University of Freiburg

Institution Overview Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) is a research-driven institution focused on innovation and development in Africa. The university is committed to addressing global challenges by fostering cutting-edge research, developing talent, and establishing strong partnerships. Located in Benguerir’s Green City, UM6P aims to position itself as a leading institution both in Africa and globally, driving sustainable solutions across various fields, including urban resilience and environmental sustainability. Job Description We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher in Urban Water Management and Hydric Resilience, with expertise in designing and implementing innovative solutions for sustainable urban water resource management. The candidate will integrate environmental, social, and economic factors to enhance urban resilience to water-related challenges. Key Responsibilities Develop models to simulate urban water flows, assess climate change impacts, and test innovative solutions such as green infrastructure. Utilize digital tools (GIS, hydrological models) to analyze and visualize urban flood risks, droughts, and water flows. Assess the effects of water management strategies on costs, environmental sustainability, and social benefits, providing tailored recommendations. Collaborate with urban planners, engineers, and policymakers to integrate water management solutions into urban development and sustainability policies. Publish research findings in high-impact journals, present at conferences, and engage in knowledge dissemination to policymakers and communities. Required Qualifications Ph.D. in hydrology, environmental engineering, urban planning, or a related field. Expertise in urban hydrology, water cycles, and stormwater management. Strong background in flood and drought risk assessment in urban environments. Proficiency in hydrological modeling software (SWMM, HEC-RAS, or equivalent). Experience with GIS tools (ArcGIS, QGIS) for spatial analysis and mapping of water flows and risk zones. Experience in climate adaptation simulations applied to water management. Ability to design resilience strategies for sustainable water management in cities. Personal and Organizational Skills Ability to transform complex data into actionable insights for research and decision-making. Strong capacity to work within multidisciplinary teams, including urban planners, technologists, and hydrology experts. Track record of publishing in high-impact journals and presenting research at international conferences. Commitment to research excellence. Interest in addressing African development challenges. Entrepreneurial mindset, dynamism, and strong organizational skills. Fluency in both French and English (written and spoken) is required. We Offer Excellent working conditions with a competitive salary at an international scale. An opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in Africa. A dynamic and multicultural work environment with strong collaborative opportunities

Schemes of Service: Professional Officers Division: Professional Officers Employment Type: Fixed Term Job Purpose The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) is Singapore’s first University of Applied Learning, offering industry-relevant degree programmes that prepare its graduates to be work- and future-ready professionals. Its mission is to maximise the potential of its learners and to innovate with industry, through an integrated applied learning and research approach, so as to contribute to the economy and society. The university’s unique pedagogy integrates work and study, embracing authentic learning in a real-world environment through collaborations with key strategic partners. Its focus on applied research with business impact is aimed at helping industry innovate and grow. Targeted to be ready in 2024, SIT’s centralised campus within the larger Punggol Digital District will feature a vibrant learning environment where academia and industry will be tightly integrated with the community. SIT espouses an applied learning approach and offers degrees with a strong focus on science and technology. Our faculty work closely with industry on translational research and innovation, as well as provide consultancy on solutions to industry challenges. This well-established nexus with industry endows our graduates with deep skills and work-ready training experience – attuning them to the needs and demands of the future economy. The Professional Officers Division (POD) houses a centralised pool of academic staff under the Professional Officers scheme. Professional Officers bring specialised and deep technical expertise developed through extensive industry experience. They provide a critical industry perspective to student learning and applied research, complementing the academic expertise of faculty by translating industry practices and real-world applications into the curriculum. SIT is expanding its Robotics and Embodied AI (EAI) capabilities, building a cohort of academic staff who are keen and experienced working on industry problems in relevant areas. At SIT, academic staff will have the opportunity to shape and lead applied research in a unique real-world environment. Located within Punggol Digital District (PDD), SIT’s purpose-built campus serves as a living lab for precinct-scale robotics test-bedding, where academic staff can work with government and industry partners to develop, validate and deploy next-generation robotic systems safely and at scale. Candidates will contribute to industry-relevant research in embodied AI, simulation and digital twins, cybersecurity, robot operations and related areas, with a strong emphasis on translation into real-world applications. Through collaborations with leading robot companies and end-users, academic staff will help solve practical deployment challenges, build shared digital infrastructure, and train the next generation of robotics talent for Singapore’s future economy. Key Responsibilities Lead or co-lead innovative applied research and industry collaboration projects with industry partners and government agencies. Bring practical engineering skills to drive EAI innovations. Design, develop, and teach laboratory sessions and practice-based modules in Robotics & Embodied AI and related areas. Secure and manage research grants to support applied research initiatives. Supervise and mentor students in applied research projects, Capstone Projects, and the Integrated Work Study Programme (IWSP). Manage laboratory facilities, equipment, and technical resources to support academic programmes and applied research activities. Ensure compliance with laboratory safety policies, procedures, and best practices. Contribute to the development of applied AI capabilities, learning resources, and industry-relevant curriculum support. Work closely with faculty and internal stakeholders to drive teaching, applied research, and innovation initiatives outcomes. Job Requirements A good Bachelor’s degree or Master’s/PhD degree in Robotics, Mechanical/Electronics Engineering, Computer Science, or a relevant domain with demonstrated embodied AI research and/or application experience. At least 8 years of relevant industry experience, preferably in a technical role within an organisation driving research and/or innovation outcomes Strong technical expertise in the following areas (ideally at least two): Policy Learning and Robotics Control: Imitation / reinforcement learning, generative policies, residual learning, cross-embodiment generalisation. Robotics Data Engineering: Data capture, synchronisation, calibration, evaluation harnesses and simulation data pipelines Foundation Models & World Models for Robotics: VLA grounding, planning interfaces and world-model reasoning for robots State Estimation, Perception and Sensor Fusion: 3D scene understanding, diagnostics, active and manipulation-centric perception System Integration, Deployment & RobotOps: ROS2 systems integration, runtime robustness, safety and field deployment engineering Swarm Robotics & Multi-Agent Systems: Decentralised coordination, shared mapping and resilient communications Fleet Management & Remote Operations: Mission control, tele-operation, network resilience and lifecycle operations Cyber-Physical Security & Trustworthy Robotics: Threat modelling, resilience, incident response, AI ethics and data privacy Experience applying embodied AI to real-world use areas will be advantageous, such as (non-exhaustive): Facility Management Healthcare Advanced Manufacturing Urban Systems Biotechnology & Chemical Engineering Demonstrated interest and capability in supporting research and academic project work, with the ability to develop software solutions to technical problems. Strong supervisory and mentoring skills, with an interest in working closely with students in an educational environment. Commitment to continuous learning and professional development, with the ability to keep abreast of developments in the field. Relevant industry certifications will be an added advantage. For senior appointments, demonstrated managerial or team leadership experience may be required.

About UM6P: Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) is a forward-looking, internationally oriented institution of higher education dedicated to excellence in teaching, research, and innovation. Its mission is firmly anchored in supporting the sustainable economic development of Morocco and the African continent. UM6P places applied research and technological innovation at the core of its academic model, with the ambition of positioning Africa-driven research at the global forefront and establishing itself as a university of international standing. Beyond the traditional role of a university, UM6P serves as a dynamic platform for experimentation, innovation, and impact. It offers a high-quality academic and living environment, supported by state-of-the-art infrastructure, cutting-edge laboratories, and a vibrant research ecosystem that empowers students, faculty, and staff to fully realize their potential. UM6P’s research philosophy is grounded in transdisciplinarity, entrepreneurship, and strong collaboration with external partners, including industry, public institutions, and international research organizations. This approach enables the development of advanced, solution-oriented science capable of addressing real-world challenges at both national and continental scales. All academic and research programs at UM6P are conceived and managed with a start-up mindset, fostering agility, autonomy, and impact. Programs are encouraged to self-organize and scale once they reach critical mass, with academic freedom strongly supported through research-driven funding models led by the teams themselves. About IWRI: The International Water Research Institute (IWRI) at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), located in Benguerir, Morocco, is a leading institute dedicated to interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary education, research, and innovation in the fields of water, climate, and sustainable development. IWRI’s mission is to advance cutting-edge, impact-oriented research that bridges local and regional water challenges with global water and climate issues. The institute promotes integrated scientific, technological, and policy-driven solutions to enhance resilience, sustainability, and socio-economic development, particularly in water-scarce and climate-vulnerable regions. IWRI’s core research and innovation activities focus on the following areas: Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Development of water-related technologies, including irrigation, water supply and sanitation, desalination, demineralization, water treatment, recycling, and water reuse Water–Energy–Food–Health–Education Nexus Water–soil interactions, droughts, and desertification Water-related hazards and risk assessment Climate change impacts and adaptation strategies Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Water information systems, knowledge management, and decision-support tools Forecasting, monitoring, and early warning systems Environmental sustainability and sustainable development Through strong collaboration with national and international academic institutions, public stakeholders, and industry partners, IWRI aims to strengthen its role as a regional and international reference center for water and climate research, delivering scientific excellence, technological innovation, and actionable solutions for Africa and beyond. Job Description: The International Water Research Institute (IWRI) at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow position in desalination and water treatment, within the framework of an applied research project. We are seeking highly motivated candidates with demonstrated expertise in seawater desalination pretreatment, with a particular emphasis on the Membrane-Based Processes. The successful candidate will contribute to the development, optimization, and scale-up of advanced pretreatment solutions for seawater desalination. The selected candidate will join a dynamic, collaborative, and interdisciplinary research environment, characterized by a strong tradition of integrating fundamental research with applied engineering to deliver impactful, real-world solutions to pressing water challenges. Key Duties: The successful candidate will be responsible for: Seawater monitoring and characterization: Planning and conducting periodic sampling campaigns of raw seawater, and monitoring its physicochemical and biological quality. Data analysis and modeling: Processing and analyzing seawater quality data and developing statistical and mathematical models to correlate feed-water characteristics with pretreatment performance. System design and laboratory experimentation: Designing, assembling, and operating a lab-scale Membrane-Based system for seawater pretreatment, including system configuration, optimization, and performance validation. Operation and maintenance protocol development: Developing and implementing a comprehensive operation and maintenance (O&M) protocol to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient operation of Membrane-Based system. Pilot-scale testing and field deployment: Organizing and conducting field missions and pilot-scale trials to assess the efficiency, robustness, and operational behavior of the Membrane-Based pretreatment process under real seawater conditions. Performance assessment and process optimization: Collecting and interpreting operational data, diagnosing performance limitations or fouling issues, and proposing data-driven corrective actions and process improvements. Reporting and knowledge transfer: Preparing high-quality technical reports, datasets, presentations, and documentation for internal team. Scientific dissemination: Contributing to peer-reviewed scientific publications and presenting research outcomes at national and international conferences. Qualifications & Requirements: PhD in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, Water-Process Engineering, Membrane Materials and Processes, or a closely related discipline. Relevant experience in desalination and/or filtration systems, at laboratory, pilot, or industrial scale. A strong background in ceramic membrane materials and processes is a significant advantage. Mandatory hands-on experience with water treatment processes. Experience in water quality analysis for evaluating and monitoring the performance of water treatment systems. Proven experience in leading or contributing to research projects is highly desirable. Demonstrated ability to generate innovative ideas, build upon existing concepts, and develop novel, practical solutions. Excellent communication, teamwork, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary and multicultural environments. Fluency in English and French, both written and spoken. Demonstrated ability to write high-quality scientific manuscripts suitable for publication in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals. Willingness to travel for fieldwork and project-related activities; a valid driver’s license is required. Contract Type 1-year fixed-term contract, with the possibility of a one-year extension. Starting Date As soon as possible.