IWRI - Postdoctoral researcher in hydrological modeling for climate-resilient water systems

About UM6P:

Located at the heart of the future Green City of Benguerir, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), a higher education institution with an international standard, is established to serve 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 to boost its quality-oriented research environment in the metropolitan area of Marrakech. 

About IWRI:

IWRI is a cross-disciplinary research center within UM6P, focusing on addressing the pressing challenges of food and water security in Africa. The institute leverages multi-source remote sensing data to develop innovative methods and tools for sustainable natural resource management. Research at IWRI is centered on understanding the integrated functioning of continental surfaces, their interactions with climate and human activities, and the sustainable management of soil, land, water, and agriculture in the context of climate change. A key objective of IWRI is to deliver actionable insights and operational tools to support decision-making at local, national, and international levels.

Job description:

In Morocco, several river basins depend on snowmelt as a crucial water resource, particularly those with complex karstic upstream regions.  These karst systems, characterized by rapid infiltration and intricate subsurface flows, present significant challenges for accurate snowmelt-runoff modeling. Existing hydrological models often fail to capture these dynamics, leading to uncertainties in water resource forecasting. As climate change continues to alter snow accumulation and melt patterns, there is an urgent need to improve snowmelt-runoff models to ensure sustainable water management. 

Key duties:

The successful candidate will:

• Enhance snow-hydrological models by incorporating diverse eco-environmental variables and advanced modeling techniques.

• Develop and test coupled/hybrid models experiments to evaluate and explore potential model improvements in simulating Moroccan and North African climates.

• Validate models across multiple watersheds to ensure robustness and scalability.

• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to validate findings and contribute to actionable solutions for sustainable water resource management under climate change conditions.

• Publish high-impact research and mentor graduate students.

Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. in Hydrology, Environmental Science, Geosciences, or a related field.

• Strong expertise in hydrological modeling, snow hydrology, remote sensing and GIS applications.

• Experience with coupled/hybrid modeling frameworks, as well as parameter optimization techniques.

• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R for data processing, data analysis and model development.

• Hands-on experience with the use of hydrological and snow models (e.g., SWAT, SMART, SNOW17).

• Familiarity with water resource issues in Morocco, particularly in the High Atlas region, is an advantage.

• Experience in technical aspects related to water resources (e.g., drought, climate change impacts) is welcomed. 

• A strong publication record and good communication skills.

• Experience in mentoring or co-supervising students is highly desirable.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary environment, as well as adapt quickly to new challenges.

Application:
Interested candidates are invited to submit: 

• A detailed CV highlighting relevant experience and publications, 

• A cover letter outlining research interests and motivation for applying,

• Contact information for two professional references.