PhD Studentship: Submesoscale ocean flows and processes in the Southern Ocean. NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for September 2026 Entry

About the Partnership

This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the NERC Great Western Four+ Doctoral Training Partnership (GW4+ DTP).  The GW4+ DTP consists of the Great Western Four alliance of the University of Bath, University of Bristol, Cardiff University and the University of Exeter plus five Research Organisation partners:  British Antarctic Survey, British Geological Survey, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology,  the Natural History Museum and Plymouth Marine Laboratory.  The partnership aims to provide a broad training in earth and environmental sciences, designed to train tomorrow’s leaders in earth and environmental science. For further details about the programme please see http://nercgw4plus.ac.uk/

For eligible successful applicants, the studentships comprises:

• An stipend for 3.5 years (currently £20,780 p.a. for 2026/27) in line with UK Research and Innovation rates
• Payment of university tuition fees
• The budget for project costs is £9,000 which can be used for computer, lab, and fieldwork costs necessary for you to conduct your research.
• There is also a conference budget of £2,000 and individual Training Budget of £1,000 for specialist training

Project Aims and Methods

The Southern Ocean plays a disproportionate role in capturing anthropogenic heat and carbon. Its complex dynamics are characterised by interaction between the large-scale and a range of small-scale processes. Small oceanic flows on the 1-10 km range (submesoscale) have attracted lots of attention for their role in heat mixing, energy transfer, and air-sea interactions. They have been related to a substantial intensification of the ocean heat transport, highlighting their climatic influence. However, the dynamics of submesoscale flows, and hence their representation in climate models, have not been adequately researched. The project aims at investigating how submesoscale eddies interacts with waves in the Southern Ocean and how this interaction feeds back on the large-scale circulation. Under-documented interactions involving tides, topography, and sea-ice will be of particular interest. The student will first exploit numerical simulations carried out at Scripps (US) and NOC/University of Reading (UK). Depending on the student’s appetite, further work can exploit observations (satellite and seaglider data), AI tools, or idealized simulations to probe deeper into mechanisms. Specific training on ocean modelling and sea-going experience is available at NOC, and visits to Scripps, a world-renowned institution for Southern Ocean modelling and observation, can be supported by the DTP budget. 

Collaborative Partner 

The National Oceanography Centre (NOC) will co-develop PhD project, provide scientific expertise during supervision meeting, access to numerical data and access to research facilities and training. 

Useful recruitment links:  

For information relating to the research project please contact the lead Supervisor via: p.tedesco@exeter.ac.uk

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