CEDoc - UM6P - CAES- IWRI: Climate-smart irrigation strategies for agricultural resilience.

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.

CEDoc - UM6P - CAES- IWRI:

Climate-smart irrigation strategies for agricultural resilience in semi-arid region

About IWRI:

The International Water Research Institute (IWRI) at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) is inviting applications for a PhD position titled “Climate-smart irrigation strategies for agricultural resilience in semi-arid region” starting in October 2025. This PhD program focuses on the development and assessment of innovative irrigation strategies to enhance the resilience of agricultural systems to climate change. The research will contribute to improving water-use efficiency and crop productivity under changing climatic conditions, particularly in semi-arid and water-scarce regions. The research will integrate advanced technologies (e.g., sensors, remote sensing, AI), predictive modeling and stakeholder engagement to design scalable solutions that ensure optimized water use and improved crop productivity supporting rural livelihoods.

Key duties:

The selected PhD candidate is expected to: 

• Design and conduct field experiments to evaluate innovative climate-smart irrigation strategies on specific crops under various agro-climatic conditions.
• Develop and implement crop growth models to optimize irrigation scheduling based on historical and current environmental and agronomic data, and under variable future climate scenarios.
• Explore and analyze the technical and socio-economic implications of the current practices and the innovative climate-smart irrigation solutions developed, in the perspective of Water-Energy-Food nexus.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, including experts in agricultural engineering, climate science, and hydrology.
• Disseminate research through peer-reviewed publications, international conference presentations, and stakeholder engagement.

Qualifications

The position is open to candidates holding a master’s degree or an engineering degree in agronomy, agricultural engineering, environmental science, water resources, or a related discipline.

Desired skills

• Strong background in irrigation systems, soil-water-plant interactions, agricultural water management, or crop modeling.
• Experience with relevant software/tools (e.g., AquaCrop, DSSAT, APSIM, GIS), proficiency in data analysis tools (e.g. R, python) is an asset.
• Familiarity with fieldwork and agricultural experiments.
• Good quantitative and analytical skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; proficiency in both French and English is preferred.
• Capacity to work independently while also collaborating effectively within a diverse, multicultural, and multidisciplinary research team.

UM6P.