Intern in the Science Engagement and Oversight Office - A Logarithmic Map of the Gaia DR4 Universe - European Space Agency (Noordwijk)

About this position

The summary below is published by European Space Agency on the official vacancy notice. Our own analysis — salary realism, comparable openings, career trajectory, language profile — follows further down the page.

Key responsibilities

According to the vacancy notice, the role centres on the following duties:

• Create an updated logarithmic map of the Gaia DR4 universe
• Use 100+ data products from the latest Gaia data release to visualize the Gaia Universe
• Add selected astronomical structures from peer-reviewed literature (e.g., halo streams, star clusters)
• Potentially develop interactive Python coding for the map
• Potentially contribute to outreach and education story writing based on the map

Are you eligible?

Check these requirements from the notice before investing time in an application:

• Education: University student, preferably in final or second-to-last year of Master's level course
• Languages: English (good kn…), French (good kn…)
• Key skills: Python coding, Astronomy knowledge, Creative thinking, Problem solving, Teamwork
• Eligibility: Must be enrolled at university for the entire duration of the internship

Contract and working arrangements

Working arrangements: On-site at ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands.

Hiring unit: Science Engagement and Oversight Office, Astrophysics Section, under D/SCI.

Position details

Reference

1452872333

Last Verified

3 November 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Intern in the Science Engagement and Oversight Office - A Logarithmic Map of the Gaia DR4 Universe at ESA based in Noordwijk (Traineeship). The vacancy reference is 1452872333.

Job Requisition ID:20949

Date Posted:1 November 2026

Closing Date:30 November 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication Method:External Only

Location ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

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.

You will work within the Gaia mission scientists’ team in the Astrophysics Section of the Office. The Gaia mission has been built and operated to map our home Galaxy in many dimensions with unprecedented precision and has brought a golden age for astronomy. Its data cover more than two billion sources, extending from the Solar System through the Milky Way to remote galaxies and quasars. The next data release, Gaia DR4, takes place on 2 December 2026 and consists of a huge and revolutionary catalogue with diverse data products on stars, exoplanets, black holes, double stars, variable stars, galaxies, quasars, asteroids, moons of planets, comets, and much more.

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

Field(s) of activity for the internship

Topic of the internship:A logarithmic map of the Gaia DR4 universe

The logarithm map of the Universe, originally devised by Richard Gott and Mario Jurić in the early 2000s (www.astro.princeton.edu/universe, A Map of the Universe), is a powerful tool to display the entire range of astronomical scales in the Universe, from the Earth's neighbourhood to the cosmic microwave background. Although the map was primarily devised to visualise the distribution of quasars in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey in the high-redshift Universe, the latest (fourth) Gaia data release (www.cosmos.esa.int/web/gaia/data-release-4) calls for a Gaia-dedicated update of the map. Due to its logarithmic nature, the map will provide exemplary proof of the full scientific reach of Gaia, ranging from asteroids, comets, and Kuiper Belt Objects in the Solar System, through nearby stars (and exoplanets and black holes), star clusters, spiral arms, and the Milky Way as a whole (including halo streams), to the Local Group (including the Magellanic Clouds, M31, and nearby dwarf galaxies), and unresolved galaxies and distant quasars that make up the Gaia Celestial Reference Frame.

You will work on creating such an updated map, using the 100+ data products in the latest data release to visualise the Gaia Universe. Extensions to three dimensions (two sky coordinates and logarithmic distance) can be considered. You will also add selected structures described in the peer-reviewed literature, for example halo streams and star clusters. Depending on your interest, the internship can also involve other aspects, for example additional Python coding to make the map interactive or story writing for associated outreach and education based on the map.

Objectives of the internship are:

- learn how ESA runs its revolutionary Gaia mission in a highly multi-cultural environment; - enhance Python coding skills; - gain hands-on experience with the Gaia archive and Gaia data products; - broaden astronomical knowledge of Gaia’s latest data release; - exercise creative thinking and problem solving; - work in a team.

Behavioural competencies

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.

The internship is suitable for candidates with a broad interest in astronomy.

Some experience with Python is an asset but the internship offers ample opportunity to improve programming skills.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 3 November 2026, today.

The application deadline is 30 November 2026, 25 days from today. Late applications are not accepted, so submit through the official EU Careers portal well in advance.

Last verified against the EU Careers feed on 3 November 2026.

Where to learn more

For headcount, mission, and other open vacancies at ESA see the ESA institution page; for the cost of living, correction coefficient, and other postings in Noordwijk see our Noordwijk location page.

New to EU careers? Our beginner's guide walks through entry routes, EPSO competitions, and what to prepare. For application logistics see application tips and EPSO competitions.