Oliver Buxton

[Full tuition fees and annual tax-free stipend of £22,780 for Home, EU and International students for 3.5 years.] This PhD studentship at Imperial College London focuses on the interaction between offshore wind farms and cloud formation, aiming to maximise wind farm performance using scientific machine learning. The project investigates how the operation of large offshore wind farms modifies the marine boundary layer (MBL), particularly in conditions conducive to marine stratocumulus (MS) cloud formation. The central research questions address whether turbine-driven changes in the MBL promote or hinder MS formation, and how these changes affect the local mesoclimate and wind farm power generation. The research employs high-fidelity large eddy simulation (LES) codes and scientific machine learning tools, including real-time optimisers, to simulate wind farms under various atmospheric inflows. Some code development will be required to implement actuator disc/line wind-turbine models. The project aims to develop SML-based strategies for discovering self-similarity laws, quantised local reduced order models, and real data assimilation. The successful candidate will join the research groups of Prof. Oliver Buxton (expert in turbulence, wind-energy flows, and turbulent cloud microphysics) and Prof. Luca Magri (expert in scientific machine learning for aeronautical applications). Both groups host ERC projects, offering opportunities for collaboration and interdisciplinary research. The studentship is fully funded for 3.5 years, covering tuition fees and providing a generous annual stipend of £22,780 for Home, EU, and International students. Applicants must hold or expect to hold a First class honours MEng/MSci or equivalent in Aeronautical/Mechanical Engineering or a related STEM field, and be willing to learn new skills. There may be opportunities for short-term collaboration with a group in The Netherlands. The application process involves submitting a CV, transcripts, and a motivation statement for supervisor review, followed by a formal application for long-listed candidates. Imperial College London is committed to diversity and inclusion, as reflected in its awards and partnerships.

[Full tuition fees and annual tax-free stipend of £22,780 for Home, EU and International students.] This PhD studentship at Imperial College London offers a unique opportunity to investigate the complex interactions between offshore wind farms and cloud formation, with a focus on maximising wind farm performance using scientific machine learning. The project addresses how the operation of large offshore wind farms modifies the Marine Boundary Layer (MBL), influencing the formation of marine stratocumulus clouds and, in turn, affecting local mesoclimate and wind farm power generation. The research will use high-fidelity large eddy simulation (LES) codes and scientific machine learning tools, including real-time optimisers and actuator disc/line wind-turbine models, to simulate wind farms under various atmospheric conditions. The student will develop strategies for discovering self-similarity laws, quantised local reduced order models, and real data assimilation, gaining deep insight into the flow physics of cloud formation and wind energy. The successful candidate will be jointly embedded in the research groups of Prof. Oliver Buxton (expert in turbulence, wind-energy flows, and cloud microphysics) and Prof. Luca Magri (expert in scientific machine learning for aeronautical applications). Both groups host ERC projects, providing a vibrant and collaborative research environment. The studentship is fully funded for 3.5 years, covering tuition fees and providing a generous annual tax-free stipend of £22,780 for Home, EU, and International students. There is potential for international collaboration, including short research visits to The Netherlands. Eligibility requires a First class honours MEng/MSci or higher degree (or international equivalent) in Aeronautical/Mechanical Engineering or a closely related STEM field. Applicants should demonstrate strong academic performance and a willingness to learn new skills and techniques. The application process involves submitting a CV, transcripts, and a motivation statement for supervisor review, followed by a formal application for long-listed candidates. The deadline for applications is 8 January 2026. Imperial College London is committed to diversity and inclusion, holding Athena SWAN Silver, Stonewall Diversity Champion, and Disability Confident Employer status, and partnering with GIRES to promote respect for trans people.

[Full coverage of tuition fees and an annual tax-free stipend of £22,780 for Home, EU and International students.] This PhD studentship at Imperial College London offers an exciting opportunity to investigate the role of turbulence intermittency in cloud physics, specifically focusing on warm cumulus clouds and their rapid precipitation processes. The project addresses fundamental questions about how turbulence within clouds, which is highly intermittent due to large Reynolds numbers, influences the formation and coalescence of droplets leading to rainfall. Two main research directions are available: studying intermittent entrainment processes at the cloud edge or exploring turbulence–droplet interactions within the cloud. Depending on your strengths and interests, you will conduct high-fidelity experiments using combined particle tracking velocimetry and particle image velocimetry in a large wind tunnel, or perform advanced numerical simulations (CFD) to model turbulent flows. The research is part of the ERC-funded TITCHY project, and you will join a large, collaborative team dedicated to advancing the understanding of turbulent cloud physics. You will gain expertise in laser diagnostics, direct numerical simulation, and turbulent flow physics, and have opportunities to present your findings at international conferences. The studentship is supervised by Professor Oliver Buxton, an expert in turbulence, entrainment, and droplet interactions. The position is fully funded for 3.5 years, covering tuition fees and providing a generous annual tax-free stipend of £22,780 for Home, EU, and International students. Imperial College London offers professional development workshops in research communication, computing, data science, and career progression through its Early Career Researcher Institute. Eligibility requires a First class honours MEng/MSci or higher degree (or international equivalent) in aeronautical or mechanical engineering, applied mathematics, physics, or a related STEM subject. Prior experience with turbulence is desirable but not essential. Imperial College London is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, holding several awards and recognitions for its efforts. Applications are open until 30 April 2026, with a start date in October 2026. To apply, visit the Imperial College London postgraduate doctoral application process webpage, search for 'Aeronautics Research (PhD)', and use reference number AE0084. For project-specific questions, contact Prof. Oliver Buxton at [email protected]; for application process queries, email Lisa Kelly, PhD Administrator, at [email protected].

[Full tuition fees and an annual tax-free stipend of £22,780 for Home, EU, and International students.] This PhD studentship at Imperial College London focuses on maximising the performance of offshore wind farms using scientific machine learning. The project investigates the complex interactions between offshore wind turbines and the Marine Boundary Layer (MBL), particularly how these interactions influence the formation of marine stratocumulus clouds and the resulting impact on wind farm power generation. The research aims to answer key questions about whether turbine-driven changes in the MBL promote or hinder cloud formation, and how these changes affect the mesoclimate and wind farm performance. The project leverages high-fidelity large eddy simulation (LES) codes and scientific machine learning tools, including real-time optimisers, to simulate wind farms under various atmospheric inflows. Candidates will engage in code development to implement actuator disc/line wind-turbine models, facilitating a deeper understanding of the flow physics surrounding cloud formation. The research will also involve developing machine learning-based strategies for discovering self-similarity laws, quantised local reduced order models, and real data assimilation. Supervised jointly by Prof. Oliver Buxton (expert in turbulence, wind-energy flows, and cloud microphysics) and Prof. Luca Magri (expert in scientific machine learning for aeronautical applications), the successful candidate will be integrated into two leading research groups at Imperial College London, both of which host ERC projects. Collaboration with a group in The Netherlands is possible, requiring short-term travel. The studentship is fully funded, covering tuition fees and providing an annual tax-free stipend of £22,780 for Home, EU, and International students. The position is open to candidates with a First class honours MEng/MSci or higher degree (or international equivalent) in Aeronautical/Mechanical Engineering or similar STEM subjects. Applicants should demonstrate a willingness to learn new skills and techniques. The duration of the studentship is 3.5 years, with a start date between 1 October 2026 and 1 July 2027. Imperial College London is committed to diversity and inclusion, holding the Athena SWAN Silver Award, being a Stonewall Diversity Champion, and a Disability Confident Employer. The institution also partners with GIRES to promote respect for trans people. To apply, submit your application via the Imperial College London Apply webpages, searching for 'Aeronautics Research (PhD)' and using reference number AE0078. List Prof. Oliver Buxton as the research supervisor and Aero as the research group. The application deadline is 31 May 2026.

This PhD studentship at Imperial College London focuses on the interaction between offshore wind farms and marine stratocumulus clouds, aiming to maximise wind farm performance using scientific machine learning. The project investigates how wind turbines modify the Marine Boundary Layer (MBL), influencing cloud formation and mesoclimate, and how these changes impact power generation. No prior study has explored the two-way interaction between wind farms and marine stratocumulus clouds, making this research both novel and impactful. As a student, you will employ high-fidelity large eddy simulation (LES) codes and scientific machine learning tools, including real-time optimisers, to simulate wind farms under various atmospheric inflows. You will develop and implement actuator disc/line wind-turbine models, facilitating a deep understanding of the flow physics surrounding cloud formation. The project also involves creating machine learning-based strategies for discovering self-similarity laws, quantised local reduced order models, and real data assimilation. You will be jointly integrated into the research groups of Prof. Oliver Buxton (expert in turbulence, wind-energy flows, and turbulent cloud microphysics) and Prof. Luca Magri (expert in scientific machine learning for aeronautical applications). Both groups host ERC projects, offering opportunities for collaboration and interdisciplinary research. There is also potential for collaboration with a group in The Netherlands, which may require short-term travel. The studentship is fully funded, covering tuition fees and providing an annual tax-free stipend of £22,780 for Home, EU, and International students. The duration is 3.5 years. Due to the competitive nature of the award, candidates must have a First class honours MEng/MSci or higher degree (or international equivalent) in Aeronautical/Mechanical Engineering or similar STEM subjects. Willingness to learn new skills and techniques is essential. Imperial College London is committed to diversity and inclusion, holding the Athena SWAN Silver Award, Stonewall Diversity Champion status, and being a Disability Confident Employer. The application deadline is 31 May 2026. For project-specific questions, contact Prof. Oliver Buxton at [email protected]. For application process queries, contact [email protected]. To apply, submit your application via the Imperial College London postgraduate doctoral application portal. When applying, search for 'Aeronautics Research (PhD)', use reference number AE0078, and list Prof. Oliver Buxton as the research supervisor. Join a vibrant research environment and contribute to cutting-edge work at the intersection of aeronautics, environmental science, and machine learning.

[Full coverage of tuition fees and an annual tax-free stipend of £22,780 for Home, EU and International students.] This PhD studentship at Imperial College London focuses on the role of turbulence intermittency in cloud physics, specifically within warm cumulus clouds. The project addresses how turbulence, which is highly intermittent due to large Reynolds numbers, influences the rapid formation of precipitation. Two main research directions are offered: studying intermittent entrainment processes at the cloud edge, or investigating turbulence–droplet interactions. The research can be experimental, using advanced laser diagnostics and particle tracking/image velocimetry in a large wind tunnel, or computational, employing high-fidelity numerical simulations (CFD). Students will join a large team working on the ERC-funded TITCHY project, gaining expertise in turbulent flow physics and presenting their findings at international conferences. Professional development opportunities are available through workshops in research communication, computing, data science, and career progression via the Early Career Researcher Institute. Funding covers full tuition fees and provides a tax-free stipend of £22,780 per year for Home, EU, and International students. The studentship lasts 3.5 years and is open to candidates with a First class honours MEng/MSci or higher degree (or international equivalent) in aeronautical or mechanical engineering, applied mathematics, physics, or related STEM subjects. Prior experience with turbulence is desirable but not essential. Imperial College London is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, holding awards and partnerships that promote respect and support for all students. The application deadline is 30 April 2026, with a start date in October 2026. For further information, contact Prof. Oliver Buxton ([email protected]) regarding the project, or Lisa Kelly ([email protected]) for application process queries. To apply, use the Imperial College London postgraduate doctoral application portal, select 'Aeronautics Research (PhD)', reference AE0084, and list Prof. Oliver Buxton as supervisor. More information about fee status and the institution is available online.