Fully Funded PhD in Deep Learning for Ocean Climate Modelling at Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Spain Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC) in Spain

A fully funded PhD position is available at the Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC) in Palma, Spain, focusing on Deep Learning for Ocean Climate Modelling. This opportunity is part of the DOMOMED National Research Project and is supervised by Dr. Gabriel Jordà. The research aims to bridge the gap between Physical Oceanography and Artificial Intelligence by expanding novel hybrid downscaling methods and developing statistical Ocean Model (OM) emulators.

The selected candidate will conduct cutting-edge research at the intersection of AI, physical oceanography, and climate science. Main research tasks include adapting and applying advanced Deep Learning techniques (such as Neural Networks and Sparse Gaussian Processes) to reproduce complex ocean variables. The project will push the state-of-the-art by modelling high-impact processes like ocean circulation, oxygen levels, pH, and primary production. A significant component involves applying Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) techniques to improve the transparency and robustness of climate projections.

The position offers extensive training and mobility opportunities, including three international research stays (one per year) at prestigious institutions such as MIT (Cambridge), CNRS (Toulouse), IFCA (Santander), or Sorbonne University (Paris). The candidate will also participate in specialized summer schools (e.g., CROCO, ROMS) and workshops (ICLR, ESA-ECMWF), and present results at international forums (MedCLIVAR, CLIVAR-Spain) with the goal of publishing in high-impact SCI journals.

Applicants should have a strong background in machine learning, statistics, numerical modelling, or related fields, and a passion for ocean modelling, climate science, or artificial intelligence. Application materials include a CV, transcripts, and a motivation letter. The deadline for applications is 15 January 2026. For more information or to apply, contact Dr. Gabriel Jordà at [email protected].

This PhD position is ideal for candidates seeking interdisciplinary research experience in environmental science, computer science, and earth science, with a focus on the application of AI to pressing climate and oceanographic challenges.