Postdoc in AI Tools for Coastal Climate Change Adaptation

About the role

Delft University of Technology is hiring a postdoctoral researcher to build AI and digital tools for coastal climate change adaptation as part of the HARCCA (Harnessing AI for Resilient Coastal Climate Adaptation) project. HARCCA develops AI-driven decision-support systems for coastal managers facing climate uncertainty. Supervisors: Dr. Maria Pregnolato (m.pregnolato@tudelft.nl) and Dr. Sierd de Vries (sierd.devries@tudelft.nl). Expected start: 1 October 2026. Application deadline: 1 June 2026.

Responsibilities

• Develop machine learning and AI models for probabilistic climate risk assessment of coastal infrastructure.
• Build digital decision-support tools that help coastal managers evaluate adaptation options under uncertainty.
• Integrate datasets from hydrodynamic models, remote sensing (Copernicus, Sentinel), and field monitoring.
• Publish results in peer-reviewed journals in climate, coastal engineering, and applied AI.
• Contribute to stakeholder workshops and European project deliverables across partner institutions.

Requirements

• PhD in civil engineering, coastal engineering, environmental science, climate science, or a computational field with demonstrated application to physical systems.
• Programming skills in Python or Julia, with hands-on experience in machine learning or probabilistic methods.
• Background in at least one of: climate change adaptation, hydrology, hydrodynamics, or coastal dynamics.
• Good written English.

Nice to have

• Experience with digital twin frameworks or physics-informed machine learning.
• Familiarity with European coastal data sources (Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service, ECMWF).
• Prior postdoctoral experience.
• Knowledge of Dutch or willingness to learn.

How to apply

Apply via the TU Delft careers portal at the link above before 1 June 2026. Include a CV, cover letter, a list of publications, and contact details for two references. Online interviews are scheduled for early July 2026 for shortlisted candidates.