Internship in Bibliographical Research on Physiological Studies in Caves - CLOSED ON 31.12.2015

Overview of the Astronaut Training Division
The Astronaut Training Division, located at the European Astronaut Centre at Cologne, is responsible for the definition, development, implementation and evaluation of ESA astronaut training programmes. It manages the training of all International Space Station (ISS) astronauts from ESA and its international partners for all ESA-provided ISS contributions.

Overview of the EURAC Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine
The Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, located at the European Academy at Bolzano aims to improve the diagnosis and treatment of casualties and acutely ill patients in mountainous regions. The main focus of research embraces physiological adaptations/diseases related to extreme environments and investigations of the treatment of injuries and acute illnesses in difficult terrain.

Overview of the CAVES course
CAVES is an expeditionary team training programme conducted by ESA in underground caves in Italy. This course prepares astronauts from all ISS partner agencies to work safely and effectively as international teams in critical environments, while performing science and exploration in an operational set-up similar to the ISS.

More on CAVES can be found in the links on the right.

Background
Underground caves have been used for a long time to study human adaptation to extreme environments (including darkness, low/high temperatures and high humidity). A number of physiological, pathological and psychological aspects (for example, sleep disturbances, psychological alteration, endocrinological and immunological changes, nutritional deficiencies, cardiovascular function at rest and during exercise, cold and heat-related illnesses, radiation exposure and inhalation of gases, contamination) have been studied. Moreover, a number of reports regarding search and rescue operations in cave environments (covering, for example, team work, isolation, limited resources) have been published. The results of this research may be useful for adapting the CAVES training programme to future long duration spaceflight activities.

Overview of the tasks proposed in this internship
Despite the important scientific literature on the subject, there is a need for an updated overview of what has been studied and reported. Under the direction of a Research Director, the intern will be in charge of preparing an updated scientific review of all biomedical and rescue research performed in underground caves.

Duties will include:

• contributing to the definition of the framework of the bibliography review
• exploring all available sources’ scientific publications
• contacting university libraries to get publications
• integrating all data from all bibliographical sources
• contributing to the writing of at least two reviews on physiological and rescue aspects in cave environments (discussing challenges anticipated for space exploration missions)

Desired skills and experience:

• Applicants must be fluent in English; knowledge of French and Italian would be an advantage
• Applicants should be enrolled on a master’s course or equivalent post-graduate qualification (preferred subjects are aerospace or extreme environments medicine, interface between humans and the environment)
• Experience in bibliographical research and familiarity with databases such as PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE
• Organised and result oriented

Enthusiasm and the willingness to show initiative are vital. Successful applicants will be expected to work as part of a team within a multi-cultural environment

Terms and conditions:

• full-time internship, 5 days per week (40 hours per week)
• €20 daily allowance (if the applicant is enrolled as a student and lives more than 50 km from EAC, 10€/day if less than 50 km; weekends included)
• duty station is the European Astronaut Centre outside Cologne, near Cologne-Bonn airport
• earliest start date: 1 February 2016 (other dates also available later in the year)
• you must be a citizen of an ESA member or cooperating state in order to be eligible

Closing date:

The closing date for applications is 31 December 2015.

How to apply:

Interested? If so, sent your CV, letter of motivation and your completed ESA application form to loredana.bessone@esa.int.