Graduate Research Assistant - AI for Urban Heat & Human Resilience: Smarter Risk Intelligence for a Future-Ready Dubai

**Job Description** We are seeking a motivated and technically skilled **Graduate Research Assistant (GRA)** to support the project on climate resilience initiative focused on developing AI\-driven tools for urban heat monitoring, vulnerability assessment, and decision support in Dubai. The GRA will play a central role not only in research activities but also in establishing and operationalizing the AI for Resilient Cities Lab, a new interdisciplinary research and innovation space dedicated to climate intelligence and smart urban systems. This position is ideal for candidates holding a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, GIS, Environmental Science, Engineering, or related fields. The role combines technical research, lab development, student engagement, and event coordination. **Key Responsibilities** **1\. Research Support \& Technical Development** * Assist in deploying and monitoring field sensors during ground\-truth validation campaigns. * Assist in processing and analyzing satellite datasets (MODIS, Sentinel, Landsat) for Land Surface Temperature (LST) mapping. * Support machine learning model development for urban heat analysis and spatial risk modelling. Contribute to data cleaning, feature engineering, and geospatial visualization tasks. * Assist in developing components of the Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI). * Support preparation of technical reports, research documentation, and datasets. **2\. Establishment of the AI for Resilient Cities Lab** A major responsibility of this role will be supporting the setup and operationalization of the AI for Resilient Cities Lab, including: * Coordinating the physical setup of the lab space (equipment arrangement, sensor setup, computing infrastructure, display systems). * Assisting in procurement tracking and installation of hardware (e.g., environmental sensors, GPUs, thermal cameras if applicable). * Developing lab documentation, safety guidelines, workflow templates, and onboarding materials. * Supporting the creation of demonstration dashboards and visualization screens for visitors and stakeholders. * Maintaining lab datasets, servers, and research repositories. * Plan and coordinate urban heat and climate resilience hackathons, workshop, and trainings. * Prepare presentation materials, lab demonstrations, and technical walkthroughs. Requirements **Minimum Requirements** **Education \& Experience** * Currently pursuing or completed Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, GIS, Environmental Science, Engineering, Urban Informatics, or related fields. * Proven\-track record of academic excellence * Interest in climate resilience, urban sustainability, and AI applications. **Technical Skills** * Proficiency in Python or R for data analysis. * Basic knowledge of machine learning concepts. * Familiarity with GIS tools (ArcGIS, QGIS, Google Earth Engine preferred). * Experience working with datasets and dashboards. * Basic understanding of remote sensing is an advantage. **Compensation** A fixed stipend will be provided, corresponding to the qualifications and experience. **Application Process** Interested candidates should submit the following: - A detailed CV highlighting academic and research experiences. - A cover letter explaining your interest in the position and relevant skills. - Two academic or professional references - Any evidence of experience to support the application - Academic transcripts - Portfolio/GitHub (if available) Applicant should be based in the UAE and should have a valid residence visa Application Deadline: 20 April 2026