Numerical Investigation of Liquid Metal Magneto-Coriolis-Centrifugal Convection

Eligibility: UK/International (including EU) graduates with the required entry requirements

Funding details: Tuition Fee and Stipend

Duration: Full-time – between three and three and a half years fixed term

Application deadline: 27 May 2024

Interview dates: Will be confirmed to shortlisted candidates

Start date: September 2024

To find out more about the project, please contact Susanne Horn

Introduction

The successful applicant will work under the supervision of the award winner, Associate Professor Dr Susanne Horn.

Applications are invited for a PhD position in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics within the project MAGNADO - The Magnetohydrodynamics of Liquid Metal Tornadoes (selected for funding by the prestigious European Research Council (ERC) and funded through the UKRI 'Horizon Europe guarantee') at the Research Centre for Fluid and Complex Systems (FCS) at Coventry University. The ERC is The European Union’s most selective funding mechanism for ground-breaking science.

This ambitious project tackles the long-standing challenge of understanding how convective flows in liquid planetary cores generate and sustain the magnetic fields of planets through the dynamo process, The project explores the radically new idea that the elusive type of flows able to generate magnetic fields may be produced by tornado-like vortices.

Project details

This PhD project will focus on the modelling of electro-magnetic effects, in particular, clarify the possible role of Alfvén waves in planetary core convection.
The successful candidate will implement increasingly sophisticated magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) models accounting for Alfvén waves in our in-house code goldfish. The PhD researcher will then carry out numerical simulations to assess their performance against cutting-edge experiments and against the classical quasi-static MHD approximation that ignores waves.
This project offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the field of planetary science and to develop a world-leading expertise in geophysical and numerical fluid dynamics. The successful candidate will also be able to develop an extensive scientific network by working with the best experts in the field word-wide, through extensive collaboration across the USA and Europe thanks to the great flexibility offered by the ERC-guarantee.

Funding

Tuition fees and stipend

Benefits

The successful candidate will receive comprehensive research training including technical, personal and professional skills.

All researchers at Coventry University (from PhD to Professor) are part of the Doctoral College and Centre for Research Capability and Development, which provides support with high-quality training and career development activities. 

Candidate specification

Entry criteria for applicants to PhD

A bachelor’s (honours) degree in a relevant discipline/subject area with a minimum classification of 2:1 and a minimum mark of 60% in the project element (or equivalent), or an equivalent award from an overseas institution.
PLUS
the potential to engage in innovative research and to complete the PhD within 3.5 years
An adequate proficiency in English must be demonstrated by applicants whose first language is not English. The general requirement is a minimum overall IELTS Academic score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each of the four sections, or the TOEFL iBT test with a minimum overall score of 95 with a minimum of 21 in each of the four sections.

Entry criteria for applicants to MSc/MA by Research

Minimum of a 2:1 first degree in a relevant discipline/subject area with a minimum 60% mark in the project element or equivalent with a minimum 60% overall module average

For further details please visit: https://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/research-opportunities/research-students/making-an-application/research-entry-criteria/

https://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/research-opportunities/research-students/making-an-application/

Additional requirements

Experience in fluid mechanics and/or with numerical simulations is strongly advised. The position is fully funded for a period of 3.5 years and is expected to start in January 2024.

To express interest in this PhD opportunity, please send a CV and a full transcript of academic records to Susanne Horn.

Informal enquiries are encouraged.