12775 - Researcher in Paleoclimate Reconstructions in Europe

CMCC Position cod. 12775
       Researcher in Paleoclimate Reconstructions in Europe
Deadline: November 15th, 2025

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled researcher to join the ERC Synergy Grant project EUROpest (A Novel Understanding of Pandemic Disease in Preindustrial Europe (1300–1800): Combining History, Machine Learning and Natural Sciences). EUROpest is an ambitious six-year interdisciplinary project that integrates social and natural science data and methods to study historical plague outbreaks and explores how social-ecological systems shaped epidemic disease dynamics in preindustrial Europe. Informed by resilience theory and actor-network approaches, the project advances a novel eco-bio-social framework to capture the complex, multi-causal dynamics of disease emergence, transmission, and societal impact Partners of EUROpest includes institutions from Poland, the Max Planck Society and Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., Latvia, Spain, and France.
The successful candidate will generate seasonal to monthly reconstructions of temperature and precipitation, providing essential climate context for regional case studies of plague and other epidemic diseases. This work will draw on historical records, archaeology, paleoecology, paleoclimatology, and human-supervised machine learning to uncover how environmental and societal factors jointly influenced past outbreaks, and how this knowledge can inform future pandemic preparedness. The candidate will also compare reconstructed climate fields with high-resolution paleoclimate simulations (from regional or Earth system models) to evaluate consistency, identify biases, and assess the robustness of regional climate signals. We are looking for a candidate excited to work at the intersection of paleoclimatology and historical epidemiology within a dynamic, international renowed research team.



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

As a researcher in the EUROpest project (PI Elena Xoplaki), you will play a key role in developing and refining high-resolution and high quality seasonal to monthly reconstructions of temperature and precipitation across Europe for the period 1300–1800 CE. Drawing on newly compiled natural and documentary proxy records, you will apply cutting-edge climate field reconstructions methodologies, and AI/ML optimization algorithms, to produce spatially and temporally detailed climate fields with quantified uncertainties. You will compare reconstructed climate fields with high-resolution paleoclimate simulations (e.g., RCM or ESM outputs) to evaluate consistency, detect biases, and assess the robustness of regional climate signals. You will collaborate closely with an interdisciplinary team of historians, climatologists, archaeologists, paleoecologists, modellers and data scientists to ensure that the paleo information will inform regional analyses of disease dynamics and socio-environmental change. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to theoretical and methodological advancements in historical climatology 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 Reconstructions

• Collect and curate new documentary and natural proxy records.
• Generate high-resolution seasonal to monthly reconstructions of temperature and precipitation across Europe for the period 1300–1800 CE/last millennium.
• Apply advanced Climate Field Reconstruction methods coupled with AI/ML optimization algorithms, to extract and model climate signals from documentary and natural proxy records.
• Validate reconstructions against instrumental datasets, historical documents, and existing paleoclimatic benchmarks.
• Quantify reconstruction uncertainty and contribute to updating established multi-proxy climate reconstructions.
• Compare reconstructed climate fields with high-resolution paleoclimate simulations (e.g., RCM or ESM output) to assess consistency, biases, and regional signal robustness.

• Collaborate with interdisciplinary partners to integrate reconstructed climate data with epidemiological, ecological, and socio-historical datasets.
• Contribute to the development of causal models investigating the role of monthly and seasonal climate variability in shaping historical disease dynamics and human-environment interactions.

• Publish findings in high-impact peer-reviewed journals and contribute to EUROpest deliverables.
• Present research at international conferences and thematic workshops.

• Work closely with EUROpest Principal Investigators and institutional partners across Europe and the US.
• Contribute to an inclusive, collaborative research environment working with the other CMCC research divisions.

• PhD in climate science, environmental science, Earth science, physics, historical climatology, applied statistics in the context of climatology or a related discipline
• Demonstrated expertise in climate reconstruction techniques, including proxy data analysis and statistical modelling
• Proficiency in programming, with experience applying machine learning or AI tools to environmental data
• Familiarity with paleoclimatology, and paleoclimate archives, is an asset
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
• Proven ability to work both independently and as part of an interdisciplinary, international research team
• Willingness to take responsibility and make a significant contribution to the joint project, take initiatives and contribute to the research and development of the group.

• Please note that this opportunity will be issued both internally and externally.
• The researchers will be based in Bologna CMCC premises.
• The appointment period will be initially 24 months starting from December 2025/January 2026 with the possibility to extend.
• Gross salary will be based on qualification and working experience.
• Welfare package, for minimum 12 months contract.
• 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.
Applicants responding to this posting declare that they have read, understood, and agreed to the “Official Rule for the CMCC Personnel recruitment".
 

Applicants responding to this posting declare that they have read, understood and agreed to the “Official Rule for the CMCC Personnel recruitment".

We will keep your information on file for up to 1 year.