Intern in the Data Science and Archive Division on data tutorials for the JUICE spacecraft cameras

Under the direct authority of the Directorate of Science, the Head of the Science Operations Department is responsible for the development of the science operations infrastructure under the Directorate responsibility, the operation of the Directorate’s missions once successfully commissioned, and the curation of all scientific data in the missions’ legacy phase. These responsibilities are discharged in full coordination with the Directorate’s Departments and Offices and as appropriate, with the Directorate of Operations (D/OPS). 

In implementing its duties, the Science Operations Department is supported by the:  

• Mission Management and Science Operations Division (SCI-SO); 
• Science Operations Development Division (SCI-SD); 
• Data Science and Archives Division (SCI-SA). 

Field(s) of activity for the internship
Topic of the internship: Data tutorials for the JUICE monitoring and navigation cameras

The ESA JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE) mission launched in April 2023 is currently on a journey to the Jupiter system. Together with a multitude of scientific instruments, the spacecraft is carrying facility cameras, i.e. cameras that are not part of the science payload but are instead designed to monitor the deployment of spacecraft elements or as part as Juice’s advanced navigation system. Despite their purpose not being science oriented, they can be operated during planetary close encounters. On the 19-20 August 2024, Juice successfully executed a Lunar-Earth Gravity Assist (LEGA), major event and first of its kind. During these two days, the Navigation Camera (NavCam) and the JUICE Monitoring Cameras (JMC) acquired data of the Moon and the Earth. The data, processed by the JUICE Science Operations Centre (SOC), are now available in the Planetary Science Archive (PSA). 

This internship aims at evaluating and improving the data processing applied to the JMC and NavCam imagery raw data products as well as facilitating their use by the science community. JMC is a wide angle camera using a colour filter array. NavCam is a panchromatic camera with a narrower field-of-view, producing higher resolution black and white data. 

You will produce data tutorials to show users how to 

• Access the archived data from the Planetary Science Archive (PSA);
• Manipulate those data products, including how to calibrate them further;
• Generate practical examples of data visualisations.
• 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.
• Interest in Planetary Sciences; 
• Experience with image processing; 
• Experience with coding (e.g. python, java); 
• Experience using Jupyter Lab;
• Experience with planetary imagery data sets;
• Good writing skills (English).

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. 

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).