Intern in Exploration Science Strategy

Job Posting Organization:
The European Space Agency (ESA) is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to the exploration of space. Established in 1975, ESA has grown to include 22 member states and employs over 2,200 staff members. The agency's mission is to shape the development of Europe's space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. ESA operates in various domains including Earth observation, human and robotic exploration, and telecommunications, and collaborates with numerous international partners to advance space science and technology.

Job Overview:
The internship-position" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">internship position in Exploration Science Strategy at ESA is designed to support the consolidation of the Human and Robotic Exploration (HRE) science strategy. The intern will play a crucial role in gathering and organizing a wide array of scientific documents, including ESA white papers, existing science strategies, and peer-reviewed articles. The primary goal is to create a coherent knowledge base that highlights scientific priorities and themes relevant to future exploration missions. This position offers a unique opportunity to engage with cutting-edge research and contribute to the strategic planning of ESA's exploration initiatives. Interns will gain insights into how scientific evidence and community inputs shape strategic priorities within an international space agency context, while also developing skills in document analysis and synthesis.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The intern will be responsible for a variety of tasks aimed at supporting the HRE science strategy. Key duties include: collecting, cataloguing, and structuring relevant strategy documents, white papers, roadmaps, and scientific articles; comparing priorities and science questions identified in ESA documents with those from other space agencies; mapping scientific literature against HRE science themes to identify trends, gaps, and emerging topics; preparing clear summaries, tables, and visual materials to facilitate team discussions; and applying AI/Machine Learning tools to identify knowledge gaps. Through these activities, the intern will contribute to the development of future science strategy documents and gain valuable experience in the field of space exploration science.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must be university students, preferably in their final or second-to-last year of a Master's program. They should demonstrate a strong ability to review, analyze, and synthesize scientific literature and documents. A background in data science, space science, life sciences, physical sciences, engineering, or a related field is essential. Additionally, candidates should possess a good command of Microsoft Office tools, particularly Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, for document preparation and synthesis material. Familiarity with artificial intelligence and machine learning concepts is also required, along with the ability to apply these tools critically and responsibly.

Educational Background:
The ideal candidate will have a Master's level background in a relevant discipline such as data science, space science, life sciences, physical sciences, or engineering. They must be able to provide proof of enrollment at their university for the entire duration of the internship, ensuring that they are actively engaged in their academic studies while contributing to ESA's mission.

Experience:
While specific prior experience is not mandatory, candidates with experience in literature review tools, such as Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote, will be at an advantage. Familiarity with AI-assisted tools for literature screening and document analysis is also beneficial. Proficiency in programming languages such as Python is considered an asset, as it may enhance the intern's ability to contribute to data analysis tasks.

Languages:
The working languages of ESA are English and French. A good command of one of these languages is mandatory, while knowledge of another ESA Member State language is considered an asset. This linguistic requirement ensures effective communication within the diverse international team at ESA.

Additional Notes:
This internship is a full-time position, and candidates must be nationals of one of the specified ESA member states. The internship will last for the duration of the academic semester, and candidates should be prepared to undergo selection tests as part of the recruitment process. ESA is committed to diversity and inclusiveness, welcoming applications from all qualified candidates regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability, or other characteristics. The agency also provides support for individuals with disabilities during the recruitment process.