Each year we offer a number of opportunities to study for a PhD under the supervision of academic staff in our group. Research topics include space and planetary physics, atmospheric physics and climate science, and laboratory astrophysics.
Projects on offer: Please click on the tabs below to find out about the opportunities that are available in each of our different research areas. The atmospheric physics projects have not yet been updated for projects starting in October 2025
Open day: Space and atmospheric physics will hold an open day to meet potential supervisors and discuss projects in the Autumn term 2025 - please check back here soon for more details. For further details about the open day, please contact:
- Dr Paulo Ceppi – Atmos Enquiries p.ceppi@imperial.ac.uk
- Dr Adam Masters – Space Enquiries a.masters@imperial.ac.uk
- General enquiries space.sec@imperial.ac.uk
How to apply
Get started by registering an account in My Imperial and follow these steps:
- Make sure you meet the entry requirements
- Take note of any deadlines
- Upload all supporting documents
- Check your application status
- Submit your offer conditions
Once you have submitted your application online, please save the full application in pdf format and send a copy to the SPAT Group Administration at space.sec@imperial.ac.uk.
Available projects
These projects were for October 2024 entry. Projects to start in 2025 will appear here shortly.
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 will be in early 2025, 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.
|
Project Title |
Lead Supervisor |
| 2024_58_Physics_RT.pdf A New Global Tropical Cyclone Model | Professor Ralf Toumi |
| 2024_59_Physics_HB.pdf Capturing the spectral fingerprints of errors in weather and climate models | Professor Helen Brindley |
| 2024_60_Physics_PC.pdf Relating future jet stream changes to present-day observable variability | Dr Paulo Ceppi |
| 2024_61_Physics_PC.pdf Why does climate sensitivity depend on the type of forcing? | Dr Paulo Ceppi |
| 2024_68_RAL_RS.pdf Use of Satellite Observations to identify and attribute Decadal Climate Change | Dr Richard Siddans (Rutherford Appleton Laboratory)/ Prof Helen Brindley* |
| Observing aerosol-cloud interactions in a changing Arctic | Dr Edward Gryspeerdt (Department of Physics and Grantham Institute) |
The following space physics projects are currently available for entry in October 2025:
- Structure and evolution of the solar wind (Prof. Tim Horbury)
- Development of a Uranus Upper Atmosphere Model (Prof. Mueller-Wodarg)
- Revealing the physics of magnetic reconnection, a universal plasma process (Prof. Jonathan Eastwood)
STFC studentships are available and expected to provide funding for these projects. Applicants should ensure they are eligible to receive an STFC studentship before applying, and can contact the relevant point of contact with any questions.
On 31st January 2025 we will assess all applications received and begin the process of interviewing candidates, leading to offers by the spring. Applications will be accepted after 31st January 2025, but candidates may find that projects and PhD studentships are no longer available.
Applicants are encouraged to contact prospective supervisors before applying, and inform the supervisor when an application has been submitted.
The following laboratory astrophysics project is currently available for entry in October 2025:
- Atomic physics and spectroscopy of astrophysically important elements (Prof. Juliet Pickering)
STFC studentships are available and expected to provide funding for this project. Applicants should ensure they are eligible to receive an STFC studentship before applying, and can contact the relevant point of contact with any questions.
On 31st January 2025 we will assess all applications received and begin the process of interviewing candidates, leading to offers by the spring. Applications will be accepted after 31st January 2025, but candidates may find that projects and PhD studentships are no longer available.
Applicants are encouraged to contact prospective supervisors before applying, and inform the supervisor when an application has been submitted.
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.
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