(M/F) Impacts of climate extremes on the energy sector: towards the identification of causal relationships for seasonal forecasting models

Job Description

Thesis Subject

Extreme climate events, such as heatwaves, droughts, windstorms, and heavy precipitation, are increasingly affecting energy production and distribution systems. At seasonal time scales, these impacts arise from complex mechanisms combining climate variability, atmospheric forcing, and structural vulnerabilities of energy infrastructures.
This PhD project aims to identify and quantify causal relationships between climate extremes and impacts on energy systems in Europe and Northern Africa, and to exploit these relationships to improve seasonal predictions of energy-related impacts. The research will rely on high-resolution climate data from the ERA5–ERA6 reanalyses and ensemble seasonal forecasts, combined with data on energy production, distribution, and disruptions. Causal inference methods and stochastic modelling approaches will be employed to move beyond purely correlational analyses and to develop predictive models with operational relevance.

Your Work Environment

This PhD project is part of the European Doctoral Network CLIMES (Understanding and Predicting Impacts of Climate Extremes under Global Change), funded by the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions under the Horizon Europe programme.

The CLIMES network aims to train an international cohort of early-career researchers capable of integrating climatology, data science, risk assessment, and interdisciplinary approaches in order to better understand, anticipate, and manage the impacts of climate extremes on societies and infrastructures.

Recruitment is carried out by CNRS, with doctoral enrolment at Université Paris-Saclay. Research activities will take place at the Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement (LSCE), within an international and interdisciplinary scientific environment, in close interaction with other doctoral candidates in the network, as well as with academic and non-academic partners.

General information about the CLIMES project is available at:
[https://www.climes.se/climesdn/](https://www.climes.se/climesdn/)

All working time is devoted to research and training activities within the CLIMES Doctoral Network.

The position is based at the Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement (LSCE), Université Paris-Saclay, France. As part of the doctoral network obligations, participation in in-person international training activities, scientific meetings, and international secondments is mandatory. Virtual secondments or virtual training activities are not accepted, except in exceptional circumstances such as administrative restrictions or major travel disruptions.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

2300 € gross monthly

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

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