Internal Research Fellow (PostDoc) in Cal/Val, Data Quality & Algorithm Evolution (BIOMASS mission)

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Internal Research Fellow (PostDoc) in Cal/Val, Data Quality & Algorithm Evolution (BIOMASS mission) Sintesi in italiano (traduzione automatica): L'agenzia spaziale europea ESA cerca un Internal Research Fellow (PostDoc) per la missione BIOMASS, con sede a ESRIN, Frascati, Italia. Il candidato si unirà alla Divisione di Gestione delle Missioni di Osservazione della Terra e si occuperà di calibrazione e validazione dei sensori, qualità dei dati e sviluppo di algoritmi. Le principali mansioni includono l'esplorazione di nuovi algoritmi di calibrazione, la ricerca sull'evoluzione degli algoritmi di elaborazione e il supporto alla scienza aperta. È richiesto un dottorato di ricerca in fisica, ingegneria o discipline scientifiche correlate, con preferenza per candidati che hanno conseguito il titolo negli ultimi cinque anni. Sono necessarie competenze tecniche nel campo della ricerca e capacità di lavorare in modo autonomo, oltre a competenze comportamentali come orientamento ai risultati e cooperazione. itemprop="description" data-careersite-propertyid="description" class="rtltextaligneligible"> Location ESRIN, Frascati, Italy   Our team and mission As a research fellow, you will be part of the Earth Observation (EO) Mission Management and Product Quality Division within the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes at ESA’s Earth observation centre: ESRIN. The Division is responsible for the management of ESA’s Earth observation missions, the development of the ground processors, sensor performance, and data and product quality. You will join the section in charge of sensor performance, data quality, algorithm development, and calibration and validation (Cal/Val) for the ESA EO missions. The Sensor Performance, Products and Algorithms (EOP-GMQ) Section has a wide range of functions to serve the end users of Earth observation missions with the best possible product quality. Among the tasks managed by the Section are the in-orbit sensor calibration, product validation and verification and the routine quality monitoring of data generated by the missions’ scientific payloads. In addition, the Section is in charge of the improvement of processing algorithms during the exploitation phase of a mission. You are encouraged to visit the ESA website:  https://www.esa.int/ Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship This fellowship relates to the exploitation of the ESA Biomass mission. Biomass is ESA’s seventh Earth Explorer mission and launched on 29 April 2025. The main objective of the mission is to measure forest biomass to assess terrestrial carbon stocks and fluxes to support understanding of the Earth’s carbon cycle. The Biomass mission is imaging the Earth’s surface with a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) at the P-band wavelength — the first time this technique is being used from space. The mission aims to provide accurate maps of tropical, temperate and boreal forest biomass that are not obtainable from ground measurement techniques. To this end, the mission is exploiting novel observation techniques such as SAR tomography and polarimetric SAR interferometry. The main products of the mission are maps of above-ground forest biomass and forest height at a resolution of 200m, and forest disturbances, such as clear-cutting, at a resolution of 50m. You will be involved in the following activities: exploring novel calibration algorithms, products and tools to maximise the impact of the Biomass mission, in particular during the commissioning phase and the early exploitation phase; studying novel approaches and developments relating to the calibration and validation of the mission products; dedicated research on the potential evolution of the mission’s processing algorithms and tools and their impact on the scientific return; supporting the concept of open science by making the link between the open source processors, open validation tools, open reference data and the open platform: the Mission Algorithm and Analysis Platform (MAAP); exploring potential synergies between above-ground biomass density (AGBD) products from the Biomass, NISAR and GEDI missions. Technical competencies Knowledge relevant to the field of research Research/publication record Ability to conduct research autonomously Breadth of exposure coming from past and/or current research/activities Ability to gather and share relevant information General interest in space and space research 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 should have recently completed, or be close to completion of a PhD in a related technical or scientific discipline. Preference  will  be  given  to applications submitted by candidates within  five  years of receiving their PhD. In particular for this position, the following is required: PhD in physics, engineer