ARC_AIR - Postdoctoral Position in Earth Observation, AI, and Territorial Sustainability Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in

The African Research Center on Air Quality and Climate (ARC_AIR) at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Morocco is offering a postdoctoral position focused on Earth Observation, Artificial Intelligence, and Territorial Sustainability. UM6P is a leading research institution in Africa, committed to economic and human development through innovation and partnerships. Located in Benguerir’s Green City, UM6P aims to make a lasting impact at national, continental, and global levels.

ARC_AIR is dedicated to advancing scientific understanding and innovative solutions in air quality, atmospheric chemistry, and climate. Its mission is to support sustainable development in Africa via high-impact research, capacity building, and technology transfer. The center brings together a multidisciplinary team to address environmental challenges such as industrial emissions, urban pollution, and climate change, collaborating with national and international partners to strengthen Africa’s contribution to global atmospheric science and evidence-based policymaking.

The postdoctoral researcher will join an interdisciplinary program focusing on integrated analysis of climate change, urbanization, resource systems, and territorial performance, with emphasis on Morocco, Africa, and semi-arid to arid regions. Research will be at the intersection of Earth Observation, geospatial analytics, AI, climate and sustainability science, aiming to develop predictive, decision-oriented, and operational frameworks for climate-resilient and sustainable territories.

Key research axes include 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 at multiple scales; and urban/peri-urban agriculture as climate-resilient solutions.

The successful candidate 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 supervision of graduate students, and engage in interdisciplinary collaboration with researchers, institutions, and stakeholders.

Applicants must have a PhD in Remote Sensing, Geospatial Sciences, Environmental Science, Climate Science, Data Science, Urban Studies, or related fields, with strong experience in Earth Observation data analysis and/or spatial modeling, publication in high-impact journals, and expertise in machine/deep learning or AI applied to environmental or urban systems. Familiarity with climate modeling, urban climate, urban agriculture, water resources, and energy systems, as well as experience in interdisciplinary or international research projects, is required. Interest in policy-relevant and impact-oriented research is also expected.

To apply, candidates should submit a cover letter, CV (including publication list), research statement (1–2 pages), one or two representative publications, and contact information for two referees. Applications can be submitted via the provided link. The application deadline is unspecified.