The European Space Agency (ESA) is offering an internship in the Human Exploration Science Office at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Porz-Wahn, Germany, reviewing how venous thrombosis could be prevented during spaceflight. Applications close on 30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET/CEST. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the full vacancy and set out every task, requirement and eligibility rule below.
The Internship at a Glance
The internship sits within ESA's Human and Robotic Exploration Directorate. These are the formal details of the vacancy:
🆔 Job Requisition ID: 21120
🎓 Type of appointment: Intern
🏛️ Directorate: Human and Robotic Exploration
📍 Workplace: Porz-Wahn, DE
🗺️ Location: EAC, Porz-Wahn, Germany
📣 Publication method: External Only
📅 Closing date: 30 November 2026, 23:59 CET/CEST
The Human Exploration Science Team and Its Mission
Within the Exploration Science Office of the Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration, the Human Exploration Science Team (HRE-SH) conducts research that enables future human space exploration while leveraging spaceflight and analogue platforms to advance knowledge and improve human health on Earth.
HRE-SH uses a wide range of terrestrial and (sub-) orbital research platforms, as well as the International Space Station (ISS), to investigate the effects of selected or combined spaceflight stressors on human health and performance.
Research Platforms the Team Works With
The platforms used by HRE-SH include:
🛩️ Parabolic flight
🛁 Dry immersion
🛏️ Bed rest
🏠 Isolated and confined environments
🛰️ Spaceflight
Why the Work Matters: Astronaut Health and Benefits on Earth
The team's work focuses on the identification and mitigation of challenges to astronaut health and performance to enable the safe exploration of European Astronauts to low-Earth orbit, the Moon, and beyond.
By leveraging the platforms developed for exploration, scientific experiments can be conducted under unique conditions, generating benefits on Earth in fields such as healthcare, ageing research, and health management. HRE-SH works closely with international partners, astronauts, medical support, and the scientific community to define and address operational needs and scientific priorities.
Background: Venous Thrombosis in Spaceflight
Although upper extremity venous thrombosis also occurs on Earth, spaceflight conditions may increase its likelihood and make it a serious medical risk. Microgravity redistributes body fluids and can reduce or reverse venous blood flow, particularly in the head and neck, promoting venous stasis, one of the main mechanisms of thrombus formation.
Managing this risk will become increasingly important during exploration missions, where constraints on mass, volume, crew time, medical expertise, and communication with Earth will limit available countermeasures.
The Gap This Internship Addresses
Several preventive approaches may modify venous flow or other contributors to thrombosis, but their evidence, safety, operational suitability, and readiness for in-flight use have not been assessed within a common framework.
This internship will address this gap by reviewing evidence from ESA research platforms and relevant terrestrial clinical contexts to identify and prioritise countermeasures that could be safely and realistically implemented during spaceflight.
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Aim of the Internship
Based on a structured review of the available literature, you will assess candidate countermeasures according to their physiological mechanism, evidence of efficacy and safety, operational feasibility, and technology maturity.
The findings will inform adjustments to scientific and operational priorities and roadmaps, support the translation of evidence into operational and technology requirements, and identify priorities for further validation.
Your Main Activities
The vacancy lists the following main activities:
📚 Conduct a structured review of relevant spaceflight, analogue, terrestrial clinical, and technology-development evidence
🔬 Evaluate candidate approaches, including lower body negative pressure, venous thigh cuffs, modifications to existing exercise protocols, simple neck-flow interventions, respiratory or positional manoeuvres, and compact compression technologies
📊 Develop structured comparison tables to assess the evidence, safety, technology maturity, and operational feasibility of each countermeasure for future exploration missions
🧭 Create a safety and decision framework separating routine prevention, use with abnormal flow or suspected thrombosis, and use after confirmed thrombosis
🏆 Identify promising emerging technologies, rank the most suitable approaches using pre-defined criteria, and propose a validation study for the highest-priority option
Countermeasure Approaches You Will Evaluate
The vacancy names these candidate approaches for evaluation:
🌀 Lower body negative pressure
🎗️ Venous thigh cuffs
🏋️ Modifications to existing exercise protocols
🩻 Simple neck-flow interventions
💨 Respiratory or positional manoeuvres
🗜️ Compact compression technologies
Expected Outputs
The primary outputs will be:
📝 An internal report documenting the literature-review methods, findings, and recommendations
🗂️ Evidence and technology-readiness matrices
🛡️ A safety and decision framework
🥇 A prioritised shortlist
💡 A validation-study concept
📌 Concrete recommendations for updating ESA priorities and the venous thrombosis roadmap and for defining operational and technology requirements
Subject to the maturity and scientific novelty of the work, you will also prepare a manuscript for submission to a peer-reviewed journal.
What You Will Learn
Through this internship, you will gain experience in:
🔎 Systematic evidence synthesis
⚖️ Health-technology assessment
🔧 Technology-readiness evaluation
📈 Risk-benefit analysis
🌌 Human spaceflight operations
✍️ Scientific writing
🔁 Translation of research evidence into practical recommendations for astronaut health
When the Internship Starts and How Long It Lasts
According to ESA's announcement of its 2027 student internships, an internship lasts between 3 and 6 months and starts from February 2027. The exact start date is agreed with the ESA tutor.
The vacancy describes the work as a six-month analytical project that you should be able to manage independently.
Who Can Apply: 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.
Language 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.
Desired Assets
During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored. The vacancy lists these desired assets:
🎓 Background in medicine, human physiology, biomedical engineering, health technology assessment, sports science, or a related field
💓 Good knowledge of cardiovascular physiology, haemodynamics, coagulation, venous thrombosis, or Virchow's triad
📖 Experience with structured literature reviews, evidence grading, data extraction, and/or scientific writing
🖥️ Interest in medical devices, point-of-care diagnostics, ultrasound, technology-readiness assessment, or human spaceflight operations
🗣️ Ability to compare heterogeneous evidence critically, document assumptions transparently, and communicate conclusions clearly to scientific and operational audiences
Working Style the Vacancy Expects
You should be able to work independently, manage a six-month analytical project, and collaborate effectively within an international and interdisciplinary team.
Behavioural Competencies
The vacancy lists the following ESA core behavioural competencies:
🏁 Result Orientation
⚙️ Operational Efficiency
🤝 Fostering Cooperation
💬 Relationship Management
🔄 Continuous Improvement
🔭 Forward Thinking
For more information, the vacancy refers to the ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook.
Eligible Nationalities
Applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States:
🌍 Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Selection Process and Export Control
During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored. During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests.
Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations.
Application Limit
According to ESA's announcement of its 2027 student internships, one candidate can apply for a maximum of 2 vacancies.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness
ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. It welcomes applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.
At the Agency, diversity is valued and people with disabilities are welcome. Whenever possible, ESA seeks to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process, and you can contact ESA by email using the address in the Links section below.
Important Information
The information published on ESA's careers website regarding internship conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have. The vacancy does not state a stipend or allowance; our guide to paid internships abroad explains how funded traineeships work. You can find more opportunities like this in the internships and traineeships section of Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the In-flight Venous Thrombosis Countermeasures internship based?
The internship is based at EAC in Porz-Wahn, Germany, within the Human Exploration Science Office of ESA's Human and Robotic Exploration Directorate. The vacancy lists Porz-Wahn, DE as the workplace.
What is the deadline to apply?
The closing date is 30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET/CEST. Applications are submitted through the ESA careers website.
What will I work on during this internship?
You will carry out a structured literature review on countermeasures against venous thrombosis during spaceflight. You will evaluate candidate approaches, build comparison tables, create a safety and decision framework, rank the most suitable approaches and propose a validation study for the highest-priority option.
Why is venous thrombosis a risk in spaceflight?
According to the vacancy, microgravity redistributes body fluids and can reduce or reverse venous blood flow, particularly in the head and neck. This promotes venous stasis, one of the main mechanisms of thrombus formation.
Which countermeasures will I evaluate?
The vacancy names lower body negative pressure, venous thigh cuffs, modifications to existing exercise protocols, simple neck-flow interventions, respiratory or positional manoeuvres, and compact compression technologies.
What will I produce?
The primary outputs are an internal report, evidence and technology-readiness matrices, a safety and decision framework, a prioritised shortlist, a validation-study concept and recommendations for updating ESA priorities and the venous thrombosis roadmap. Subject to the maturity and scientific novelty of the work, you will also prepare a manuscript for a peer-reviewed journal.
Who can apply for this internship?
You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of university course at Master's level. You must also be able to prove that you will be enrolled at your university for the entire duration of the internship.
Which nationalities are eligible?
Applications are only considered from nationals of the 27 States named in the vacancy, from Austria and Belgium to Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The full list is in the Eligible Nationalities section above.
When does the internship start and how long does it last?
According to ESA's 2027 student internships announcement, an internship lasts between 3 and 6 months and starts from February 2027, with the exact start date agreed with the ESA tutor. The vacancy describes the work as a six-month analytical project.
Which languages do I need?
The working languages of the Agency are English and French, and a good knowledge of one of them is required. Knowledge of another ESA Member State language is an asset.
Do I need a medical background?
The vacancy lists a background in medicine, human physiology, biomedical engineering, health technology assessment, sports science, or a related field as a desired asset. Good knowledge of cardiovascular physiology, haemodynamics, coagulation, venous thrombosis, or Virchow's triad is also listed as a desired asset.
How many ESA internship vacancies can I apply for?
One candidate can apply for a maximum of 2 vacancies, according to ESA's announcement of its 2027 student internships.
Is the internship paid?
The vacancy does not state a stipend or allowance.
What happens during the selection process?
Your motivation for applying to the role will be explored during the interview. ESA may also ask applicants to undergo selection tests, and applicants must be eligible to access information, technology and hardware subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations.
Deadline
⏳ 30 November 2026
Links
🔗 Full vacancy and application (Apply now): https://jobs.esa.int/job/Porz-Wahn-Intern-in-the-Human-Exploration-Science-Office-In-flight-Venous-Thrombosis-Countermeasures/1452991933/
📘 ESA Student Internships 2027 announcement: https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA/ESA_Student_Internships_2027_are_now_open
🌐 ESA website: http://www.esa.int
📧 ESA student internships contact (diversity and accessibility questions): ESA.Student.Internships@esa.int
