developing new models.
• Provide support for the preparation of future missions.
• Define and advise on future requirements for probabilities of contaminating celestial bodies.

Interface with partners, knowledge management and dissemination:

• Support and represent ESA within the external scientific and technological communities.
• Support and represent interests of ESA and of the planetary protection community, including organising and chairing meetings and working groups and coordinating community activities associated with probabilistic approaches and analysis.
• Actively pursue personal scientific research, using facilities within ESA centres and those accessed through partnerships with external organisations.
• Participate in relevant scientific associations and conferences.

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

You should have recently completed, or be close to completion of a PhD in a related technical or scientific discipline. Preference will be given to applications submitted by candidates within five years of receiving their PhD. In particular for this position, the following is required:

PhD in data or computer science, machine learning, AI, statistics, mathematics, biophysics, bioinformatics.

Additional requirements

You should have:

• Experience with one or more general-purpose programming languages, such as Python, and general-purpose deep learning frameworks.
• Experience with integrating multidisciplinary inputs.
• Demonstrated ability in bridging science and engineering through effective collaboration with technical scientific and engineering teams.
• Knowledge of the activities and priorities of the European Space Agency related to field of expertise.

The following will be considered as assets:

• Previous experience in cleanroom operations and cleanroom contamination control and monitoring procedures
• Understanding of contamination, contamination sources, and the effects of contamination on space hardware.

You should also 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.

Important Information and Disclaimer

Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations.

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, the United Kingdom and Canada, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.

According to the ESA Convention, staff shall be recruited on the basis of their qualifications, taking into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the Member States.

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.