[Hiring] Internship in Remote Sensing and Products Division @EUMETSAT

Role Description

The main topic of the internship is the analysis of the role of lightnings in the ignition of wildfires in the European area. The proposed project offers the opportunity to work on a highly relevant scientific and environmental-societal topic. The main project goals are:

• Compile suitable datasets of wildfire events and lightning activity.
• Explore and analyse relationships between wildfire events and lightning activity by varying spatial and temporal search windows around identified ignitions.
• For observed lightning ignition cases, analyse the characteristics of the lightning activity and cloud properties to identify patterns that could serve as a predictor, optionally including other data sources.
• Potentially develop a prototype for a lightning-ignition risk model using AI/ML techniques.

Duties

• Review literature regarding remote sensing-based wildfire monitoring and lightning-induced wildfires.
• Identify suitable datasets of satellite-based (e.g. MTG-FCI) and ground-based (e.g. EFFIS and national databases) wildfire events, as well as suitable lightning datasets (e.g. MTG-LI and possibly ground-based lightning detection networks).
• Pre-process, filter and prepare the datasets for further analysis.
• Explore and analyse relationships between wildfire (ignitions) and lightning activity.
• Analyse lightning, cloud properties and other environmental characteristics around observed lightning ignitions.
• Optional: Develop a prototype for lightning-ignition risk estimation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor and master students with mandatory internship requirements in relevant disciplines such as Remote Sensing, Meteorology, Environmental Science, Data Science.

Requirements

• Ability to work effectively in English.
• Computer literate.
• Intrinsically motivated and curious about the internship subject.
• Able to work independently and collaboratively.
• Ability to take the initiative in researching ideas.
• Ability to collect, collate, conceptualize and present information clearly.

Additional advantageous requirements

• Knowledge of EO/remote sensing data.
• Programming skills (Python strongly preferred), experience with Linux environments.
• Knowledge of data analysis/data science techniques.
• Knowledge of AI/ML techniques is beneficial.

Benefits

• Internship length: 3 months.
• Anticipated start date: 2027.
• Daily allowance of EUR 25 per day.
• Relocation cost reimbursement of up to EUR 400.
• Accommodation cost reimbursement of up to EUR 1000 per month.

Employment Conditions

• The internship will require a non-disclosure agreement and potentially a basic background check due to the sensitivity of the provided information.
• Interns are responsible for providing their own health and accident insurance and for finding their own accommodation in Darmstadt.
• Consideration may also be given if the internship is not a mandatory part of curriculum, for a maximum duration of three months.
• EUMETSAT is committed to providing an equal opportunities work environment for men and women.
• Only nationals of EUMETSAT Member States may apply.