Project Scientist In Astronomy & Research Fellows Coordinator

Project Scientist in Astronomy & Research Fellows Coordinator Description

The European Space Agency (ESA) maintains a world-leading Science Programme with missions in heliophysics, planetary science, astrophysics, and fundamental physics. Its mission is to empower Europe to lead space science.

The Office of Science Engagement and Oversight (SCI-E) oversees the scientific content of the Science Programme and provides scientific expertise to Science missions across all phases, from studies to operations and beyond. The Office manages scientific research, community engagement activities, and communication and education efforts for the ESA Directorate of Science.

ESA’s astrophysics missions regularly invite observing proposals through Calls for Guest Observer proposals, assessed via peer review. In this role, you will update ESA Science policies, oversee proposal submission and peer review processes to ensure rigor, transparency, fairness, and consistency across missions, and implement best practices. You will be responsible for an annual peer review for a mission aligned with your expertise.

Up to 50% of your time will also be dedicated to strengthening the Space Science Research Fellowship Programme, which supports talented early-career scientists in developing independent research portfolios related to ESA Science missions and the Science Programme.

This role is ideal for a scientist with a solid understanding of and experience in inclusive practices within astronomy and astrophysics communities (and beyond), with an interest in evolving these practices to ensure ESA Science missions remain at the forefront of open science.

Duties

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

1. Guest Observer Programmes and Peer Review:
2. Identifying best practices in telescope time allocation and peer review processes within scientific communities and supporting the Head of Office in implementing these across ESA astrophysics missions with GO calls;
3. Managing the annual Guest Observer call and peer review for an astrophysics mission, working closely with the lead project scientist(s);
4. Defining and collecting performance metrics for all Guest Observer programmes.

Space Science Research Fellowship Programme Coordination:

1. Coordinating the annual recruitment campaign for research fellows;
2. Managing and engaging with research fellows to support effective implementation of their research plans;
3. Facilitating professional development through information sharing about ESA opportunities and providing mentorship;
4. Working with the Head of Office to identify enhancements for the Fellowship Programme.

As a Project Scientist and member of the Science Faculty, you are encouraged to pursue personal scientific research and contribute to the Directorate’s research environment. Depending on Directorate needs, you may be reassigned to project scientist duties for missions in study, development, or operations, ensuring maximum scientific return within technical, financial, programmatic, and safety constraints.