Junior Professional in AI for Climate Science

Description

You will report to the Head of the Actionable Climate Information Section in the Climate and Long-Term Action Division within the Climate Action, Sustainability and Science Department of the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes. In the performance of your tasks, you will work in close cooperation with other staff in the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes, as well as with other teams working on artificial intelligence (AI) in the Agency.

ESA’s Actionable Climate Information Section is the focal point of the Agency’s climate-related activities. It is based at the European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT), Harwell in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.

The Section aims to increase the availability and use of global, satellite-based Earth observation data for decision-making. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is driving international efforts to combat climate change by limiting the rise in global temperatures to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, as set out in the Paris Agreement. In response to the UNFCCC requirements for the systematic monitoring of the climate system, ESA launched the Climate Change Initiative (CCI) research programme in 2008.

Through the CCI, ESA is developing a suite of global data records of key components of the climate system, known as essential climate variables (ECVs). The climate-quality datasets produced by the CCI are a major contribution to the evidence base used to understand climate change, which drives international action. Climate modellers use the ECVs to study drivers, interactions and feedback due to climate change, as well as reservoirs, teleconnections, tipping points and fluxes of energy, water and carbon, while predicting future change. Multiple ECVs benefit from AI during data processing, and these global data records are already being used for prediction and forecasting tasks using AI.

The CCI also addresses the R&D required to support the UNFCCC Paris Agreement reporting requirements for signatories. Another major focus of the CCI is to connect the climate observation and modelling communities.

The ESA Climate and Long-term Action Division is also host to the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project International Project Office (CMIP-IPO), which coordinates the climate modelling community in support of its scientific goals, and climate change assessments such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

For more information, you are encouraged to visit the ESA websites: www.esa.int and www.climate.esa.int.

Duties

As a Junior Professional, you will conduct Earth observation (EO) research and applications development in the terrestrial, oceanography, atmosphere or cryosphere fields in relation to climate, with a specific focus on applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning. A broad range of project opportunities exist across all domains (terrestrial, ocean, cryosphere and atmosphere), their interfaces (such as for carbon or hydrological cycles) and the interface between observations and models on a global, regional and local scale.

You will be expected to work on the following activities:

• examining the value of combinations of the essential climate variable (ECV) global data sets generated by the ESA Climate Change Initiative in contributing answers to questions about climate and climate change raised by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This might, for example, address questions on the interacting links between components of the climate system that trigger abrupt change in other components, such as links between sea surface temperature and vegetation change in the Amazon. Analysis of the quality, consistency, uncertainties, and inter-dependences of the CCI global data sets will be involved;
• examining the potential contribution of ESA, other European sensors and non-European sensors (past, current and future), not already covered by the ESA CCI, for essential climate variables;
• examining the development of improved climate data records from satellite data, and/or improved methods of uncertainty characterisation, including the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve or analyse satellite climate data records;
• examining the contribution of satellite datasets for assessing climate impacts, mitigation and adaptation, for example for developing early warning systems;
• developing the interface between Earth observation and modelling, for example by undertaking process evaluation studies, or analysis of model intercomparison projects such as CMIP using CCI data;
• examining the potential and contribution of ESA, as well as other European and non-European entities in AI for climate data analysis. This includes active participation in AI networks and communities within and outside the agency to develop a contextual understanding of activities in the area;
• supporting activities and initiatives that promote the innovative and responsible use of AI across the climate programme;
• examining the interface between Earth observation, climate modelling and AI, and how advanced computational approaches benefit the development of climate models;
• contributing to the training and supervision of junior team members, specifically ESA Graduate Trainees in the Climate and Long-Term Action Division.

Development programme

In addition to your daily work, you will take part in an extensive learning and development programme. From day one, you will learn on the job and benefit from tailored development opportunities, including participation in technical and key skills training courses. 

  
Furthermore, there is a mobility component to the Junior Professional Programme that can take the form of an internal rotation to another team within ESA, an external secondment outside ESA or a combination of both. Internal rotations aim to boost your professional experience and knowledge of the European Space Agency, whereas external secondments aim to boost your professional experience and knowledge of the European space sector.

As part of the mobility component of the Junior Professional Programme, you will in particular have the possibility to develop your AI competencies by working with other teams at ESA.

This Programme represents a significant investment by ESA in your personal and professional development and is designed to provide you with the required knowledge and skills for a career at ESA. You can expect to be given many opportunities to develop your professional experience and competencies, to learn from ESA experts and to contribute to ESA activities. 

Technical competencies

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

A Master's degree in a technical or scientific discipline, such as physics, electronic engineering, computing, oceanography, atmospheric physics, remote sensing or geophysics. 

Knowledge of Earth observation systems, data products and algorithms is required.

Additional requirements

You should have between two and three years of professional experience, preferably in a relevant domain, after completion of your Master's degree. 

You should have good interpersonal and communication skills and be able to work in a multicultural environment, both independently and as part of a team. Previous experience of working in international teams may be considered an asset. Your motivation, areas of interest, overall professional prospects and career goals will also be explored during the later stages of the selection process.