Postdoctoral Researcher, Earth Observation, AI and Territorial Sustainability

About the role

The African Research Center on Air Quality and Climate (ARC_AIR) of UM6P, located in Benguerir, Morocco, invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher within an interdisciplinary program on climate change, urbanization, resource systems and territorial performance, with a focus on Morocco, Africa and semi-arid to arid regions. The work sits at the intersection of Earth Observation, geospatial analytics, artificial intelligence and climate and sustainability science, aiming to build predictive, decision-oriented and operational frameworks for climate-resilient territories.

Key responsibilities

• Conduct independent and collaborative research leading to publications in high-impact international journals
• Develop and apply advanced geospatial, statistical and AI-based methodologies
• Contribute to international research projects, reports and proposals
• Support the supervision of graduate students and contribute to capacity building
• Engage in interdisciplinary collaboration with researchers, institutions and stakeholders

The research covers six axes: AI-driven territorial diagnostics using multi-source satellite data; climate-water-energy-agriculture interactions; land-use and land-cover change; urban and territorial sustainability indicators and decision-support tools; energy demand and territorial energy metabolism; and urban and peri-urban agriculture as climate-resilient solutions.

Required profile

• PhD in Remote Sensing, Geospatial Sciences, Environmental Science, Climate Science, Data Science, Urban Studies or a related field
• Strong background in Earth Observation data analysis and/or spatial modeling
• Proven ability to publish in high-impact peer-reviewed international journals
• Experience in interdisciplinary or international research projects
• Interest in policy-relevant, impact-oriented research

Required skills

• Machine/deep learning and AI applied to environmental or urban systems
• Familiarity with climate modeling, urban climate, urban agriculture, water resources and energy systems

Candidates must submit a cover letter, CV with publication list, a 1-2 page research statement, one or two representative publications and contact details for two referees.