Intern in the Science Engagement and Oversight Office, Elongated Crater Origins on Mars

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Position Title: Intern in the Science Engagement and Oversight Office, Elongated Crater Origins on Mars
Location: Noordwijk
Country: Netherlands
Deadline Date: 30 November 2024 23:59 CET/CEST

Job Details

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 across multiple countries, focusing on various aspects of space exploration, Earth observation, and satellite communications.

Job Overview:
This internship opportunity is situated within the Directorate of Science at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, Netherlands. The intern will work under the direct authority of the Head of the Science Engagement and Oversight Office, contributing to the scientific content of the Programme. The primary focus of this internship is to investigate the origins of the elongated crater population on Mars, particularly in relation to the Martian Moons eXploration mission (MMX). The intern will engage in research that aims to resolve whether Mars' moons, Phobos and Deimos, are captured asteroids or remnants of a debris disk formed by a giant impact. This role will involve analyzing remote sensing data, numerical modeling, and crater morphology to understand the impact dynamics and geological history of Mars.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The intern will be responsible for several key tasks, including:

• Analyzing crater morphology to retrieve impact sense using topographic data from stereo-imagery or laser altimeter datasets.
• Comparing retrieved crater azimuths with those from other databases to assess the validity of the decaying moonlet hypothesis.
• Characterizing elongated crater candidates using remote sensing data to build a comprehensive database and compare traits such as geomorphology, geological age, and inferred orbit of impactors.
• Collaborating with other research groups to understand uncertainties in retrieved azimuths and crater characteristics.
• Conducting detailed studies of candidate craters to further test the hypothesis regarding their origins and the dynamics of Mars' ancient atmosphere.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must be university students, preferably in their final or second-to-last year of a Master’s level course. They should remain enrolled at their university for the entire duration of the internship. A good knowledge of English or French is required, and familiarity with additional languages spoken in ESA member states is considered an asset. Candidates should also have a strong interest in planetary geology and remote sensing.

Educational Background:
The ideal candidate should be pursuing a degree in a relevant field such as planetary science, geology, geophysics, or a related discipline. The internship is particularly suited for those who are nearing the completion of their Master’s degree, as they will be expected to apply their academic knowledge to practical research tasks.

Experience:
While specific prior experience is not mandatory, familiarity with Mars or other planetary surface datasets, as well as experience in geospatial mapping and analysis using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) such as QGIS or ArcGIS, is highly beneficial. Additionally, programming skills in languages such as Matlab, GNU Octave, or Python will be advantageous for data analysis and modeling tasks.

Languages:
The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good command of one of these languages is mandatory, while knowledge of another ESA member state language is considered a plus. This multilingual environment encourages collaboration and communication among diverse teams.

Additional Notes:
This internship is a full-time position, and candidates must be nationals of one of the ESA member states or associated countries. The closing date for applications is 30 November 2024 at 23:59 CET/CEST. ESA is committed to diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from all qualified candidates, including women and individuals with disabilities. The agency provides support for individuals with disabilities during the recruitment process and in the workplace.