At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed this internship at EUMETSAT Darmstadt: Europe's meteorological satellite agency is offering a 3-month research placement in its Remote Sensing and Products Division, focused on the role of lightning in the ignition of wildfires across the European area. The intern will work at the intersection of satellite-based wildfire monitoring and lightning detection data, within a unique scientific collaboration between EUMETSAT and the JRC Wildfire Team. Applications close on 19 November 2026.
About EUMETSAT
EUMETSAT is Europe's meteorological satellite agency. Its role is to establish and operate meteorological satellites to monitor the weather and climate from space, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This information is supplied to the National Meteorological Services of its Member States across Europe, as well as to other users worldwide.
EUMETSAT also operates several Copernicus missions on behalf of the European Union and provides data services to the Copernicus marine and atmospheric services and their users. As an intergovernmental European organisation, EUMETSAT has 30 Member States.
The Remote Sensing and Products Division
The Remote Sensing and Products Division is the organisational home of this internship. EUMETSAT is one of the leading producers of operational satellite-based wildfire monitoring products for the European area and operates the only space-based lightning detection system over Europe.
The Research Topic: Remote Sensing for Wildfires
The main topic of the internship is the analysis of the role of lightning in the ignition of wildfires in the European area.
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The Scientific Collaboration: EUMETSAT, EFFIS and JRC
🛰️ EUMETSAT: one of the leading producers of operational satellite-based wildfire monitoring products for the European area and operator of the only space-based lightning detection system over Europe
🌲 EFFIS (European Forest Fire Information System): managed by the JRC Wildfire Team; the only source of harmonised historical wildfire information in Europe
🔬 JRC Wildfire Team: provides deep expertise on the scientific and operational exploitation of wildfire and lightning data
Key Data Sources and Instruments
🛰️ MTG-FCI: satellite-based wildfire event data | ⚡ MTG-LI: space-based lightning detection over Europe | 🌲 EFFIS: harmonised historical wildfire records | 📡 National databases and ground-based lightning detection networks
Project Goals
🔍 Explore and analyse relationships between wildfire events and lightning activity
⚡ Analyse the characteristics of the lightning activity and cloud properties for lightning ignition cases
🤖 Potentially develop a prototype for a lightning-ignition risk model using AI/ML techniques
Your Duties
📚 Review literature on remote sensing-based wildfire monitoring and lightning-induced wildfires
🗂️ Identify suitable datasets of satellite-based and ground-based wildfire events and lightning datasets
🔧 Pre-process, filter and prepare datasets for further analysis
📊 Exploration and analysis of relationships between wildfire ignitions and lightning activity
🔬 Analyse lightning, cloud properties and other environmental characteristics around observed lightning ignitions
🤖 Optional: development of a prototype for lightning-ignition risk estimation
Skills and Experience
🗣️ Ability to work effectively in English | 💻 Computer literate | 🌟 Intrinsically motivated and curious | 🤝 Able to work independently and collaboratively | 🚀 Ability to take initiative | 📋 Ability to collect, collate, conceptualise and present information clearly
Advantageous Technical Skills
📡 Knowledge of EO and remote sensing data | 🐍 Programming skills (Python strongly preferred), experience with Linux | 📊 Data analysis and data science techniques | 🧠 AI/ML techniques
Employment Conditions
📆 Length: 3 months | 🗓️ Anticipated start date: 2027 | 📄 Non-disclosure agreement required. Basic background check may be required.
Financial Support
💶 Daily allowance of EUR 25 per day | 🚚 Relocation cost reimbursement up to EUR 400 | 🏠 Accommodation cost reimbursement up to EUR 1,000/month
If you would like to understand how internship financial support packages compare to salary-based traineeships, Youth Works Hub's guide to how paid internships and funded traineeships abroad work provides a clear breakdown.
Eligibility
Open to bachelor and master students with mandatory internship requirements in Remote Sensing, Meteorology, Environmental Science or Data Science.
🌍 Nationality requirement: only nationals of EUMETSAT Member States may apply. The 30 Member States are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the United Kingdom.
Language Requirements
🗣️ Necessary to work effectively in English. French also an official language of EUMETSAT.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the EUMETSAT Remote Sensing for Wildfires internship?
A 3-month research internship in EUMETSAT's Remote Sensing and Products Division in Darmstadt, Germany, focused on analysing the role of lightning in the ignition of wildfires. No salary is paid, but financial support (daily allowance, relocation and accommodation reimbursement) may be provided. Applications close on 19 November 2026.
Who can apply?
Only nationals of EUMETSAT's 30 Member States. Must be bachelor or master students with mandatory internship requirements in Remote Sensing, Meteorology, Environmental Science, Data Science or related discipline.
Is this internship paid?
No salary is paid. However, interns may receive a daily allowance of EUR 25 per day, relocation cost reimbursement up to EUR 400, and accommodation cost reimbursement up to EUR 1,000 per month.
Will there be a background check?
Yes, the internship may require a basic background check and will require a non-disclosure agreement.
Deadline
⏳ 19 November 2026
Link
🔗 Apply via EUMETSAT careers portal: https://eumetsat.onlyfy.jobs/apply/hxy0gc8j9ynr8p078ri506dby6ie71u
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