Intern in the Climate Action, Sustainability and Science Department - Forest Applications

Location

ESRIN, Frascati, Italy

Our team and mission

The Applications Section is primarily engaged in research and development (R&D) for Earth observation-based solutions that address both European and global environmental and development agendas.

The typical projects of the EOP-SGA Section involve key stakeholders throughout the co-design, development, and validation phases to ensure that the innovative EO-based solutions are effectively integrated into end-users’ operational systems and practices.

The Applications Section, based at the ESRIN site of ESA, comprises several EO experts, each overseeing specific domains where EO data is utilised, including marine, carbon, and agriculture, among others.

Some of the activities are presented here: eo4society - eo science for society.

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

Topic of the internship: Forest Applications

• Your first core task will involve a research-based exercise:

About 21% of the world’s forest area is currently designated under legal protection. These forests are highly valuable for carbon storage and sustaining biodiversity. However, high annual rates of tree cover loss continue to this day, with impacts both on forest carbon stocks and their biodiversity. It therefore remains difficult to assess how effective protected area designation is as a forest conservation tool. The legal status of a protected area does not automatically mean that active protection is being implemented, particularly in regions with limited financial resources for conservation.

ESA’s Sentinel missions are widely used to monitor forests by providing frequent, consistent, and freely available satellite data on forests. In April 2025, ESA also launched the BIOMASS mission with a novel P-band synthetic aperture radar designed to deliver crucial information about forest conditions, changes, and their role in the carbon cycle.

You will utilise BIOMASS mission data in synergy with several other EO missions (particularly the Sentinels) to achieve the following:

• develop forest (a) carbon and (b) structural/functional biodiversity indicators for protected areas;
• map land cover and land cover change within protected boundaries using long-term EO time series, comparing trends inside protected areas with surrounding unprotected lands;
• evaluate ecosystem condition, for example by tracking vegetation health, fragmentation, or recovery after disturbance;
• summarise key findings that will concisely and accurately inform international/national policies aimed at forest conservation.
• Your second task will involve support activities to the Applications Section of EOP, Green Solutions Division. These tasks are aimed at developing management skills and soft skills, supporting the overall career development of the candidate. Some activities include:
• design and preparation of materials for conferences/meetings held at ESRIN;
• participation in project meetings, assisting in review of ESA project reports;
• participation in inter-section meetings (e.g. with ESA PhiLab), co-development of research ideas and agendas.

You will utilise ESA-supported cloud computing platforms for conducting your research. By the end of the internship, you will demonstrate practical experience in scalable Earth Observation processing, applied analytical methods for land monitoring, product validation and uncertainty assessment, and stakeholder-driven development in an international setting. You will also develop a broader understanding of how EO-derived forest information supports international policy and reporting frameworks.

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.

In addition to the standard requirements in the form, the following would be considered an asset:

• experience with Earth Observation for land cover mapping and multi temporal satellite data processing; familiarity with forest ecosystems is an asset;
• strong programming skills (e.g. R, Python), including geospatial data processing;
• knowledge of machine learning and deep learning for image and time series analysis;
• experience with cloud or high performance computing environments;
• ability to communicate results clearly in writing and presentations and to collaborate effectively with international partners.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness

ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.

At the Agency we value diversity, and we welcome people with disabilities. Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact us via email at ESA.Student.Internships@esa.int .

Important Information and Disclaimer

During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests.

The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding internship conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have.

Nationality

Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Applicants from Canada as a Cooperating State can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia and Malta as European Cooperating States (ECS).