Barcelona Supercomputing Center

Reference: 709_24_ES_GES_R3
Job title: Research on Earth observation products (R3) – AI4S

About BSC

The Barcelona Supercomputing Center – Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS) is the leading supercomputing center in Spain. It houses MareNostrum, one of the most powerful supercomputers in Europe, was a founding and hosting member of the former European HPC infrastructure PRACE (Partnership for Advanced Computing in Europe), and is now hosting entity for EuroHPC JU, the Joint Undertaking that leads large-scale investments and HPC provision in Europe. The mission of BSC is to research, develop and manage information technologies in order to facilitate scientific progress. BSC combines HPC service provision and R&D into both computer and computational science (life, earth and engineering sciences) under one roof, and currently has over 1000 staff from 60 countries.

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We are particularly interested for this role in the strengths and lived experiences of women and underrepresented groups to help us avoid perpetuating biases and oversights in science and IT research. In instances of equal merit, the incorporation of the under-represented sex will be favoured.

We promote Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, fostering an environment where each and every one of us is appreciated for who we are, regardless of our differences.

If you consider that you do not meet all the requirements, we encourage you to continue applying for the job offer. We value diversity of experiences and skills, and you could bring unique perspectives to our team.

Context And Mission

The Earth Sciences Department (BSC-ES henceforth) conducts interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research to enhance the societal value of climate air quality prediction. The Department actively engages with society, decision-makers and businesses to exchange knowledge and develop user-oriented services. The aim is to enhance knowledge and technology integration and improve resilience, by accelerating adaptation to a rapidly changing environment.

The department is seeking a junior scientist to work on the process and use of satellite images for scientific applications. The successful candidate will develop and implement strategies to make use of data from current and future satellite missions to develop new capabilities for atmospheric composition, emissions, climate, or climate and air quality impacts. Research may cover a wide range of topics, from the development of novel methods and algorithms to high-level products. The candidate is expected to leverage AI technologies to introduce innovations in the domain and have the initiative to create a robust research line in the department.

The candidate is expected to engage in collaborations with several ongoing department activities. Experience working in interdisciplinary and international teams is key for the position. The position is ideal for a young scientist who wants to create a new team within a leading European institution.

The selected candidate will benefit from communication training. BSC staff benefits from an international multidisciplinary scientific environment, and advanced applied research training.

The funding for these actions/fellowships and contracts comes from the European Union Recovery and Resilience Facility – Next Generation, within the framework of the General Invitation by the public business entity Red.es to participate in the talent attraction and retention programs within Investment 4 of Component 19 of the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan. For more information, please check https://www.bsc.es/join-us/excellence-career-opportunities/ai4s

“La financiación de estas actuaciones/becas y contratos, procede del Mecanismo de Recuperación y Resiliencia de la Unión Europea-Next Generation, en el marco de la Invitación General de la entidad pública empresarial Red.es para participar en los programas de atracción y retención del talento dentro de la Inversión 4 del Componente 19 del Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia. Para más información https://www.bsc.es/join-us/excellence-career-opportunities/ai4s”

Key Duties

Plan, coordinate, and perform research on the use of satellite imagery in problems related to the BSC-ES research lines
Prototyping, implementing, and testing of processing chains to generate value-added products
Technically assess and identify the most suitable satellite imagery and methodological approach
Contribute to the development and curation of datasets and tools
Contribute to the writing of research proposals and concept notes
Travel to relevant conferences, events, and workshops

Requirements

Education
Candidates must hold a PhD in environmental sciences, mathematics, physics, engineering or any related field
Solid background in remote sensing data handling
Essential Knowledge and Professional Experience
At least five years of working experience after the PhD
Experience in applied research in remote sensing
Ability to think outside the box and explore new avenues
High-performance computing experience
Good knowledge of python and/or R
Additional Knowledge and Professional Experience
Previous work on the topics of climate variability and change, atmospheric composition and air quality, emissions, or climate impact assessment will be valued
Experience in the application of artificial intelligence will be valued
Fluency in English is essential. Proficiency in Spanish and other European languages would be advantageous.
Competences
Ability to work in a professional environment within a multidisciplinary and international team

Conditions

The position will be located at BSC within the Earth Sciences Department.
We offer a full-time contract (37.5h/week), a good working environment, a highly stimulating environment with state-of-the-art infrastructure, flexible working hours, extensive training plan, restaurant tickets, private health insurance
Duration: 4 years
Holidays: 23 paid vacation days plus 24th and 31st of December per our collective agreement
Salary: 55.000,00
Additional Expenses Grant: Each fellowship will be associated with a grant for additional expenses, such as IT equipment, travel, training, stays, etc.
Starting date: asap – the incorporation for this vacancy must be before the 16th of December 2024

Applications procedure and process

All applications must be submitted via the BSC website and contain:

A full CV in English, including contact details.
A cover/motivation letter with a statement of interest in English, clearly specifying for which specific area and topics the applicant wishes to be considered. Additionally, two references for further contacts must be included. Applications without this document will not be considered.
Development of the recruitment process

The selection will be carried out through a competitive examination system (“Concurso-Oposición”). The recruitment process consists of two phases:

Curriculum Analysis: Evaluation of previous experience and/or scientific history, degree, training, and other professional information relevant to the position. – 40 points
Interview phase: The highest-rated candidates at the curriculum level will be invited to the interview phase, conducted by the corresponding department and Human Resources. In this phase, technical competencies, knowledge, skills, and professional experience related to the position, as well as the required personal competencies, will be evaluated. – 60 points. A minimum of 30 points out of 60 must be obtained to be eligible for the position.
The recruitment panel will be composed of at least three people, ensuring at least 25% representation of women.

In accordance with OTM-R principles, a gender-balanced recruitment panel is formed for each vacancy at the beginning of the process. After reviewing the content of the applications, the panel will begin the interviews, with at least one technical and one administrative interview. At a minimum, a personality questionnaire as well as a technical exercise will be conducted during the process.

The panel will make a final decision, and all individuals who participated in the interview phase will receive feedback with details on the acceptance or rejection of their profile.

At BSC, we seek continuous improvement in our recruitment processes. For any suggestions or comments/complaints about our recruitment processes, please contact recruitment@bsc.es.

For more information, please follow this link.

https://www.bsc.es/join-us/job-opportunities/70924esgesr3