The European Space Agency (ESA) and the African Union Commission successfully launched the African Study Fellowship (ARF) program in 2021, and two African fellows were chosen to conduct their research in ESA in 2022.
It intends to equip African researchers with advanced degrees in research—PhDs or Masters—to conduct Earth observation (EO) R&D tasks important to the EO AFRICA Initiative. The African Research Fellows will make the best use possible of EO data in conjunction with on-the-ground and cutting-edge modeling techniques, in a cloud environment, to address the challenges the African continent is currently facing with regard to managing its water resources and ensuring food security.
Four African researchers will receive one-year fellowships under this invitation from ESA to work at the ESA-ESRIN facilities in Frascati – Rome, Italy, in collaboration with ESA’s scientists.
Research Areas:
Candidates shall propose a 1-year R&D proposal contributing to Water resources management or Food
security issues. Proposals focusing on smallholder needs (e.g. farming, agricultural water use,
regenerative agriculture, water productivity, irrigation systems, nutrients management, infestations…)
or related to coastal processes (e.g. ecosystems, coastal waters, coastal geomorphology and change,
coastal urbanization, tourism…) and fisheries (e.g. aquaculture, habitat suitability, blooms, implications of
climate change…) are especially welcome.
The activity will be coordinated and aligned with the EO AFRICA R&D Initiative which provide training
opportunities and scientific tools for the selected African research fellows. The EO AFRICA Space Academy
and its Digital Campus will give access to a wide range of expertise and knowledge to be shared with
research fellows. Whereas the EO AFRICA Innovation Lab will allow the African research fellows directly
collaborate with European scientists and implement their research ideas.
Fellowship:
- 1-year length fellowship. Not extendable
- Computer Laptop/Desktop provided by ESA
- Shared office in ESA/ESRIN
- Support to obtain VISA through Ministry of Foreign Affairs (i.e. MFA/MAE)
- ID card from Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (i.e. MFA/MAE) Card and Codice Fiscale
- Assistance for opening Bank account at ESRIN
- Option to request housing hunting service
- As for the personal health/accident/civil responsibility insurance, the ARF will have to
arrange autonomously his/her own insurance coverage. If needed, ESA/ESRIN can provide
contacts with:.- UniPol
- Cignal
- Travel to/from original country (3000 EUR for travel)
- Standard International Research Fellow salary (circa 2,500 EUR x 12months)
- Scientific network activities (e.g. conference) (maximum ceiling of 2,000 EUR)
Eligibility:
- Open to African Researchers;
- Applicants must have a PhD or Master degree with extensive research experience.
- Good interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment, both independently and as part of a team.
- Demonstrated experience in using Python and developing Jupyter Notebooks.
- Fluency in English and/or French, the working languages of the Agency.
- Ability to produce scientific papers to a high standard in English and to interact effectively
with the international scientific community in English.
Application:
The needed documents to apply are:
- Research Proposal
- CV with most recent publication list. Such document containing both the CV and publication
list shall not be longer than 3 pages max - Copy of ID
- Scan of PhD or Master Diploma
- 2 Reference letters
