The University of Cape Town has announced applications for two prestigious Postdoctoral Research Fellowships focused on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in climate science and climate risk management.

The fellowships will be hosted by the Climate System Analysis Group within the Department of Environmental and Geographical Science at UCT.

The positions are supported through the Quadrature Climate Foundation Postdoctoral Science Fellowship Programme, which funds early-career researchers conducting high-impact climate adaptation research.

The initiative aims to strengthen research capacity at the intersection of AI, climate science, policy, and humanitarian action, particularly within the African context.

Research Focus on Climate Risk and Artificial Intelligence

The fellowships are designed for researchers interested in applying AI and ML technologies to pressing climate-related challenges.

According to the announcement, successful fellows will work on areas including:

Climate vulnerability modeling and mapping
Extreme weather forecasting and prediction
Climate impact modeling
Anticipatory action and humanitarian response
Climate adaptation and resilience planning
AI-supported climate risk management systems

Researchers will also examine broader issues associated with AI deployment, including ethics, algorithmic bias, explainability, and responsible use of data.

The Climate System Analysis Group says the program seeks to develop innovative approaches that combine climate science with practical decision-making tools for vulnerable communities and policymakers.

Three Major Research Challenge Areas

The fellowship program identifies three major thematic areas for potential research.

1. Translating Climate Science into Actionable Decision-Making

The first challenge area focuses on improving how climate science and climate modeling outputs are translated into practical information for climate risk management.

Potential research topics include:

Climate risk narratives and storytelling frameworks
Integration of climate models with social and economic vulnerability data
Compounding and cascading climate-related events
Seasonal to long-term climate risk analysis
Humanitarian and policy applications of climate science

This work builds on previous climate risk narrative research developed through international climate adaptation programs.

2. AI and Machine Learning Applications in Climate Risk Management

The second focus area examines the opportunities and risks of applying AI and ML to climate science and disaster preparedness.

Research opportunities include:

AI-assisted forecasting systems
Vulnerability and exposure analysis
Climate impact prediction models
Automated climate data interpretation
Ethical AI frameworks for climate applications

The program also encourages critical research into potential risks associated with AI systems, including bias, errors, hallucinations, and transparency concerns.

3. Climate Risk Management Across Timescales

The third thematic area addresses the growing concern that short-term climate responses may unintentionally increase long-term vulnerability or maladaptation.

Potential research areas include:

Aligning disaster risk reduction with climate adaptation policy
Long-term climate resilience planning
Integrated approaches to humanitarian response and adaptation
Multi-timescale climate information systems
Strategies to reduce maladaptation risks in vulnerable communities

Researchers will be encouraged to develop evidence-based approaches that bridge short-term disaster management and long-term climate adaptation planning.

Fellowship Structure and Research Environment

Successful fellows will spend their first three months working closely with researchers from the Climate System Analysis Group and the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre to refine their research focus.

The fellowship offers access to a multidisciplinary research environment that spans:

Climate modeling
Hydrology and agricultural systems
Vulnerability and resilience studies
Social science and adaptation research
High-performance computing infrastructure

Fellows will also engage with humanitarian and policy-focused work through the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, gaining exposure to topics such as:

Anticipatory humanitarian action
Social protection systems
Climate and conflict dynamics
Humanitarian policy and resilience planning

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must have completed a doctorate within the past five years and must not previously have held a full-time permanent academic or professional post.

Eligible academic backgrounds include:

Climate science and forecasting
Climate system analysis
Machine learning and data science
Artificial intelligence development or applications

Applicants are expected to demonstrate:

Strong research and publication records
Excellent English communication skills
Interdisciplinary collaboration experience
Commitment to climate justice and adaptation in Africa

Additional desirable skills include:

Advanced Python programming
Scientific visualization expertise
Knowledge of explainable AI and AI ethics
Teaching or training experience

Applicants must also have legal authorization to reside and work in South Africa, as visa sponsorship is not available for the positions.

Fellowship Funding and Benefits

The fellowship provides substantial research support for a two-year period.

Key benefits include:

Annual funding between R500,000 and R540,000
Additional support for conference travel and research activities
Access to IT and high-performance computing resources
Tax-exempt fellowship funding under South African regulations

The fellowship does not include employment benefits such as medical aid or retirement contributions.

Application Process and Deadline

Applicants are required to submit the following in a single PDF document:

A motivation letter outlining research interests and suitability
A detailed academic CV
Publication records and scholarly outputs
Contact details for two academic referees
A published writing sample

Applications and enquiries should be sent to Dr Christopher Jack at cd.jack@uct.ac.za with the subject line:

“QCF PDRF Fellowship”

The University of Cape Town has stated that it reserves the right to reject incomplete or ineligible applications or to make no appointments.

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding