Early Career Researcher in Urban Climate Monitoring and Geospatial Analysis

CMCC Position cod. 12842

Early Career Researcher in Urban Climate Monitoring and Geospatial Analysis

Deadline: November 2nd, 2026

What we are looking for

Are you ready to join a dynamic and interdisciplinary team where your expertise in geospatial analysis and Earth Observation can directly contribute to understanding urban climate and supporting climate adaptation in cities? We are looking for a highly motivated and well-organized Early Career Researcher in Urban Climate Monitoring and Geospatial Analysis, with a background in geomatics, remote sensing, geoinformatics, environmental or earth sciences, engineering, or related fields, and a demonstrated interest in urban climate, climate change impacts, and the use of geospatial data to support adaptation.

The ideal candidate is developing experience in the processing and analysis of satellite and geospatial data for the characterisation of urban thermal conditions, with a particular focus on land surface temperature, surface urban heat island, land cover and land use dynamics, and their interaction with urban morphology and green infrastructure. The position requires the ability to move from raw Earth Observation data to consistent, validated, and decision-relevant indicators for urban areas.

The candidate should demonstrate familiarity with GIS environments and spatial analysis, with the processing of multispectral and thermal satellite imagery, and with approaches for validating satellite-derived products against in-situ observations. Initial experience in the development of reproducible geospatial workflows, in image classification, or in the construction of spatial indicators for urban areas will be highly valued.

An understanding of how geospatial evidence feeds into urban climate risk assessment, adaptation planning, and the design of heat mitigation measures is particularly relevant. The candidate should be able to work across disciplines, connecting remote sensing, urban climate, and climate services. Familiarity with programming for geospatial data analysis (preferably Python), machine learning applied to Earth Observation, climate model or reanalysis data, and high-resolution urban datasets is considered an asset. Strong analytical and organizational skills, accuracy in data handling, the ability to manage multiple priorities, and proactive engagement with interdisciplinary teams and external partners are highly valued.

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 Early Career Researcher will be part of the REMHI Division – Regional Models and geo-Hydrological Impacts, reporting to the Division Director, and will contribute to research and innovation activities focused on urban climate monitoring, Earth Observation, and geospatial analysis in support of climate adaptation in urban areas.

The role focuses on the use of satellite and geospatial data to characterise urban thermal conditions and their drivers, supporting the development of methodologies, indicators, and datasets for the assessment of surface urban heat island, land cover dynamics, and the cooling potential of green and blue infrastructure. The Early Career Researcher will contribute to activities related to Earth Observation data processing, land surface temperature retrieval and validation, land cover classification, and the construction of spatial indicators, helping turn satellite-derived information into evidence usable in urban climate risk assessment and adaptation activities.

The Early Career Researcher will be involved in European research and innovation projects, including Horizon Europe initiatives, as well as in collaborations with national authorities, regional and local public administrations, and other institutional stakeholders, contributing to the development and application of geospatial approaches for urban climate analysis and adaptation.

Responsibilities

The Early Career Researcher in Urban Climate Monitoring and Geospatial Analysis will support the research activities of the REMHI Division, with the following tasks, with:

Support the acquisition, pre-processing, and harmonisation of satellite and geospatial datasets for urban areas, including multispectral and thermal imagery from missions such as Landsat, Sentinel, and MODIS;

Contribute to the retrieval, quality assessment, and analysis of land surface temperature and surface urban heat island indicators, including the assessment of methodological choices and their effect on results;

Support land cover and land use classification and change analysis, and the assessment of how land cover configuration, urban morphology, and vegetation influence urban thermal conditions;

Contribute to the validation and comparison of satellite-derived products against in-situ observations, reanalysis, and other reference datasets;

Support the development of reproducible geospatial workflows and processing chains, preferably in Python, and contribute to the organisation and documentation of geospatial databases;

Contribute to the definition and computation of spatial indicators for urban climate and heat exposure, at the spatial scales relevant to planning and adaptation;

Support the analysis of heat mitigation and adaptation options, including the cooling potential of green and blue infrastructure and nature-based solutions;

Contribute to the integration of Earth Observation evidence with climate projections and urban climate risk assessments developed within the Division;

Produce maps, geospatial datasets, figures, and visualisations for scientific and technical use, and for communication to public authorities and non-specialist audiences;

Support the preparation of technical reports, project deliverables, scientific publications, presentations, and other knowledge-transfer activities, and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams across climate science, urban planning, engineering, and digital technologies.

Requirements

MSc / Laurea Magistrale in Geomatics, Geoinformatics, Remote Sensing, Geographical or Environmental Sciences, Earth Sciences, Environmental or Civil Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline. Candidates at an advanced stage of a doctoral programme in a relevant field (with the thesis submitted or close to completion) are particularly encouraged to apply;

Research or professional experience in GIS and spatial analysis, with proficiency in QGIS and/or ArcGIS, including raster and vector data processing, georeferencing, and cartographic production;

Experience in the processing of satellite imagery and Earth Observation data, including multispectral and thermal data, and in land cover classification;

Knowledge of urban climate processes, with particular reference to urban heat island, land surface temperature, and the role of land cover and vegetation in urban thermal regimes;

Programming skills for geospatial data analysis and workflow automation, preferably in Python;

Ability to handle large and heterogeneous spatial datasets with accuracy, and to document and reproduce processing workflows;

Experience with machine learning applied to image classification or with the validation of satellite products against in-situ measurements is considered an asset;

Familiarity with climate model output, reanalysis, or climate projection data, and with their use in urban climate applications, is considered an asset;

Experience with European or international research projects (e.g. Horizon Europe) and/or a track record of scientific publications in remote sensing, geomatics, or urban climate is considered an asset;

Call details

• Institution: CMCC Foundation
• Call code: 12842
• Application deadline: 02/11/2026