12790 - Early Career Post Graduate Researchers

**CMCC Position cod. 12790**
**Early career post graduate researchers - Civil, Environmental and Geo Engineer - Climate-Water-Energy Modelling and System Resilience**
Deadline: November 15th, 2025

**WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR**

We are seeking two highly motivated and talented recent early career post graduate researchers in Environmental Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Physics to contribute to the development and integration of the hydrological component within large-scale energy system models (e.g., _PyPSA_, _MACRO_).
The main objective is to make these models dynamic and sensitive to hydro-climatic variability, enabling a more realistic and time-varying representation of water availability, hydropower generation, and reservoir operations under both current and future climate conditions.
By embedding hydrological processes and feedbacks, the new modelling framework will provide a more accurate assessment of seasonal patterns, climate variability, and long-term change, and their implications for energy planning, system flexibility, and associated costs.
A further dimension of the work will involve considering the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with large dams and reservoirs, to better quantify their climate footprint and integrate these effects into the broader assessment of energy system decarbonization pathways.
The research will combine data analysis, process-based modelling, and software development, ultimately producing a robust, open-source module suitable for use in regional to continental-scale studies of energy transition and climate resilience.
This position offers a unique opportunity to work at the interface between hydrology, climate science, and energy systems, and to contribute to the next generation of climate

**ABOUT US**

CMCC Foundation is a cross-cutting **scientific** research center on climate change and its interactions with the environment, society, the world of business, and policymakers. Our work aims to stimulate sustainable growth, protect the environment, and develop strategies for the adaptation and mitigation of climate change. CMCC's core objective is to conduct cutting-edge science, to train the next generation of scientists at both national and international levels, and to be a beacon for climate modelling.

The European Institute in Economics and the Environment (EIEE) is one of the three institutes of CMCC. It was established in 2018 in a trans-Atlantic partnership with Resources for the Future (RFF). It is one of the leading research centers on climate economics, featuring a diverse and international team of economists and natural scientists.

CMCC pursues fundamental and applied science with utmost scientific integrity, prioritizing data-driven science and providing data, information, and research results that can support informed public debate and decision-making processes. To achieve climate research objectives at the highest international standards, we invest in training all our talents, and strive to create a workplace where everyone can excel.

At CMCC you will find a strong, professional environment. Join an inclusive community that values diversity, where every voice is heard and respected. Help foster a culture of innovation and societal change, where individuals from all backgrounds can thrive and succeed.

Over the last decade, CMCC has experienced extraordinary growth. We are now embarking on a new chapter of our journey that will further boost CMCC’s global position in climate change research Together

**ROLE**

**RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Select a representative case study area and collect relevant hydrological and energy data.
- Develop a high-resolution benchmark for hydropower performance using operational and process-based models.
- Design and implement an autonomous reservoir operation and routing module, dependent on key system variables (e.g., reservoir level, inflow, storage).
- Integrate the new hydrological module into existing energy system models (PyPSA and MACRO).
- Perform extensive testing and validation of model performance and scalability.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and contribute to reports and publications.
- Contribute to the objectives of the EIEE Institute.

**REQUIREMENTS**

** Required qualifications**
- MSc in Environmental Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or related field.
- Strong programming skills (Python required; experience with modelling frameworks is an asset).
- Background in hydrology, energy systems, or environmental modelling.
- Excellent written and spoken English.

**Preferred qualifications**
- Knowledge of hydropower systems and/or reservoir operation models.
- Motivation to work in a multidisciplinary and international environment.
- Good communication skills.

**DURATION, COMPENSATION & BENEFITS**
- The positions will be based in Milan CMCC office.
- The appointment period will be initially 12 months, renewable pending a positive evaluation.
- Contract and gross annual salary