The Atmospheric Physics PhD projects will be part of the Science and Solutions for a Changing Planet DTP together with the Grantham Institute – Climate Change and the Environment.

Note that the deadline for all projects is midday (12pm GMT) on Friday the 6th of January 2023, but you are encouraged to contact potential supervisors in advance of this deadline (emails can be found on the project advert). The supervisors can often provide further advice and information about the project. You should also speak to the supervisor if you would like to suggest a slightly different project. 

Further details (including eligibility) about the DTP application process is available on the DTP Studentship opportunities webpage.

Space physics projects will be posted in the new year (2023). The following space physics projects are currently available for entry in October 2023:

1. The unusual radiation belts of the ice giant planets.

These projects are expected to be funded by STFC studentships. For specific eligibility questions, please contact the supervisor or the SPAT admissions coordinator. Applications will be considered as they are submitted, with the expectation that any offers will be made by spring 2023. Early application is recommended.

1. The unusual radiation belts of the ice giant planets.

Supervisor: Dr Adam Masters (a.masters@imperial.ac.uk)

Masters PhD Project 2023 - Ice Giants

In April of 2022 the results of the latest Planetary Science & Astrobiology Decadal Survey were announced in the USA, recommending that a mission to put a spacecraft in orbit around the planet Uranus should be NASA’s highest priority flagship over the next decade. This mission will revolutionise our understanding of such “ice giants”, and there are also plans to visit the other ice giant, Neptune. This project builds on our leadership in defining the science goals of these pioneering missions on the horizon.

The aim is to assess whether the unusual magnetic fields generated inside these ice giants could explain their equally unusual “radiation belts”, all observed by Voyager 2 when it flew by these planets in the 1980s. Radiation belts are regions of space around a magnetised planet where high-energy charged particles are trapped within the surrounding magnetic field structure. We have proposed that some of the unusual aspects of the ice giant radiation belts could be due to their more complex magnetic fields, compared to other magnetised planets like the Earth.

The work will involve simple numerical modelling of how charged “test” particles move through the two planetary magnetic field structures, to ultimately establish the extent to which observed radiation belt properties can be explained by the additional field complexity. As the project moves forwards there will be potential to greatly expand the numerical modelling effort, to compare all the Solar System’s magnetised planets, to modify existing theory to the ice giants, and even extend beyond the Solar System with a more general assessment of radiation belts supported by multipolar magnetic fields.

Within the group the student will join a team of researchers studying all the planets in the Solar System. More broadly, the student will also join the international ice giant science community. Project results will be relevant for the Uranus flagship mission in preparation. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the supervisor for further information.

Please inform Dr Adam Masters (a.masters@imperial.ac.uk) when you submit your online application form.

The following laboratory astrophysics project is currently available for entry in October 2023:

1. Spectroscopy of astrophysically important elements and applications to astrophysics.

This project is expected to be funded by STFC studentships. For specific eligibility questions, please contact the supervisor or the SPAT admissions coordinator. Applications will be considered as they are submitted, with the expectation that any offers will be made by spring 2023. Early application is recommended.

1. Laboratory Astrophysics: Spectroscopy of astrophysically important elements and applications to astrophysics.

Supervisor: Prof. Juliet Pickering (j.pickering@imperial.ac.uk)

2023 Pickering LabAstro

Research areas: atomic physics, spectroscopy, astrophysics and atmospheric physics

Background: The spectra of planetary atmospheres and stars are usually extremely complex: all the elements of the periodic table may contribute, as molecules or atoms in more than one stage of ionisation, blends of several lines are the rule rather than the exception. New high resolution spectrographs on ground- and space based telescopes give exciting spectra of stars and planetary atmospheres, but the laboratory atomic data and atomic physics (atomic energy levels, wavelengths etc) that are vital for the interpretation of the astrophysical spectra, are often too inaccurate and incomplete. Vast improvements are needed in many cases in knowledge and understanding of atomic spectra.

The Space & Atmospheric Physics group’s Spectroscopy Laboratory has a Fourier Transform spectrometer which is unique - holding the short wavelength record for an instrument of its kind, and with its very high resolution and broad spectral range is ideal for studies of astrophysically important atoms and ions in the visible to ultra violet spectral range. Once an atomic spectrum has been recorded in the laboratory, an analysis of the spectrum is carried out to yield new atomic parameters over a broad spectral range (infra red through to ultraviolet) at unprecedented accuracy. This brings new understanding of the atomic physics. We collaborate internationally on applications of the new atomic data. Examples include our work on the Gaia-ESO survey of 100,000s Galactic stars to understand Galactic evolution.

Research Objectives: An STFC funded Ph.D. project is available to investigate astrophysically important atomic spectra using high resolution spectroscopy. Spectra to be studied will be carefully selected to be most relevant and urgently needed for astrophysics applications. The initial stage of the project is experimental in nature with spectra being studied in the UV and visible spectral region at Imperial College, and in the infra-red possibly at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (USA) or in Lund University (Sweden), with whom we regularly collaborate. The student would then undertake a full analysis of the spectra. We anticipate collaboration with theoretical atomic physics groups during this analysis stage. The new atomic data will then be applied in particular astrophysical spectral analyses through collaboration with astronomers. Examples of our recent research include working with teams investigating topics as diverse as Galactic evolution, time variation of the Fundamental constants, and understanding neutron star mergers.

You will gain: experimental expertise in a world-class laboratory, using unique instruments; experience undertaking experiments in laboratories abroad; learn about atomic physics; skills in theoretical analysis of spectra learning computational and analytical skills; experience working on applications of the new atomic data to analyses of particular astrophysical spectra.

The Student: The strongest candidates will have a first class degree in physics or astrophysics. This PhD suits a student who enjoys a combination of computational, analytical and experimental work.

Please inform Prof Juliet Pickering (j.pickering@imperial.ac.uk) when you submit your online application form.

The President's PhD Scholarship offers full tuition fees and a generous stipend for a PhD place at Imperial College London. Up to 50 students across the College are funded each year, with no restriction on nationality. However, it should be emphasised that this is an extremely competitive award, which is reserved for candidates of exceptional academic achievement, as well as demonstrated commitment to research. The Space and Atmospheric Physics group is proud to have hosted several President's PhD Scholars in recent years.

Successful candidates are typically one of the top students in their graduating cohort, have experience of research, and often have authored or co-authored peer-reviewed journal articles as an undergraduate. 

The first step in the process is to make contact with a prospective supervisor. We are very happy to support competitive applications - if you are interested in working with a particular academic, please contact them directly, details are here. If one of the projects listed on this page is of particular interest, please do let us know.

The group is limted in the number of candidates that it can support. We therefore encourage you to make early contact with prospective supervisors. 

If you have any questions regarding the PhD program in SPAT, please contact the SPAT Admissions Coordinator using the email address spat.pg@imperial.ac.uk.

We welcome applicants for visiting PhD students on the China Scholarship Council (CSC) scholarship. Any research topic of your choice related to tropical cyclones will be considered. You will be joining the largest tropical cyclone research team in Europe, gaining unique experience of studying at Imperial and living in London. Other benefits are: 

An extra allowance on top of the CSC stipend  
Expenses to attend an international conference during your stay to present your research of this scholarship  
No bench fee
We also welcome applications from tropical cyclone research staff on a topic of their choice applying for CSC visiting positions.

Please send your CV to Professor Ralf Toumi: r.toumi@imperial.ac.uk