February 5, 2024 ktindiana

Space Weather Application Scientist at BIRA-IASB

Job title description

BIRA-IASB is looking for a Space Weather Application Scientist to support space weather research-to-operations and scientific activities through (inter)national projects.

Statute: Contractual (full time)
Deadline for applications: This position will remain open until filled.

Division, context

The Space Weather Group within the Space Physics division aims to study and develop services related to the conditions in the near-Earth space environment (radiation belts, cosmic radiation, magnetosphere, …) and its effects on both technology (in space and on the ground) and human health related activities.

Within the framework of the Space Safety Programme (S2P) of the European Space Agency (ESA), the Space Weather Group is responsible for coordinating/operating the Space Radiation Expert Service Centre (R-ESC) which has an essential role in the establishment of a network of space weather services targeting a large user community whose operational systems can be severely affected by Space Weather. More information can be found on the website https://swe.ssa.esa.int/.

The Space Weather Group consists of thirteen employees, both scientists and IT specialists, and participates in several other international research projects and collaborations. These range from applied research and service development to outreach activities, such as SPace ENVironment Information System (SPENVIS), Radiation Environment & Effects NOwcasts for the Moon (REENOM) and the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) International Space Weather Action Team (ISWAT) on Solar Energetic Particles (SEP) forecast model validation.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will join the Space Weather Group and contribute to the improvement of the service provision by taking part in R-ESC operational activities as well as associated applied research and development activities, in particular:

  • Coordinate the work of collaborating international partners in transitioning their research into operational applications for integration in the ESA S2P Space Weather Service Network.
  • Develop and maintain space radiation related applications as part of service provision to aviation as well as human and robotic space missions.
  • Assess space weather products and services against customer and system requirements.
  • Support overall R-ESC service and network operational and development activities, including regular reporting and participation in network meetings.
  • Coordinate and contribute to the validation and verification of space weather products.
  • Analyse and interpret the characteristics of SEPs during their propagation through the heliosphere.
  • Improve existing and develop new SEP forecast models

Required competences

  • Holder of a PhD in science or engineering*
  • Knowledge of space physics particularly in space weather.
  • Have a strong interest in programming and scripting languages with knowledge of Python.
  • Able to work accurately, flexibly and take autonomous decisions.
  • Able to write and communicate fluently in English.
  • You can act with integrity, in accordance with the expectations of the organization, respect confidentiality, make commitments and avoid any form of bias.

For more information, visit https://www.aeronomie.be/index.php/en/vacancies/space-weather-application-scientist.