Postdoctoral Researcher – Hazardous Heat and Climate Change in West Africa Aix-Marseille Université in France

Postdoctoral Researcher position in Hazardous Heat and Climate Change in West Africa at Aix-Marseille Université (AMU), based in Marseille, France. The post is hosted at the Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Campus Timone, within the SESSTIM research unit and the QuanTIM team, an interdisciplinary environment spanning epidemiology, public health, statistics, computer science, and data science.

The project, Heat Extremes & Risk Observatory – Ghana (HERO-GH), addresses hazardous heat as an urgent climate and health challenge in Ghana and the wider West African region. The research combines high-resolution meteorological observations, atmospheric modeling, remote sensing, and climate-change attribution to better understand how temperature, humidity, and land cover interact to shape exposure to dangerous heat. The work has direct relevance for climate adaptation, heat early-warning systems, public-health planning, and risk assessment.

The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to one or more of three work packages: WP1 on monitoring hazardous heat with in-situ sensors deployed across households, shops, fields, schools, and health clinics in Ghana; WP2 on land cover and land use effects using WRF modeling and high-resolution land-surface datasets; and WP3 on climate-change attribution of extreme heat events using factual and counterfactual simulations. Depending on expertise, responsibilities may include sensor deployment, analysis of meteorological and remote-sensing datasets, evaluation of climate reanalysis and forecast products, regional/high-resolution atmospheric modeling, hazard mapping, and epidemiological analysis related to heat exposure and health.

The successful candidate will work closely with researchers in France and with the Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC) in Ghana, a leading institution for policy-relevant health research in West Africa. HERO-GH also aims to produce peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, policy engagement, capacity building activities, and an international conference on heat and health focused on West Africa and the Mediterranean.

This is a full-time temporary postdoctoral position for two years, with the possibility of a one-year extension subject to available funding. The advertised gross salary is €2,616.35/month, depending on qualification and experience. The anticipated start date is 1 January 2027.

Applicants should hold a PhD or equivalent in climate science, atmospheric science, geography, environmental science, environmental health, or a related field. Strong experience in extreme heat or heat stress research, Python, WRF or other climate/atmospheric models, climate reanalysis data, and high-performance computing is especially relevant. Strong English scientific writing and communication skills are required.

To apply, candidates should email a CV and a motivation letter (maximum 2 pages) describing interest in the project and intended contribution. The application deadline is 10 November 2026 at 17:00 CET. Shortlisted finalists are expected to be interviewed in early November, with a decision intended by mid-November.