Host Institution

Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) is an institution dedicated to research and innovation in Africa, aiming to position itself among the world s leading universities in its fields. The University is committed to economic and human development and places research and innovation at the heart of Africa s progress.

Located in the municipality of Benguerir, at the heart of the Green City, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University aspires to make a lasting impact at the national, continental, and global levels.

About ARC_AIR African Research Center on Air Quality and Climate

The African Research Center on Air Quality and Climate (ARC_AIR) is a research unit within UM6P dedicated to advancing scientific understanding and innovative solutions in the fields of air quality, atmospheric chemistry, and climate.

Research Area

• Earth Observation
• Artificial Intelligence
• Climate Change
• Urban and Territorial Sustainability
• Water Energy Food Nexus

Position Description

African Research Center on Air Quality and Climate (ARC_AIR) of UM6P invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher position within an interdisciplinary research program focusing on the integrated analysis of climate change, urbanization, resource systems, and territorial performance, with a particular emphasis on Morocco, Africa, and semi-arid to arid regions.

Research Scope and Objectives

• AI-driven territorial diagnostics and foresight, integrating multi-source satellite data with machine learning and spatial modeling
• Climate water energy agriculture interactions, with applications to water scarcity, urban heat stress, air quality, and territorial resilience
• Land-use and land-cover change (LULCC) and its impacts on surface climate, ecosystem services, and socio-economic systems
• Urban and territorial sustainability indicators, observatories, and decision-support tools for policy and planning
• Energy demand and territorial energy metabolism, including building-scale, urban-scale and territorial-scale assessments
• Urban and peri-urban agriculture as climate-resilient territorial solutions

Expected Contributions

• 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

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Remote Sensing, Geospatial Sciences, Environmental Science, Climate Science, Data Science, Urban Studies, or related fields
• Strong background in Earth Observation data analysis and/or spatial modeling
• Proven ability to publish in high impact peer-reviewed international journals
• Experience with machine/deep learning / AI applied to environmental or urban systems
• Familiarity with climate modeling, urban climate, urban agriculture, water resources, and energy systems
• Experience working in interdisciplinary or international research projects
• Interest in policy-relevant and impact-oriented research

Application Procedure

Interested candidates should submit the following documents:

1. Cover letter outlining research interests and motivation
2. Curriculum Vitae (including publication list)
3. Research statement (1 2 pages) describing alignment with the research program
4. One or two representative publications
5. Contact information of two referees