About this job

ESA is looking for an Internal Research Fellow (PostDoc) in Biomimetics.

ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. For this purpose, we welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. Applications from women are encouraged.

Our team and mission
This research fellowship will be carried out within ESA’s Advanced Concepts Team (ACT), made up of research fellows (post-docs) and young graduates from a broad variety of academic fields aiming at an academic career. Its task is to monitor, perform and foster research on advanced space systems, innovative concepts and working methods. It interacts externally almost exclusively with academia and operates as a truly interdisciplinary team bound to high scientific standards. Via its research, the team acts as a pathfinder to exploring novel, potentially promising areas for ESA and the space sector, ranging from applied to basic fundamental research topics. An important task is communicating scientific trends and results as input to the Agency’s strategic planning.

The team has performed research in biomimetics since 2002, concentrating since then on research topics related to artificial muscle and joints, seed dispersal, bioinspired sensing, neuromorphic computing and radiation shielding, to name but a few. This research aims to bridge the gap between nature-inspired technologies and space engineering applications.
Candidates are urged to acquaint themselves with the ACT’s research (https://www.esa.int/gsp/ACT/) especially in biomimetics and the complementary field of bio-engineering, and all the team’s other main research lines.

Responsibilities

 
Field(s) of activities/research/learning areas
You will carry out research in biomimetics. Areas of research and research projects are chosen partly by you based on your own expert judgement and insight into trends and developments, and partly by the team in line with the Agency’s strategic directions.
On the scientific side, you will in particular:

• Propose and perform novel research in biomimetics, where appropriate together with ESA Member State universities (in particular through the Ariadna scheme https://www.esa.int/ariadna);
• Monitor and liaise with, and where appropriate cooperate with, international, European or national research programmes and projects linked to biomimetic research, looking at them from a space perspective;
• Monitor developments in the team’s previous biomimetic research projects.

As ACT researcher, you will:

• Publish results in peer-reviewed publications and use modern tools to communicate with the broader audience inside and outside ESA;
• Lead and assist with interdisciplinary projects with other ACT researchers;
• Participate with the team in the assessment of proposed space system concepts – these not being restricted to biomimetics – and propose new concepts and assessment studies;
• Perform or participate in assessments of subjects of strategic interest to ESA, and provide in-house expertise for strategy development;
• Benefit for your research from the technology and engineering expertise available at ESTEC.

Profile

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
General interest in space and space research
Ability to gather and share relevant information
Education
You must have obtained:

• A degree in biology, technical biology, bio-engineering, biomimetics engineering or a related field;
• A PhD (completed before take-up of duty) in biology (or another discipline with a solid biomimetics focus), with the subject of the thesis being relevant to the tasks outlined above.

Additional requirements

• Ability and interest in prospective interdisciplinary research;
• Aptitude for contextualising specialised areas of research and quickly assessing their potential with respect to other domains and applications;
• Academic networking to add functioning links to universities and research institutes;
• Ability to work in a team, while being able to work individually on your own personal research plans and directions;
• Natural curiosity and a passion for new subjects and research areas;
• Proficiency in computer programming and data analysis.

For a complete job description, click on “apply”.

The closing date for applications is 03 June 2021.

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. If you would like to discuss this further please contact us at contact.human.resources@esa.int.
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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 and Slovenia, as Associate Member States, or Canada as a Cooperating State, can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Cyprus, Lithuania and Slovakia as European Cooperating States (ECS).
We offer
The European Space Agency (ESA) is an equal opportunities employer that offers competitive salaries exempt from national income tax and excellent employment conditions, such as allowances for expatriates and relocation support. For more information: http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA
About us
We are the European Space Agency. Our mission is the peaceful exploration and use of space for the benefit of everyone. We watch over Earth, develop and launch inspiring and unique space projects, train astronauts and push the boundaries of science and technology, seeking answers to the big questions about the Universe. We are a family of scientists, engineers and business professionals from all over Europe working together in a diverse and multinational environment. We are dedicated to united space in Europe and united Europe in space. Learn more: http://www.esa.int/