Traineeship Opportunity for “Young Graduate Trainees”
Reference
Field of specialisation
Duty Station
ESA/YG-ESTEC(2017)001
Astrophysics – JWST mission
ESTEC
Closing Date
09 April 2017
Overview of the Office’s mission
The Science Support Office in the Directorate of Science provides project and study scientist support to all of ESA’s
Space Science missions, including astronomy, fundamental physics, solar system, heliospheric and planetary missions.
The staff scientists follow these missions from ‘cradle to grave’ and are responsible for ensuring that the maximum
scientific return is achieved within programmatic constraints. In addition, staff in the Office, together with Research
Fellows carry out research in their relevant fields.
Overview of the field of activity proposed
Getting the best science out of NIRSpec on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) – parasitic
background subtraction for 3D spectroscopy
In October 2018, less than two years from now, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will be launched. With a
primary mirror of 6.5 meters in diameter, JWST will be the largest astronomical space telescope ever launched,
providing scientists with an unprecedented combination of spatial resolution and sensitivity in the near- and midinfrared wavelength ranges. The near-infrared spectrograph NIRSpec is one of four instruments on board JWST; it is a
European instrument, developed for the European Space Agency (ESA) by a consortium of European industry led by
Airbus Defence and Space (ADS). The instrument was delivered to NASA in 2013 and is now being integrated with the
other scientific instruments onto the JWST telescope. In this phase of the project, ESA scientists are working, together
with their US colleagues; to prepare the scientific operation of NIRSpec and to make sure scientists all over the world
(and in particular in Europe) will gain the best performance from NIRSpec. In order to work towards this goal, we
require a very good understanding of the best observation strategies and need to optimize the data processing.
NIRSpec offers very powerful 3D spectroscopy (called
integral field spectroscopy [IFS]), allowing scientists to
conduct exquisitely detailed studies of individual objects,
thanks to the simultaneous acquisition of 900 spectra per
exposure over a 30x30 pixel grid Data acquired during the
various instrument test campaigns show that a low, but
significant, level of parasitic background light is
contaminating the spectra acquired in this IFS mode.
Modelling this spurious signal is crucial to maximising the
instrument performance and optimising its observing
strategy.
During this 1-year project, the trainee will work on the
development and validation of a numerical model of the
parasitic background present in NIRSpec IFS mode,
making use of existing data from ground-based testing.
The main tasks of this project will be:
•
familiarisation with JWST, the NIRSpec spectrograph and in particular the IFS mode, understand how
JWST/NIRSpec works, and learn about the mission’s scientific objectives [~1 month]
•
using test data as a starting point and building on an existing Python-based optical model of the instrument,
develop a numerical model of the parasitic background present in NIRSpec IFS observations. This work will be
conducted within the Python-based software environment created by the team. [~7 months]
HFC-HO/TO for Young Graduate Trainees/issue 1.2
01/09/2015
•
•
validate the model and consolidate algorithms using test data, to carry out a model-based backgroundsubtraction for the IFS mode. [~3 months]
wrap up the project by writing a report that documents the work and primary results [~1 month]
If time permits, it is also foreseen that the developed background model can be combined with the existing instrument
optical model to generate simulated NIRSpec IFS exposures. These will then be used to showcase the background
subtraction strategy and help future observers understand how best to employ the NIRSpec IFS mode.
This work will be conducted together with members of the ESA JWST team, within the very stimulating international
environment of the JWST mission.
Educational and other requirements
Applicants should have just completed, or be in their final year of a University course at Masters Level (or equivalent)
in a technical or scientific discipline, with a strong focus on physics (ideally astrophysics) and with a good knowledge in
signal processing. Good programming and modelling skills (ideally in Python) will be valuable assets.
Applicants should have good interpersonal and communication skills and should be able to work in a multi-cultural
environment, both independently and as part of a team.
Applicants must be fluent in English and/or French, the working languages of the Agency. A good proficiency in
English is required.
How can I apply?
Please fill in the online application form.
Please note that only one application may be submitted for the YGT Scheme.
The YGT Scheme is open to recently qualified young men and women
who are nationals of one of the following states:
Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK, or
Slovenia as an Associate Member,
Canada as a Cooperating State, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia as European Cooperating States (ECS).