Call for Applications: Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Climate Change Adaptation and AI

Ednah Carrick September 10, 2025

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Closing Date: 30 September 2025

Call for Applications: Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Climate Change Adaptation and AI

Applications are open for the Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Climate Change Adaptation: evidence synthesis through advanced AI deployment

Overview

The Climate Risk Lab at the University of Cape Town (UCT) is a leading hub for interdisciplinary research on climate adaptation, systemic risk, and evidence synthesis. UCT is expanding its global research programme with a major rollout of AI-driven knowledge synthesis and have dedicated research infrastructure to research synthesis through the African Synthesis Centre for Climate Change, Environment and Development (ASCEND).

UCT invite applications for multiple Postdoctoral Research Fellowships to join its dynamic team. Fellows will contribute to cutting-edge research on climate change adaptation, with a focus on synthesizing global evidence using advanced methodologies including artificial intelligence, systematic reviews, and meta-analysis.

The research project these roles are funded by aims to develop a new generation of digital evidence synthesis tools and showcase their transformational power for the delivery of rigorous living evidence in climate and health that matters to policymakers and other evidence users. UCT will create a living evidence gap map and thematic synthesis of climate-related impacts and co-benefits of actions (for example health and in cities) by advancing automation of traditional mapping methodologies and transferring evidence to evidence-poor areas. UCT will work with local decision-makers on effective evidence transfers, focusing on transferring knowledge to areas with evidence-poor settings by combining empirical and modelling evidence.

The Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (PDRF) is an excellent opportunity for those with interest or experience in adaptation or climate change risk research, and who want to push forward the frontiers understanding the risks and adaptation options globally. The PDRF will be highly motivated to engage with decision-makers in the climate change sectors, and generate high quality, peer-reviewed publications. The PDRF will work in an international team that is a mix of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.

Project research will address the following key objectives:

To leverage advances in artificial intelligence across a broader range of complex evidence synthesis tasks for actionable knowledge on adaptation to climate change.
To will create a living evidence and thematic synthesis of climate-related impacts and co-benefits of actions by advancing automation of traditional mapping methodologies and transferring evidence to evidence
Responding to user needs to develop tailored knowledge synthesis products on key themes such as health, cities, agriculture and biodiversity;
To work with local decision-makers on effective evidence transfers, focusing on transferring knowledge on heat-related mortality and morbidity in cities to evidence-poor settings by combining empirical and modelling evidence.

The overall aim of the project is to link these key objectives in order to provide improved understanding of climate change risks and adaptation. Candidates will be encouraged to develop their own research ideas within the goals of the project and this can be across a variety of themes of knowledge synthesis for climate action. Research will exploit existing data but may also include fieldwork and data collection.

The PDRF will be advised by Dr Nicholas Simpson and Dr Christopher Trisos and will be based at ASCEND and the Climate Risk Lab at the African Climate and Development Initiative at UCT and Offers:

A vibrant research environment at Africa’s leading university.
Opportunities for global collaboration and leadership in climate adaptation science.
Competitive stipend and support for travel, training, and publication.
The PDRF will have access to funding for travel to international meetings and to work with collaborators.
The PDRF will be given the necessary resources for their work: desk and office space, IT and communication infrastructure and may participate in the Emerging Researcher Programme (ERP) and other supportive training at University of Cape Town for early career researchers.
The PDRF will also be part of a team of PDRFs and senior researchers in the Climate Risk Lab working on climate change risks and adaptation across biodiversity, health, education, heritage, and sport as well as the network of postdocs at ASCEND. Interdisciplinary work is encouraged.

Value and tenure:

The value of the fellowship is ZAR 450,000 – 600,000 per year, tax free, for two years, renewable annually subject to performance and funding, and with potential for extension for a further two years. Application for tax exemption of the fellowship stipend will be made by the University of Cape Town.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and contribute to global knowledge synthesis on climate change adaptation and risk.
Apply AI and machine learning tools to automate and enhance evidence synthesis.
Collaborate globally on extending existing global evidence synthesis teams.
Co-author high-impact publications and contribute to policy-relevant outputs.
Engage with international partners and contribute to capacity building.

Academic / experience criteria:

A PhD, awarded within the previous four years or under examination, in a relevant discipline in climate science, environmental studies, public policy, data science, or a related field.
Demonstrated experience in systematic reviews, meta-analysis, or evidence synthesis.
Demonstrated ability to produce peer-reviewed research articles in international journals and collaborative research experience.
Experience in synthesizing and managing diverse datasets (quantitative and/or qualitative data).
Familiarity with AI/ML applications in research synthesis or environmental data analysis.
Familiarity with climate change risk and adaptation research.
Desire and ability to work in an interdisciplinary research team setting.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.