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PhD Studentship: Physics-Informed AI and Experimental Modelling of Ocean Mixing: From Fracture Zones to Ocean Ventilation University of Exeter in United Kingdom
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Computer Science
Funding
Available
Deadline
Dec 8, 2026
Country
United Kingdom
University
University of Exeter
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About this position
PhD studentship at the University of Exeter on physics-informed AI and experimental modelling of ocean mixing, focusing on how fracture zones connect deep-ocean mixing, tracer transport, abyssal upwelling, and large-scale ocean ventilation.
The project addresses a major climate-science challenge: how small-scale turbulent mixing in the deep ocean shapes basin-scale overturning circulation and the transport of heat, carbon, and nutrients. It builds on a unique 22-year tracer-release experiment in the Brazil Basin and investigates the Rio de Janeiro Fracture Zone, a deep passage between the Brazil and Angola Basins that has revealed unexpected pathways of abyssal water movement.
You will combine tracer observations, turbulence measurements, data science, and numerical modelling to study mixing-driven circulation in deep fracture zones. The modelling framework is based on MITgcm (MIT General Circulation Model) and will extend previous canyon simulations to an open fracture-zone geometry. Numerical experiments will examine how topography, stratification, and mixing affect tracer dispersion, water-mass transformation, and overturning circulation.
A key part of the studentship is the use of physics-informed artificial intelligence. Machine-learning surrogate models will be trained on MITgcm simulation ensembles to emulate tracer transport and mixing processes at much lower computational cost. These AI models are intended to support rapid exploration, uncertainty quantification, and testing of improved mixing parameterisations for use in ocean and climate models.
The studentship is funded by EPSRC and provides fees plus a stipend of £21,805 per annum for 2026/7. The project is well suited to candidates interested in oceanography, environmental fluid dynamics, numerical simulation, data science, and AI for Earth-system modelling. Application deadline: 2026-12-08.
Funding details
Available
How to apply
Apply through the University of Exeter funding page using the application link provided. Submit the required application materials before the deadline. Review the project details carefully to ensure your research interests match the advertised topic.
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Review drafts and confirm requirements with the provider.