Intern in the Science Engagement and Oversight Office, Remote Operations Support of CESAR

Job Requisition ID: 19079

Application Deadline: 30 November 2024 23:59 CET/CEST

Establishment: ESAC, Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain

Directorate: Directorate of Science

Publication: External Only

Type of Contract: Intern

Date Posted: 1 November 2024

Internship Opportunity in the Directorate of Science.

Location
Madrid
Our team and mission
This position is based at the European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC) - Near Madrid, Spain

Under the direct authority of the Directorate of Science, the Head of the Science Engagement and Oversight Office is responsible for overseeing the scientific content of the Programme, interfacing with the scientific community and providing scientific expertise to studies, projects and missions, also in other Directorates as needed.

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

Field(s) of activity for the internship
Topic of the internship: Support of remote operations of CESAR Solar and Night-sky Telescopes

CesaR (Cooperation through Education in Science and Astronomy Research) is a joint educational programme developed by the European Space Agency (ESA), the Spanish National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) and the public company ISDEFE. It is based at ESA’s European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC) in Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, Spain. Its main goal is to provide students and teachers from European schools with hands-on educational materials and resources about Astrophysics and Space Sciences, to be carried out in the classroom, as well as easy access to ESA´s data archive and to optical and radio telescopes.

During 2023, the CESAR Solar Observatory has been put in remote operation mode, allowing daily images of the Sun to be obtained in a semi-automatic way and stored in our public data base, so it can be easily shared with schools participating of the CESAR Space Science Experiences. The next step for the Solar Observatory is to improve the correct and automated process of the data, developing a pipeline for this purpose in Python.

On the other hand, also in 2023, a detail status check of the night sky observatories was performed and basic maintenance improvements are being undertaken. In 2024, we will be ready for putting them into remote operation and start using them with selected teachers and their classrooms. For this purpose, specific observational case will need to be designed, adjusted to the capabilities of the telescope and the different educational levels.

The main tasks for you will be to work on:

• Development of a pipeline for image-processing of the solar telescope;
• Remotisation of the night telescopes and creation of observational cases.

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

For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

Education
You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of a university course at Master’s level and you need to remain enrolled at your University for the entire duration of the internship.

Additional requirements
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.

• Good understanding of astronomical concepts;
• Familiar with Telescope;
• Programing skills based in astronomical software, like phyton, ASCOM;
• Familiarity with all computer parts and hardware, to be able to add new components in case of need;
• Pedagological skills to apply in school observations;
• Capable of working in international teams;
• Fluent in English (reading and writing);
• Creative, capable to meet milestones within schedules.

Other information
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].

Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Nationals from Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia, as Associate Member States, or Canada as a Cooperating State, can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia and Cyprus as European Cooperating States (ECS).

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