Optimising Observations To Improve Early Warning Skill of Predicting Tipping Points Ref: 5512

Supervisors

Primary supervisor: Prathyush P Menon

Secondary supervisors: Tim Lenton

This is a 3.5 year PhD studentship that will focus on developing methods for understanding the impact of observations, including those from multiple static and mobile autonomous platforms, in improving early warning skills of predicting tipping points with relevance to understanding potential future changes in the subpolar gyre of the North Atlantic. The integration of advanced climate models with strategic observational data is expected to improve the predictions. The considerations could be a few among many such as understanding the effects of measurement patterns, variability, timescales, sparsity and heterogeneity.

An ideal candidate will have a first degree with a strong background in mathematical and statistical methods, and an interest in working within an interdisciplinary team. The studentship is funded as part of Work Package 3 of the project “Advancing Tipping Point Early Warning” (AdvanTip), a major consortium funded by the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA).

The project aims to achieve a breakthrough in early warning of tipping points by leveraging progress in theory, AI and physical understanding. As such you will work within a highly interdisciplinary team of researchers in the Global Systems Institute at Exeter along with teams at a number of external partners within the UK and Europe.

The studentship will be awarded based on merit.

International applicants need to be aware that they will have to cover the cost of their student visa, healthcare surcharge and other costs of moving to the UK to do a PhD.

The conditions for eligibility of home fees status are complex and you will need to seek advice if you have moved to or from the UK (or Republic of Ireland) within the past 3 years or have applied for settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.  

Entry requirements

Applicants for this studentship must have obtained, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in an appropriate area of

Engineering and Mathematical Sciences.

If English is not your first language you will need to meet the English language requirements and provide proof of proficiency. Click here for more information.

How to apply

Apply now

To apply, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button above. In the application process you will be asked to upload several documents 

•             CV

•             Letter of application (outlining your academic interests, prior research experience and reasons for wishing to undertake the project).

•             Transcript(s) giving full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained (this should be an interim transcript if you are still studying)

•             Two academic references

•             If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country you will need to submit evidence of your proficiency in English.

The closing date for applications is midnight on 15^th May 2025.  Interviews will be held virtually in the week commencing 26^th May 2025.

All application documents must be submitted in English. Certified translated copies of academic qualifications must also be provided.

Please quote reference 5512 on your application and in any correspondence about this studentship.

Summary