ARC_AIR - Postdoctoral Position in Earth Observation, AI, and Territorial Sustainability

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. This approach enables UM6P to strengthen Morocco s leadership in these areas through a unique model based on partnerships and by fostering the development of skills essential for Africa s future.

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. ARC_AIR s mission is to support sustainable development in Africa through high-impact research, capacity building, and technology transfer. The center brings together a multidisciplinary team of researchers, engineers, and students working on addressing environmental challenges such as industrial emissions, urban pollution, and climate change impacts.
ARC_AIR also collaborates closely with national and international partners to strengthen Africa s contribution to global atmospheric science and to develop tools and strategies that guide evidence-based policymaking.

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.

The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to cutting-edge research at the intersection of Earth Observation, geospatial analytics, artificial intelligence, climate and sustainability science, aiming to develop predictive, decision-oriented, and operational frameworks for climate-resilient and sustainable territories.

Research Scope and Objectives

The successful candidate will contribute to the following research axes:

• 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

By joining this program, the postdoctoral researcher is expected to:

• 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

Candidate Profile

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