Current research degree projects
Explore our current postgraduate research degree and PhD opportunities.
Explore our current postgraduate research degree and PhD opportunities.
Shifting rainfall patterns and seasons represent an alarming consequence of human-driven global climate change. Yet even the sign (wetter/drier) of future change is uncertain in some regions. This project examines the response of continental climates to global warmth in the past to study natural forcing and evaluate uncertain future predictions.
What can the fossil record of coral reefs tell us about ecosystem futures as our climate changes? This project will use quantitative palaeoecology to characterize coral reef ecosystem collapse, resilience, and recovery dynamics during Phanerozoic mass extinctions to understand the long-term future of reef-hosted biodiversity.
Polar amplification where enhanced warming in polar regions outpaces global temperature change is poorly understood. Using geological evidence, climate models and theory, this project will explore why past polar amplification sometimes affects the Arctic, sometimes the Antarctic and sometimes both poles. Projections of polar amplification for future climate change will be made.
The ability to accurately simulate weather cycles other than Earth’s water cycle is essential for understanding the climate of other planets, such as exoplanets. Our current observations of Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, make it an excellent case for validating our current 3D planetary climate models.
Simulating the Venus climate has been a challenge for scientists for over 40 years. The planet's unique conditions offer a chance to test our computational models in extreme circumstances. It's crucial to understand the physics behind Venus's climate to help us characterize the climate of exoplanets similar to Venus.
This project will examine how wind-blown avalanches are controlled by sediment transport dynamics including dune size, wind speed and grain characteristics. It involves laboratory experiments and field work. Research outcomes will provide unique, cutting-edge insight into the influence of avalanche dynamics on aeolian dune migration, critical for management in deserts.
Global warming leads to sea-ice melting in polar oceans, increasing light penetration, enhancing phytoplankton blooms and consuming nitrogen. If warming continues, it is unclear which nitrogen sources will support life in polar oceans. Combining isotopes and bioinformatics we will investigate nitrogen fixation as a new source of nutrients.