Our team and mission

This position is based at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) – Near Cologne, Germany.

Based at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC), ESA’s Space Medicine Team (SMT) comprises medical doctors, biomedical engineers, exercise physiologists, psychologists, IT specialists, administrators and project managers. Each plays a vital role in ensuring the health and well-being of astronauts during all stages of a mission.

To better support astronauts during current missions to the International Space Station and prepare for human missions beyond low Earth orbit, the Space Medicine Team is working to identify, evaluate and develop new space technologies and procedures. This process involves collaborating with ESA’s technology teams and Human Research Office to identify existing space-relevant technologies and scientific knowledge, and looking outside of ESA at terrestrial technology developments and the wealth of current science knowledge concerning human health. The Space Medicine Team work in close partnership with national space agencies, industry, research institutions and universities from across ESA’s Member States.

For further information on space medicine internships, please visit ESA – Space Medicine

For further information visit our web site: http://www.esa.int

Field(s) of activity for the internship

You can choose between the following topics:

Topic 1: Operational and Scientific Validation of a Markerless Motion Capture System for use in microgravity

Utilization of motion capture in space is being considered in an effort to increase crewmember autonomy and ensure proper monitoring of countermeasure exercise. However, most motion capture systems require markers or sensors that do not function properly in an enclosed space with significant interference or in microgravity.

The project is titled, “Operational and Scientific Validation of a Markerless Motion Capture System for use in microgravity”. As an intern, you will develop an experiment protocol to validate a markerless motion capture system compared to a maker-based system.

As an intern, you will prepare protocols and subjects, conduct the study in the EAC facilities, and then perform the comparative analysis of the two systems for accuracy for kinematic evaluation. The results will be used to determine further development of a flight system to be utilized onboard the ISS.

Topic 2: Space Cataract

This research project will examine the effects of space radiation on the human ocular lens. The human lens, due to its high sensitivity to radiation, is in a way a “bio-dosimeter”.

Excessive exposure to radiation on exploration class missions may lead to a quick development or progression of cataract, leading to potential problems with vision during spaceflight. This could have potential severe impacts on astronauts’ performance. In addition, there are currently no therapies no to treat cataract in-flight. Therefore, we must get a better understanding of how quickly this problem could progress to a clinically significant level when crew is exposed to high doses of space radiation due to GCR and/or SPEs.

Also to be considered is the fact that the degree of lens opacification may function as a bio-dosimeter. Monitoring the lens in a more sensitive and objective way than the current classic slit lamp clinical evaluation may provide better insight into how this develops over time with various degrees of radiation exposure. It could also be used to investigate if there is a relationship with the development of other radiation induced health-problems, like neuro-degenerative issues and cancers. 
 

As an intern, you will be sought to perform a systematic review of existing literature on radiation effects on the human ocular lens, the human lens as a bio-dosimeter and objective methods to detect and grade early stages of cataracts.

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking

Education

Candidates must have student status and be enrolled at university for the entire duration of the internship. Applicants should preferably be in their final or second to last year of a university course at master’s level in a technical or scientific discipline.

Additional requirements

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

Additional requirements:

Topic 1:

Essential skills/academic background:

• Enrolled MSc student of Exercise/Human Movement/Biomechanics;
• Experience in human biomechanics;
• Experience in kinematic and kinetic data acquisition;
• Experience in kinematic and kinetic data processing using Matlab/Python/R.

Assets:

• Experience in statistical analyses of time series data sets;
• Experience in science writing;
• Experience in camera-based motion capture systems;
• Experience in non-camera-based motion capture systems.

Topic 2:

Desired skills/academic background:

• Enrolled student of Medicine in the final stages of their Master, preferably with a strong interest or experience in ophthalmology and/or radiation;
• Experience in the use of Rayyan or other software for systematic reviews, Mendeley for citation management and SPSS for data/statistical analysis/machine learning.