Intern in the Science Engagement and Oversight Office - Evolution of Borealis Planitia, Mercury

Our team and mission

Under the direct authority of D/SCI, the Head of the Science Engagement and Oversight Office is responsible for overseeing the scientific content of the Programme, interfacing with the scientific community and providing scientific expertise to studies, projects and missions, also in other Directorates as needed.

Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int

Field(s) of activity for the internship

Topic of the internship: Effusive to Explosive to Hollows: Evolution of Borealis Planitia, Mercury

Mercury’s northern hemisphere is home to the planet’s largest contiguous expanse of smooth volcanic plains named ‘Borealis Planitia’. Different areas of this continuous unit, however, look very different with concentrated fields of rough ground, and material intertwining amongst raised topography forming smooth-floored valley-like systems. Whilst an effusive origin is accepted for Borealis Planitia, morphologically and spectrally some areas suggest younger explosive volcanic activity. Further still, hollows — small ‘fresh’ looking landforms — are observed in and around what appears to be rough ground formed by explosive volcanism as well as within the effusively emplaced smooth plains.

This internship will investigate the relationship between hollows, pitted ground and their parent smooth plains unit. You will use GIS to analyse image and spectral data to decipher how pitted ground and hollows may have evolved through time in respect of their spatial distribution.

This work will add to our understanding of the evolution of Mercury’s volcanic material providing valuable context for BepiColombo with MPO and MIO operating in orbit at the time of this internship. Borealis Planitia, particularly the “Vallis” and surrounding areas are of strategic interest to numerous instrument teams and the work undertaken for this internship can help refine targets for the extended phase of the mission.

You will be working directly with members of the BepiColombo science team, affording you the unique opportunity to observe a planetary mission as the science campaign commences.

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 must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of university course at Master's level. In addition, you must be able to prove that you will be enrolled at your university for the entire duration of the internship.

Additional requirements

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another ESA Member State language is an asset.

During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored.

You should also have:

• a background in geosciences;


• competency using GIS;


• familiarity with remote sensing data is useful but not essential;


• knowledge of Mercury geology is desired, but not essential;


• interest in Planetary Sciences;


• interest in Scientific Research.