Deadline: October 15, 2025 at 23:59 CET
The ESA Φ-lab CIN is now opening applications for visionary researchers and innovators in Transformative Technologies to strengthen ESA Φ-lab’s ongoing and future projects in Earth Observation (EO). Find out more and apply now.
Main Information
🖊️ Position Title: Research Support Scientist - Foundation Model Benchmarking
💻 Minimum Requirements: Master's degree (M.Sc. or M.Eng.) in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field. PhD students are welcomed as well.
📍 Location: ESA Φ-lab, ESRIN, Frascati, Italy
📅 Starting: The position is available to start immediately and will last for 6 months.
Introduction and Context
This call is in the context of the European Space Agency (ESA) Φ-lab Collaborative Innovation Network (CIN), an initiative to foster collaborations among Earth Observation and Transformative Technologies experts. The CIN was created with the aim of attracting high-level researchers, distinguished advisors and key leaders in the above-mentioned fields to the ESA Φ-lab at the ESA Centre for Earth Observation (ESRIN), Frascati, Italy.
ESA Φ-lab is the division of ESA with the mission to accelerate the future of Earth observation (EO) by means of transformational innovation, i.e., innovations with the potential to create or transform industries via new technologies, thereby strengthening the global competitiveness of the European EO industrial and research sectors.
Pi School, which operates in the field of AI and research innovation and has numerous academic contacts through its staff, is responsible for supporting ESA Φ-lab in this mission by creating, managing, coordinating, animating the ESA Φ-lab CIN.
Purpose and Scope of Work
This specific call aims to engage with young researchers (M.Sc., M.Eng., and PhD students as well) in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field that are eager to work on Foundation Models benchmarking. This collaboration offers a unique opportunity to shape next-generation AI capabilities in space and EO, with the potential to deliver high societal impact. Note that the call is open to candidates with expertise in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, even if their primary focus is not on the EO sector.
The position is available to start immediately (on site) and will last for 6 months.
Who are we looking for?
Through our highly selective process, we are looking for a Research Support Scientist, i.e. a highly motivated individual with a Master's degree (PhD students as well) in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field to support benchmarking experimentation on state-of-the-art Foundation Models (FMs) in Earth Observation (EO). The role involves conducting fine-tuning experiments across a variety of novel EO use case datasets using leading AI architectures and FMs (e.g., TerraMind, Copernicus FM, Galileo).
Key Responsibilities:
- Design and execute benchmarking experiments using various fine-tuning strategies (e.g., linear probing, full fine-tuning, few-shot learning).
- Evaluate and compare performance of different FMs across EO datasets.
- Support internal and industrial R&D projects at Φ-lab.
- Contribute to joint publications with leading academic and industrial partners.
Requirements:
- M.Sc. or M.Eng. in Computer Science, AI, or related discipline.
- Strong experience with machine learning frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, Huggingface).
- Ideally familiarity with Foundation Models and fine-tuning techniques.
- Interest in Earth Observation applications and scientific research.
Opportunities:
- Collaborate with top-tier organizations in AI and EO.
- Contribute to high-impact publications and innovative projects.
- Work in a dynamic, interdisciplinary research environment.
Type of Engagement
As a Visiting Researcher, you will be engaged through the Φ-lab Visiting Researcher Scheme: this is a collaboration performed at ESA Φ-lab with the goal of jointly advancing a specific research proposal of shared interest by leveraging shared expertise, resources and time within an ESA Φ-lab team. The collaboration is unpaid and ideal for researchers already affiliated with an academic institution or employed by a private company. Under specific conditions, ESA may provide coverage for travel and accommodation.
If selected, ESA will send you an invitation letter (see template here).
How to apply?
Interested candidates are invited to submit their application, including a detailed CV and any supporting documents or references in the form below. They are asked to include a brief research proposal or concept note outlining a potential area of collaboration aligned t with ESA Φ-lab's strategic focus and where they believe they could make a significant impact.
Selection Criteria:
- Technical expertise and experience
- Alignment with ESA Φ-lab’s strategic objectives and mission goals
- Availability and flexibility for short-term engagements
- Compatibility with ESA Φ-lab’s collaborative and exploratory working culture
This call represents a unique opportunity to contribute to ESA Φ-lab and, more broadly, to ESA’s pioneering projects, influencing the future of space technology. We look forward to welcoming esteemed researchers who are eager to collaborate on transformative space initiatives.
Please, fill this form: