Associate Researcher / Researcher / Senior Researcher – AI Weather and Climate Prediction

Job Description

The University of the Witwatersrand invites suitably qualified and experienced applicants to apply for the position of Associate Researcher / Researcher / Senior Researcher to support the FineCast project, an interdisciplinary research initiative focused on developing AI-driven weather and seasonal forecasting systems for Africa. FineCast aims to advance the frontier of artificial intelligence for weather and climate prediction by adapting global AI weather models and seasonal forecasting systems to data-sparse regions across Africa. The project integrates satellite observations, reanalysis datasets, seasonal climate products, and local meteorological station data to improve forecast skill for precipitation, temperature, and extreme events across medium-range and seasonal forecasting timescales. The position will be hosted within the School of Statistics and Actuarial Science at the University of the Witwatersrand, which hosts a growing research programme in AI for climate risk modelling and climate intelligence, supported in part by the Bezos Earth Fund. This programme focuses on developing machine learning methods for weather forecasting, seasonal prediction, climate risk modelling, and climate-impact analytics relevant to African institutions. The successful candidate will conduct scientific research at the intersection of machine learning, numerical weather prediction, and climate science, contributing to the development and evaluation of new methods for weather prediction, seasonal forecasting, and forecast verification in African contexts. Appointment will be made at the Associate Researcher, Researcher, or Senior Researcher level depending on qualifications and experience.

How to Apply

Only applicants who meet the minimum requirements should apply by submitting a letter of motivation that includes experience in climate modelling, a statement of research interests, and an outline of future research plans, full Curriculum Vitae (CV) and names and contact details of at least three referees. External applicants are invited to apply, by registering their profile on the Wits i-recruitment platform located at https://irec.wits.ac.za and submitting their application. Internal employees are invited to apply directly on Oracle by following the path: iWits /Self Service application/" Apply for a job".