PhD Studentship: Antarctic Glacial Meltwater and its Importance for Ocean Circulation and Climate

Overview

The School of Environmental Sciences at the University of East Anglia offers a PhD studentship focused on investigating Antarctic glacial meltwater and its importance for ocean circulation and climate. West Antarctica's fast-melting ice shelves release fresh water that alters circumpolar and global ocean currents, temperatures, and salt concentrations, which can further accelerate melting. Because measurements in key regions are difficult to obtain, understanding meltwater pathways remains poor. This project uncovers where this meltwater travels and why, helping improve predictions of its influence on global ocean circulation and ice shelf melting.

What you get

Successful candidates who meet UKRI eligibility criteria receive a fully-funded studentship covering academic fees, a maintenance stipend of £21,805 per annum for the 2026/27 period, and a research training and support grant under UKRI terms and conditions. A limited number of studentships are available for international applicants, where the registering university waives the difference between home and international fees. The funding does not cover relocation and living costs in the UK, such as visa expenses or the health surcharge.

Requirements

Applicants should be keen to learn about ocean physics and must have a background studying natural sciences, physics, mathematics, oceanography, meteorology, or environmental sciences, alongside strong numerical and computational skills.

Key dates

The closing date for applications is 2026-12-16.