Internship- Assessing the Climate Models' performances in Simulating Extreme Events for Energy Application - M/F

Country France City PALAISEAU Workplace location PALAISEAU-LE NEXT(FRA) Employer company TotalEnergies OneTech Domain Research Innovation&Developpt Type of contract Internship Contract duration 6 Months Experience Less than 3 years

Context & Environment

As the energy sector becomes increasingly sensitive to climate variability and extremes, reliable projections of future conditions are essential for planning and resilience. The Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) provides a comprehensive set of climate simulations used to assess future risks. This internship focuses on evaluating the ability of CMIP6 models to simulate extreme climate events—such as heatwaves, droughts, storms, and wind droughts—that directly impact energy production and demand.

Activities

As a Assessing the Climate Models' performances in Simulating Extreme Events for Energy Application - M/F trainee, your missions will be :

• Identify key climate extremes relevant to energy systems (e.g., temperature spikes, low wind periods, intense precipitation). 
• Assess the performance of CMIP6 models in terms of frequency, intensity, and duration of these events. 
• Compare CMIP6 outputs with observational datasets and reanalyses (e.g., ERA5, CERRA, EOBS). 
• Develop reliability indicators and recommendations for operational use in energy planning. 

Methodology: 

• Selection and processing of CMIP6 model outputs for relevant variables (temperature, wind speed, precipitation).
• Application of statistical indices and thresholds to detect extreme events (e.g., TXx, RX1day, wind drought metrics). 
• Cross-validation with historical data and reanalysis products. Visualization of results and mapping of high-risk regions

 

You will evolve within a team of experienced professionals and with a tutor-coach, the reference for your future profession. Individualized support will help you develop your autonomy and lead you to your diploma!

Candidate Profile

Currently enrolled in an engineering school or Master's program in the climate science field, are you looking for an 6-month end-of-study internship starting in february 2025?

Do you have familiarity with climate model evaluation and extreme event statistics ? 

Are you comfortable with office automation and familiar with the Office suite? You'll be using Excel, Word and Powerpoint in particular.

Are you a self-starter, rigorous and a team player?

Can you take the initiative?

A professional command of English will be essential for this position. Good writing skills are a plus.