PhD Studentship – The Role of Turbulence Intermittency in Cloud Physics

RFCSR; Greater London; Presencial; GBP 21.000 - 25.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Tuition fees covered

Tax-free stipend £22,780/year

Descripción de la vacante

Imperial College London, in the Department of Aeronautics, invites applicants for a funded PhD Studentship on the role of turbulence intermittency in cloud physics. The project explores how intermittent turbulent processes influence rainfall formation in warm cumulus clouds, leveraging advanced diagnostics or high-fidelity CFD and experimental wind tunnel studies.

Applicants should have a first-class honours degree in a related field.

Formación

• Candidates should have a strong foundation in turbulence or fluid dynamics and a demonstrated ability to work in multidisciplinary teams.
• First-class honours degree (MEng/MSci) in aeronautical/ mechanical engineering, applied mathematics, physics or related STEM field.
• Experience with experimental or computational turbulence methods is beneficial but not required.

Responsabilidades

• Develop and apply experimental and/or computational methods to study turbulence intermittency in cloud physics.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team and contribute to high-level research outputs.
• Present findings to the international scientific community and participate in the ERC-funded TITCHY project.

Conocimientos

Analytical skills

Teamwork

Interest in fluid dynamics

Educación

First-class honours degree in engineering/math/physics

Herramientas

Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV)

Direct Numerical Simulation (CFD)

Wind tunnel experiments

Descripción del empleo

PhD Studentship – The Role of Turbulence Intermittency in Cloud Physics

Imperial College London
London, United Kingdom

This funded doctoral studentship at Imperial College London’s Department of Aeronautics invites ambitious researchers to investigate fundamental challenges in cloud physics and turbulence, with a focus on how intermittent turbulent processes influence rainfall formation in warm cumulus clouds. Clouds are not only visually iconic but are also central to precipitation and climate systems. Early rain formation in clouds occurs on time scales too short to be explained by condensation alone, highlighting the pivotal role of turbulence in driving droplet collisions and coalescence. This studentship offers the opportunity to work as part of a collaborative research team under the ERC-funded TITCHY project, gaining expertise in high-fidelity experimental techniques or numerical simulation approaches to understand how turbulence intermittency affects entrainment at cloud boundaries or droplet-turbulence interactions. Students will engage with cutting-edge laser diagnostics or direct numerical simulation (CFD) and present their findings to the international scientific community.

Eligibility Criteria Applicants should hold, or be expected to achieve, a first-class honours degree (such as MEng or MSci) or an equivalent qualification in aeronautical or mechanical engineering, applied mathematics, physics, or a related STEM discipline. Previous experience with turbulence research is beneficial but not required.

Required Expertise, Skills Successful candidates will develop capabilities in experimental and/or computational methods for turbulence research. Those opting for the experimental route will work with advanced diagnostics such as particle tracking and particle image velocimetry in wind tunnel studies, while those choosing simulations will apply high-fidelity CFD techniques. Strong analytical skills, curiosity about fluid dynamics, and the ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment will support success in this project.

Salary Details The studentship includes full coverage of tuition fees and provides an annual tax-free stipend of £22,780, available to Home, EU, and International students for the duration of the programme.

Application Deadline The closing date for applications is 30 April 2026, for study commencing in October 2026.