12776 - 2 Researchers in Paleoclimate Modelling

CMCC Position cod. 12776
2 Researchers in Paleoclimate Modelling
Deadline: December 15th, 2025

What We Are Looking For
We are seeking two highly motivated and skilled postdoctoral researchers to join the climate modelling team of the ERC Synergy Grant project EUROpest. This ambitious six-year interdisciplinary project investigates how social-ecological systems shaped epidemic disease dynamics in preindustrial Europe (1300–1800), combining historical, archaeological, ecological, genomic, and climatic data. Grounded in resilience theory and actor-network approaches, EUROpest advances a novel eco-bio-social framework to capture the complex, multicausal dynamics of disease emergence, transmission, and societal response. The international consortium includes leading partners from Poland, Germany, the United States, Latvia, Spain, and France.

The successful candidates will be responsible for developing and executing high-resolution paleoclimate simulations over Europe and the Mediterranean using fully forced, coupled Regional Climate Models (RCMs), in combination with, or alternatively, high-resolution Earth System Models (ESMs), covering the last millennium. Simulations will follow the latest PMIP7 protocol and contribute directly to EUROpest's interdisciplinary efforts to identify causal pathways between climate variability and plague outbreaks. Working at CMCC, a leading institution in Earth system modelling and climate services, the researchers will be supervised by Dr. Elena Xoplaki and embedded in a team closely collaborating with EUROpest partners, including the climate reconstruction group at CMCC and the landscape reconstruction team at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. Together, they will compare paleoclimate simulations with reconstructed fields to evaluate consistency, identify biases, and assess the robustness of regional climate signals. We are looking for two researchers excited to work at the intersection of paleoclimatology and historical epidemiology in a dynamic, international research environment.

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.

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

To learn more about this opportunity and submit your application, please refer to the following:
ROLE
The two researchers will play a central part in EUROpest's climate modelling activities by designing and conducting high-resolution paleoclimate simulations over Europe and the Mediterranean for the period 1300–1800 CE/last millennium. These simulations will be based on fully forced, climate models, such as ICON-CLM, in combination with high-resolution Earth System Models (ICON-XPP). Simulations will follow the most recent PMIP7 protocol and include changes of external forcings of solar, volcanic, orbital, greenhouse gas concentrations, and land-use, to ensure a physically realistic representation of past climate variability. The researchers will play an active role in advancing and developing the state of the art in paleoclimate modelling. They will explore alternative modelling strategies, evaluate model performance, and develop output suitable for comparison with proxy-based climate reconstructions and historical landscape data. This modelling effort is closely integrated with the climate reconstruction work at CMCC and of EUROpest partner at Nicolaus Copernicus University, providing a rare opportunity to link simulation outputs directly to ongoing interdisciplinary research on disease dynamics, landscape change, and human responses to environmental stressors. The position offers a stimulating research environment and the opportunity to contribute to a major ERC-funded initiative at the cutting edge of climate and historical sciences, while publishing your findings in high-impact journals and presenting them at leading international conferences. The position is embedded in the CLIVAP division of CMCC.

Responsibilities
Climate Model Development and Simulation

• Design and execute high-resolution regional climate simulations over Europe and the Mediterranean for the period 1300–1800 CE and/or last millennium
• Implement and adjust external forcings following PMIP7 protocols, including solar, volcanic, orbital, greenhouse gases, and land-use/land-cover changes
• Downscale global model output to bridge the gap between large-scale climate patterns and regional societal processes
• Develop, test and optimize model configurations using RCMs (e.g., ICON-CLM) or high-resolution ESMs (ICON-XPP)

Data Analysis and Evaluation

• Analyze model output across seasons and climate indices (temperature, precipitation, drought, and extremes)
• Compare simulation results with high-resolution climate reconstructions from EUROpest partners
• Evaluate model–data consistency, identify systematic biases, and assess the robustness of regional climate signals
• Contribute to uncertainty quantification and validation of simulations against proxy-based datasets and documentary evidence

Scientific Communication and Integration

• Collaborate closely with interdisciplinary EUROpest teams (climate reconstruction, landscape archaeology, historical epidemiology), and institutional partners across Europe and the US
• Support the integration of climate modelling results in eco-bio-social analyses of historical disease outbreaks
• Prepare high-quality scientific publications and contribute to joint project deliverables
• Present research findings at international conferences, workshops, and internal project meetings

Requirements

• PhD in climate/atmospheric/ocean science, geosciences, physics or a related discipline
• Profound experience with regional and/or global climate models (e.g., ICON-CLM, COSMO-CLM, WRF, comprehensive Earth System Models (e.g., ICON-XPP))
• Familiarity with land–sea–atmosphere coupling and development of modules for high-resolution downscaling
• Experience in model–data comparison and paleoclimate evaluation techniques using mutlivariate statistical (and AI) tools
• Proficiency in scientific computing, high-performance computing (HPC), and scripting (e.g., Python, Bash, CDO/NCO)
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills
• Excellent written and oral communication in English
• Proven ability to work both independently and as part of an interdisciplinary, international research team
• Willingness to take responsibility, show initiative, and contribute actively to the research agenda and development of the group
• Interest in historical climatology, paleoclimate–society interactions, or interdisciplinary climate research
• Proven publication record in climate science or modelling

Duration, Compensation & Benefits

• Please note that this opportunity will be issued both internally and externally
• The Managers will be based in the Bologna CMCC office
• The appointment period will be initially of 24 months starting from 2025, Oct./Nov., with a gross annual salary range of – Euros depending on post-doctoral experience. Tenure can be granted from 2 to 4 years after being appointed as a junior researcher
• Welfare package, for minimum 12 months contract
• Flexible working time as per internal policies
• Support during the immigration process, if needed

PROTECTED CATEGORY
Belonging to legally protected categories (ex L. 68/99) will constitute a preferential condition.

Some fiscal benefits could be applied for repatriated workers or foreign researchers/professors, having the requirements defined by Dlgs 147/2015 (for repatriates) or Dl 78/2010 (for foreigners).

CMCC is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, familial status, and other legally protected characteristics. Please omit from your CV any data you or we might consider discriminatory.

This job announcement is an invitation to express interest in the above-mentioned CMCC Position.