PhD position on AI-based weather prediction and climate change attribution of extreme events at IGEO-CSIC Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas in Spain

PhD opportunity at IGEO-CSIC, Madrid, Spain

The Physics of Climate and Climate Change group at the Instituto de Geociencias (IGEO, CSIC–UCM) invites applications for a PhD researcher to join the project ADAPT-X – AI-Driven AnticiPated aTtribution of eXtreme events (ref. 2025-T1/ECO-36122). This four-year position starts in Spring 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter, and is hosted in Madrid with access to GPU and high-performance computing resources.

The project investigates how AI-based weather prediction models can improve the prediction and climate-change attribution of extreme events such as heatwaves, heavy precipitation, droughts, and severe storms. The doctoral researcher will evaluate the predictive skill of AI weather models, study how well they represent atmospheric processes, and perform factual and counterfactual forecast experiments to quantify the influence of anthropogenic climate change on individual events. The work also includes examining how the climate-change signal evolves during forecasts, applying dynamical and thermodynamic diagnostics, and comparing AI-based attribution with physics-based numerical weather prediction simulations.

The successful candidate will join the Physics of Climate and Climate Change group at IGEO-CSIC and the STREAM research group at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM). The position includes opportunities for international collaboration and research stays. The salary is approximately €1,655 net per month, depending on personal tax circumstances, with full Spanish Social Security coverage and standard employee benefits.

Eligible applicants should hold, or be close to completing, a Master’s degree that grants access to a PhD programme in atmospheric sciences, meteorology, climate science, physics, applied mathematics, environmental sciences, computer science, data science, or a related quantitative discipline. Strong scientific programming skills, especially in Python, are required. Experience with atmospheric dynamics, numerical modelling, machine learning, or large meteorological datasets would be an advantage. Good written and spoken English is expected.

To apply, send a single PDF by email to [email protected] including a CV, a one-page motivation letter, academic transcripts, and contact details of two referees. Use the subject line “ADAPT-X PhD application – [Candidate name]”. The deadline is 31 December 2026, although applications may be considered after this date until the position is filled.

IGEO-CSIC states its commitment to equal employment opportunities and encourages women to apply.