PhD Studentship: Antarctic Glacial Meltwater and its Importance for Ocean Circulation and Climate University of East Anglia in United Kingdom

[Fully funded studentship covering fees, maintenance stipend of £21,805 p.a. for 2026/27, and a research training and support grant (RTSG). A limited number of places are available for international applicants, with the home/international fee difference waived by the university; relocation, visa, and health surcharge costs are not covered.]

PhD Studentship: Antarctic Glacial Meltwater and its Importance for Ocean Circulation and Climate at the University of East Anglia is a research-focused doctoral project on Antarctic oceanography, climate, and ice-ocean interactions.

The project addresses an important scientific problem in West Antarctica: fast-melting ice shelves release freshwater into surrounding shelf seas, changing temperature and salinity patterns and influencing both local ice-shelf melting and larger-scale ocean circulation. The student will investigate where this meltwater goes, how it is transported, and which processes control its pathways and variability over time.

Research will combine analysis of new and historical ocean observations gathered by ships, profiling floats, tagged seals, and UEA’s fleet of ocean gliders. These data will be used to detect and quantify meltwater flows in the Bellingshausen Sea, Antarctica. The project also includes use of state-of-the-art ocean model output to study how these processes evolve across years and decades.

Training is a major part of the studentship. The successful candidate will receive thorough training in physical oceanography, ice-ocean interactions, and big-data science. There may be opportunities to attend specialist training such as the FDSE fluid dynamics summer school, take part in a Southern Ocean cruise, and deploy ocean gliders as part of the research. The project also offers hands-on experience in marine autonomy and robotics, including glider deployments, mission design, and piloting.

The project is linked to the NERC-funded BELLISSIMO project, providing opportunities to work with national and international collaborators and to develop skills in communicating complex scientific ideas clearly. The studentship is well suited to a candidate interested in ocean/climate research, marine technologies, or related careers in marine industry and consultancy.

Eligibility highlights: applicants should be interested in ocean physics and ideally have studied natural sciences, physics, mathematics, oceanography, meteorology, or environmental sciences. Strong numerical and computational skills are expected. The studentship is offered under ARIES/UKRI terms and conditions.

Funding: this is a fully funded studentship with a maintenance stipend of £21,805 p.a. for 2026/27, plus fees and a research training and support grant (RTSG). A limited number of awards are available for international applicants, with the home/international fee difference waived; however, additional relocation, visa, and health surcharge costs are not covered.

Application deadline: 16 December 2026.

Apply via: University of East Anglia postgraduate research application portal.