Postdoctoral Researcher in AI for Climate Information Inference / Postdoctoral Researcheress in AI for Climate Information Inference

Postdoctoral Researcher in AI for Climate Information Inference

100%, Zurich, fixed-term

The postdoctoral researcher will advance the use of AI, large language models (LLMs), and machine learning to extract trustworthy climate information from extensive geospatial and Earth system datasets within the NCCR CLIM+ program. This role bridges the fields of climate science and AI, focusing on the development of novel methods for climate data analysis, downscaling, and synthesis utilizing foundation models (e.g., Google Earth AI, AlphaEarth, TerraTorch) on a cutting-edge HPC platform. The researcher will engage in scientific research and build tools and pipelines that benefit the broader CLIM+ community. This position is jointly supervised by Prof. Andreas Prein, Prof. Erich Fischer, and Prof. Reto Knutti at ETH Zurich, along with Prof. Markus Leippold at the University of Zurich.

Project Background

Climate science is generating rapidly growing volumes of satellite, reanalysis, and model data, presenting both new opportunities and significant challenges for converting this data into robust and actionable information. This project aims to develop AI-based methods to extract, synthesize, and interpret reliable climate information from large and complex Earth system datasets as part of the NCCR CLIM+ programme.

Job Description

• Design, develop, and apply AI/ML methods, including large language models (LLMs) and foundation models (Google Earth AI, AlphaEarth, TerraTorch), to extract, synthesize, and reason about trustworthy climate information from extensive geospatial, satellite, reanalysis, and climate model datasets.
• Implement advanced physics-aware machine learning for kilometer-scale climate process representation.
• Evaluate advanced generative AI models for high-resolution climate downscaling, data assimilation, emulation, and post-processing of weather-to-climate predictions.
• Develop methods for uncertainty quantification in downscaled projections of extreme weather and climate hazards.
• Work with multimodal Earth system data, including satellite, airborne, in-situ, reanalysis, and high-resolution climate model outputs.
• Build robust, scalable software tools and data pipelines for processing large geospatial datasets, enabling CLIM+ project partners and the broader research community to leverage AI-driven climate information.
• Maintain reproducible research workflows using modern software engineering practices such as version control, testing, documentation, and containerization.
• Conduct original, publishable scientific research generating novel insights at the intersection of AI and climate science.
• Write and submit peer-reviewed journal papers, present at international conferences, and contribute to NCCR CLIM+ reporting and grant proposals.
• Collaborate closely with research groups at ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich to align AI development with climate science research questions.
• Participate in CLIM+ programme activities, workshops, and cross-project initiatives.
• Contribute to the supervision of students and interns where appropriate.

Profile

• PhD in climate science, atmospheric science, computer science, data science, physics, applied mathematics, remote sensing, or a related field.
• Strong publication record in AI, machine learning, or Earth system data science.
• Experience with large geospatial datasets, remote sensing, reanalyses, or climate/weather model output.
• Proficiency in Python and machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, or JAX.
• Experience with HPC and GPU-accelerated computing.
• Familiarity with foundation models/LLMs and interest in reproducible workflows.
• Independent, proactive, and collaborative working style with strong communication skills.

Workplace

This position provides a stimulating interdisciplinary research environment at the forefront of climate science and AI, fostering collaboration across ETH Zurich, the University of Zurich, and the NCCR CLIM+ network. We offer strong support for career development through mentoring, networking, publications, and conference participation. Additionally, you will have access to state-of-the-art computing infrastructure and unique large-scale climate and geospatial datasets, alongside opportunities to develop your own research ideas and establish an independent scientific profile.

We Value Diversity and Sustainability

ETH Zurich is committed to fostering an inclusive culture that promotes equality of opportunity, values diversity, and nurtures a respectful working and learning environment for all staff and students. Sustainability is a core value, with ongoing efforts toward a climate-neutral future.

Curious? So Are We.

Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

For further information about the Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science, please visit our website. Any inquiries regarding the position should be directed to Andreas Prein (aprein@ethz.ch), Reto Knutti (reto.knutti@env.ethz.ch), or Markus Leippold (markus.leippold@df.uzh.ch) (no applications).

About ETH Zürich

ETH Zurich is one of the world’s leading universities specializing in science and technology, recognized for its excellent education, cutting-edge research, and direct transfer of knowledge to society. With a vibrant community of over 30,000 individuals from more than 120 countries, ETH Zurich promotes independent thinking and inspires excellence. Located in the heart of Europe, we forge connections worldwide to develop solutions for global challenges.