Space Research Jobs in Silver Spring, MD (NOW HIRING)

ESA's postdoctoral Research Fellowship programme offers early-career scientists and engineers the opportunity to carry out independent research in a variety of disciplines relating to space science, space applications or space technology. ESA Fellowships provide a unique opportunity to work with scientists and engineers at the forefront of space science, and experience first hand how ESA works with communities across the Member States to maximise the scientific return from its missions.

The European Space Agency maintains a world-leading Science Programme with missions in heliophysics, planetary science, astrophysics, and fundamental physics. Within ESA's Directorate of Science, the Science Engagement and Oversight Office (SCI-E) and the Science and Operations Department (SCI-S) host the scientists and engineers that oversee the space missions from study to the end of operations; they develop the science operation systems for the missions and conduct the mission science operations in flight, and archive and curate the mission data during operations and beyond. The main objective is to maximise the scientific return of the missions for the benefit of humankind. SCI-E and SCI-S also support research activities, which are coordinated by the ESA Science Faculty. Research Fellows are encouraged to take leading roles in Faculty research programmes and initiatives, in close collaboration with scientific staff. The Research Fellowship programme nurtures and strengthens the links between ESA and the scientific communities in the Member States.
Research Fellows spend their time on their independent scientific research and can choose to spend up to 20% of their time on scientific activities in support of ESA science-related activities.
You are encouraged to visit the ESA website (http://science.esa.int) for an overview of ESA's Science Programme. 

We welcome all proposals for innovative research associated with one or more of our missions. For an overview of the ongoing space science research activities at the various ESA sites, and more details about the fellowships, please visit our website: https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/space-science-faculty/opportunities/research-fellowships
Interested candidates should consult these pages to identify which of the establishments offers the most relevant environment for their research. You are welcome and encouraged to contact any of the scientists working in your areas of interest.

Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking
For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

You must have completed and obtained your PhD before beginning the Research Fellowship. Applications from candidates who have received their PhD in the past five years are preferred.

• Cross-cultural sensitivity

• Fellows are members of the ESA Science Faculty, which supports a wide range of research and scientific activities. Fellows are important contributors to these initiatives. More information can be found at https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/space-science-faculty/opportunities/research-fellowships
• Research Fellows have no teaching obligations, but have various opportunities to supervise undergraduate or master's-level student trainees. 

The Review Committee will consist of members with expertise in a diverse range of areas. Therefore, your application should be written for a general audience of space scientists. The evaluation of your application will focus on scientific excellence, proposed research at ESA, in terms of feasibility and future impact, for example, and synergies with existing ESA research activities at the selected site. See also: Further Questions, Tips and Hints.
ESA Research Fellows are initially appointed for two years, with the possibility of extension for a third year.
Please refer to: 

• Call for applications:  https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/space-science-faculty/opportunities/research-fellowships
• ESA Careers: http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA/Post_Docs_Research_Fellowship 

Along with your application, four separate documents must be provided in the "Additional Documents" field of the "Application Information" section using the naming convention shown in square brackets:

• Motivation letter [LastName_letter]
• CV [LastName_CV]
• List of publications. This must be separate from your CV. For publications that are not first-authored, please indicate the individual contribution. [LastName_publications]
• A research proposal of no more than four pages. [LastName_proposal]

Furthermore, you should indicate your preferred location (ESTEC, ESAC or STScI).