CRSA - Postdoctoral Researcher Position in Climate Change Adaptation Strategies for African Agriculture

Our laboratory, Center for Remote Sensing Applications (CRSA), is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join our team working on a critical project focused on climate change adaptation in African agriculture.

About UM6P:

Located at the heart of the future Green City of Benguerir, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), a higher education institution with international standards, is established to contribute to the development of Morocco and the African continent. Its vision is honed around research and innovation at the service of education and development. This unique nascent university, with its state-of-the-art campus and infrastructure, has woven a sound academic and research network, and its recruitment process is seeking high quality academics and professionals in order to boost its quality-oriented research environment in the metropolitan area of Marrakech.

About CRSA

CRSA is a transversal structure across several UM6P Programs. Research within the center is organized around several major areas that aim to ensure the challenging Food and Water security goal in Africa, with a special focus on developing methods/tools that use multi-source remotely sensed data. The research aims to improve our understanding of the integrated functioning of continental surfaces and their interaction with climate and humans, with emphasis on sustainable management of natural resources (soil, land, water, agriculture) in the context of Climate Change. One of the center’s goals is to provide a set of services and operational products to users (local, national and international) that aid in the decision support of water and food systems.

Job Summary

The effects of climate change are already being severely felt across Africa, threatening food security and livelihoods for millions of people. Understanding major climate risks, adaptation strategies, and factors influencing the choice of those strategies is crucial to reduce farmers’ vulnerability. This project aims to develop and evaluate innovative strategies for adapting African agricultural systems to a changing climate. We are looking for a passionate researcher to join our team in tackling this complex challenge using remote sensing and climate data.

Key Responsibilities

• You will contribute to research on climate change impacts on African agriculture, including analyzing climate data, integrating remote sensing data to assess crop health, drought stress, and land use changes, and conducting crop modeling and vulnerability assessments.
• You will be involved in developing and testing adaptation strategies that leverage remote sensing data, such as:

• Identifying suitable areas for drought-resistant crop varieties.
• Monitoring water availability and informing water management practices.
• Supporting the development of climate-smart agricultural techniques.

• You will collaborate with a diverse team of scientists, including agronomists, climatologists, remote sensing specialists, and social scientists, to ensure a holistic approach to adaptation.
• You will conduct research, analyze data, write scientific reports and manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
• You will have the opportunity to contribute to grant proposals, participate in field research activities in Africa (depending on project funding and security conditions), and present your findings at scientific conferences.

Experience and Qualifications:

• PhD in Agriculture, Environmental Science, Climate Change, or a closely related field.
• Strong background in agronomy, crop physiology, or related disciplines.
• Experience with remote sensing data analysis techniques for agricultural applications is preferred.
• Experience with climate data analysis and crop modeling techniques is preferred.
• Knowledge of African agriculture and its challenges is a plus.
• Experience working in interdisciplinary research teams is highly desirable.
• Excellent communication, writing, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Fluency in English; fluency in an African language is a plus.

We Offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Opportunity to work on a groundbreaking project with significant impact on African food security.
• Collaborative and stimulating research environment.
• Access to state-of-the-art facilities and resources.
• Opportunity to travel to Africa for field research (depending on project funding and security conditions).
• Opportunity to contribute to scientific publications, presentations, and grant proposals.

To Apply:

Please submit your CV, a cover letter outlining your research experience and interest in the position and contact information for three references.