PhD Position in Statistics, AI Weather Models, and Climate Extremes at the University of Geneva
University of Geneva is advertising a
PhD position
at the
Geneva School of Economics and Management (GSEM)
, within the
Research Institute for Statistics and Information Science (RISIS)
. The position is in the research group of
Professor Sebastian Engelke
and sits at the intersection of
statistics
,
extreme value theory
,
machine learning
,
AI weather forecasting models
, and
climate science
.
The project focuses on the
statistical analysis of AI-based weather models
such as
GraphCast
,
AIFS
, and
GenCast
, as well as methods for understanding and predicting
extreme climate and weather events
. The successful candidate will enrol in the
PhD in Statistics
at GSEM and conduct doctoral research on statistical methods for complex extreme events and extrapolation in machine learning methods.
This is also a
Research and Teaching Assistant
appointment at
80%
. In addition to research, the candidate will support teaching at bachelor and master level, including tutorials, exam preparation, grading, and supervision of master’s theses. The contract is renewable for 2 years and the assistantship can last up to 5 years in total.
Eligibility highlights:
Master’s degree in statistics, probability theory, climate science, or a related field; strong interest in extreme value theory, machine learning, climate science, or weather forecasting; excellent Python skills; excellent English; motivation and self-discipline to complete a doctorate.
Application deadline:
31 May 2026 (midnight, Geneva time). Applications must be submitted only through the University of Geneva recruitment portal. A motivation letter, detailed CV with two references, transcripts, and theses if available are required.
Contact:
Professor Sebastian Engelke ([email protected]).