The University of the West Indies (UWI) has partnered with CCRIF SPC to establish a pioneering postdoctoral fellowship program specifically dedicated to climate change detection and attribution research. This innovative initiative, valued at US$50,000, represents CCRIF’s first direct investment in postdoctoral research and aims to enhance regional expertise in tropical cyclone modeling and climate attribution science.
Dr. Jhordanne Jones, a distinguished UWI alumna and NOAA Climate and Global Change Fellow who serves as a Lead Author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), has been selected as the inaugural fellow. Her research will develop sophisticated hurricane simulations, analyze damage statistics, and facilitate public engagement activities, positioning UWI and the Caribbean region as significant contributors to global climate science.
Professor Densil A. Williams, Principal of UWI Mona Campus, emphasized the fellowship’s importance: “This investment will enable UWI to develop the specialized expertise necessary to guide evidence-based policy decisions, ensuring our communities can rebuild with greater resilience.”
The program has already yielded significant preliminary findings. Analysis of Hurricane Beryl (2024) revealed wind speeds exceeding historical records, ranking among the top 5% of storms under projected warming scenarios. Research on Hurricane Melissa (2025) demonstrated that climate change contributed to approximately 7% higher wind speeds, 16% increased rainfall, and made rapid intensification six times more likely—highlighting the adaptation challenges facing small island nations.
This fellowship expands upon a longstanding collaboration between UWI and CCRIF that has provided over US$1.8 million in scholarships, internships, and project funding since 2010. The institutions are collectively advancing Caribbean leadership in climate science, resilience finance, and global climate justice advocacy.
Professor Michael Taylor, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology and Co-Director of UWI’s Climate Studies Group Mona, noted: “CCRIF’s support for detection and attribution science is truly visionary. By funding research that directly connects extreme weather events to climate change, CCRIF is helping position Caribbean science at the forefront of global climate justice initiatives.”