Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico

Entity: Chair of Transitions, Institute of Advanced Studies   About UM6P: Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) is an internationally oriented institution of higher learning, that is committed to an educational system based on the highest standards of teaching and research in fields related to the sustainable economic development of Morocco and Africa. UM6P is an institution oriented towards applied research and innovation. On a specific focus on Africa, UM6P aims to position these fields as the forefront and become a university of international standing. More than just a traditional academic institution, UM6P is a platform for experimentation and a pool of opportunities, for students, professors and staff. It offers a high-quality living and study environment thanks to its state-of-the-art infrastructure. With an innovative approach, UM6P places research and innovation at the heart of its educational project as a driving force of a business model. About Entity (Hiring entity): The Chair of Transitions at the Institute of Advanced Studies develops interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research on the major transformations reshaping contemporary societies, with particular attention to the ways social, technological, and epistemic shifts reconfigure identities, institutions, and forms of knowledge production. It supports experimental research infrastructures that respond to these transitions across disciplinary and methodological boundaries. Within this framework, the Chair hosts the “Kamara Portal: A Digital Philology of the Greater Western Sahel,” a research infrastructure project centered on the works of Shaykh Musa Kamara (1864–1945), a major Muslim intellectual of West Africa. The project examines Islamic intellectual production in the Greater Western Sahel as a site of religious, spatial, and epistemological transition, while simultaneously developing digital humanities methods that renew and recalibrate philological practice in light of contemporary technological and epistemic transformations. In doing so, it contributes to the Chair’s broader engagement with digital transformation, epistemic change, and the reconfiguration of intellectual heritage in and beyond Africa, while aligning with ongoing initiatives related to digital infrastructures, experimental publication platforms, and new research methodologies. Description of the position: The postdoctoral fellow will join the Kamara Portal at a formative stage, contributing to the development of a manuscript-based digital research platform. Kamara’s corpus circulates in multiple manuscript and print forms, raising questions concerning textuality, authorship, historical reasoning, and geographic imagination. The postdoctoral fellow’s primary responsibility is to contribute to the development of a pilot multilingual digital edition and commentary interface for Kamara’s major historical work. This research combines close philological interpretation with collaborative digital inquiry and sustained attention to the spatial and intellectual frameworks embedded in Sahelian historical writing. The fellow will conduct sustained comparative analysis across manuscript versions; work with Arabic texts and aligned French and English commentary; and collaborate in shaping the structure and scholarly norms of the digital research environment. Participation in regular research meetings and contribution to project publications are integral to the role. By the end of Year 1, the fellow will have supported the implementation of the pilot multilingual edition that anchors the project’s next phase. Advanced technical expertise is not required at the outset; rather, the fellow should demonstrate a willingness to learn new tools and to think critically about how computational methods and philological inquiry inform one another. In addition to their primary research responsibilities, the fellow will join a broader intellectual environment within the Chair of Transitions that engages questions of African humanities, methodological innovation, and the changing conditions of knowledge production. Education     A Ph.D. in Islamic Studies, Area Studies, African History, Religious Studies, Intellectual History, Comparative Literature, or a closely related field. Requirement Reading proficiency in Arabic Reading proficiency in French Demonstrated strength in close textual and historical analysis Interest in or openness to digital humanities methods and collaborative research practices Ability to work across manuscript materials and multiple textual witnesses Commitment to sustained, research-driven scholarship within an interdisciplinary environment The following are considered assets: Specialization in Islam in West Africa Experience with manuscript studies or textual criticism Familiarity with Pulaar or other Sahelian languages Exposure to digital text analysis, encoding, or corpus comparison tools

Position Overview: Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) invites applications for a highly qualified Postdoctoral Researcher to join our research initiative focusing on the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Chemical Process Systems Engineering (CPSE). The position addresses key challenges in process intensification, sustainability, and advanced process control, aiming to develop AI-driven frameworks for multi-scale modeling, multi-objective optimization, and predictive control of complex chemical and biochemical processes. The research will contribute to next-generation smart manufacturing systems, aligned with Industry 4.0 paradigms, and target applications in sustainable energy production, green chemistry, circular economy, and carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS). Scientific Challenges Addressed in the Position: Non-linear and dynamic system modeling of chemical processes involving complex thermodynamics and transport phenomena. Optimization under uncertainty and robust decision-making for process design and operational strategies. Integration of first-principles (mechanistic) models with data-driven models (hybrid modeling) for improved accuracy and generalization. Development of real-time optimization algorithms and model predictive control (MPC) strategies for adaptive process management. Addressing data sparsity and data quality issues in industrial process data streams for reliable AI model training. Design of digital twins for process monitoring, fault diagnosis, and predictive maintenance in chemical plants. Key Responsibilities: Create and implement hybrid AI models that merge machine learning techniques with mechanistic frameworks (like physics-informed neural networks and grey-box modeling) to enable predictive simulations of chemical and biochemical processes. Construct multi-objective optimization frameworks (Pareto optimization) to evaluate trade-offs among economic, energy efficiency, and environmental performance metrics. Utilize reinforcement learning (RL) and deep reinforcement learning (DRL) for autonomous process management, dynamic resource distribution, and real-time decision-making. Design and deploy digital twins for integrated chemical processes for virtual commissioning and optimization. Examine extensive heterogeneous data sets (including historical process data, sensor data, and laboratory findings) using advanced AI approaches such as unsupervised learning, transfer learning, and anomaly detection. Collaborate with process engineers and experimentalists to validate models, demonstrate them at pilot scales, and transfer technology to industry partners. Share research results through peer-reviewed publications, conference talks, and patent filings when relevant. Oversee graduate students and support capacity building in AI for CPSE at UM6P. Required Qualifications: Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Process Systems Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, or a related discipline. Proven experience in process modeling (steady-state and dynamic) using simulation software such as Aspen Plus, gPROMS, or COMSOL Multiphysics. Solid understanding of process control strategies, including model predictive control (MPC), nonlinear control, and optimal control theory. Proficiency in programming languages (Python, MATLAB) and experience with AI/ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn). Experience in data-driven modeling, deep learning, and reinforcement learning algorithms applied to chemical processes. Track record of scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals in AI, chemical engineering, or process systems engineering. Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate in multidisciplinary and international teams. Application Process: Candidates are invited to submit the following documents (compiled in a single PDF): A cover letter outlining their research vision, motivation, and relevant experiences. A comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (CV) including a list of publications and any patents. Contact details of two academic referees. 

About UM6P: Mohammed VI Polytechnic University is an institution dedicated to research and innovation in Africa and aims to position itself among world-renowned universities in its fields The University is engaged in economic and human development and puts research and innovation at the forefront of African development. A mechanism that enables it to consolidate Morocco’s frontline position in these fields, in a unique partnership-based approach and boosting skills training relevant for the future of Africa. Located in the municipality of Benguerir, in the very heart of the Green City, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University aspires to leave its mark nationally, continentally, and globally. Description of the Center: The African Genome Center (AGC) is a research-focused institution operating across four main research axes: Biodiversity Genomics, OMICS and Metabolic Engineering, Genome Editing, and Natural Product Chemistry and Metabolomics. Equipped with an advanced genomics platform, its mission is to act as a central nucleus for genome biology research and training in Morocco and Africa. The AGC team comprises an international and diverse scientific community. Its primary goal is to democratize genomics research on the African continent, encompassing both fundamental and applied scientific investigations in agriculture, conservation, environment, food security, and health. Furthermore, the center is dedicated to facilitating technology transfers and nurturing highly skilled personnel through training initiatives. Job Description: Explore an exciting postdoctoral opportunity at the African Genome Center (AGC) of the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Morocco! We are seeking a talented candidate in bioinformatics microbial genomics to join the dynamic research group led by Professor Vittorio Venturi. At AGC, Professor Venturi’s research program extends to unraveling the intricacies of bacterial cell-cell signaling within plant microbiomes. As a postdoc, you will delve into genomics and metagenomics data to dissect the signaling systems of plant-associated bacteria and analyze the genomic features of beneficial bacterial strains. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research at the intersection of genomics, microbiology, and agriculture. Join us in unraveling the mysteries of microbial interactions in plant ecosystems and making strides towards sustainable agricultural solutions. Visit our website at https://agc.um6p.ma for further details. The ideal candidate must possess a PhD degree in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Microbial Genomics, Bioinformatics, or an equivalent field. They should demonstrate documented expertise in bacteriology, molecular biology, bioinformatics, soil and rhizosphere microbial genomics. Proficiency in molecular biology laboratory techniques, a strong track record of publications in internationally recognized journals, and excellent English communication skills are also essential qualifications. Application Procedure: Prospective candidates are invited to submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact details for three references via the [SuccessFactor Link]. For further details, please contact Professor Vittorio Venturi at venturi@icgeb.org