Orographic flow modelling over the Alps REP 2026

Project background

Scientific Background

The international TEAMx programme presents the opportunity for a step-change in accurately simulating and forecasting orographic flows (weather systems over mountainous regions) – providing the tools needed for addressing open questions on governing processes and their representation in models.

TEAMx coordinated and hosted an unprecedented observational network over the European Alps for over a year, focused on 2025, with several intensive periods, and with the UK committed to a major contribution. The observational novelty comes from the design to comprehensively sample across multiple scales. From local-scales, depending on well-equipped single sites; to district- and regional-scales, depending on ground-based remote sensing, networks of sites and research aircraft; to country- and mountain-range-scales, knitting together massive networks of sites and observations from multiple co-ordinated research aircraft. We now have the task of exploiting these world-class data sets.

Research Methodology

This REP will focus on using wind profiles from ground-based doppler LIDARS from various sites in Austria and Italy to evaluate the quality of numerical weather prediction model simulations. The observations have already been made. Part of the REP will be learning how to (i) quality control, (ii) visualise, (iii) interpret and (iv) use as validation data sets. Two data sets are from the UK team, and several others will be obtained from Austrian and German collaborators (arrangements are already in place).

The model simulations include preexisting operational forecasts and those being run by a team of UK researchers (including at UEA). The REP will have access to these simulations via national high performance computing facilities. Guidance in working with the model output will be provided to enable (i) data extraction, (ii) visualisation, (ii) statistical evaluation against the observations.

The objective of the REP will be to assess the quality of the model simulations of several orographic flow periods during the Summer and (if time allows) Winter intensive observational periods. The REP will join a research team at UEA consisting of a Principal Investigator (Ian Renfrew), a researcher co-investigator (Dan Smith) and a senior research associate (Jack Mustafa), so they will be well supported. The student will have the opportunity to help define the periods of model assessment and will work to establish under what meteorological conditions the model performs well or less well. This will involve sampling the data sets for different conditions and likely bring in other sources of observational data sets too – for example, standard meteorological observations of wind, temperature, humidity, surface fluxes (etc) from ground-based stations.

The REP will be executed in collaboration with Peter Sheridan from the Met Office. Peter led the Met Office’s quasi-operational forecasting support of the TEAMx field campaign in 2025 and is already collaborating with the UK team. Peter will provide specialist knowledge and technical support for this placement opportunity. UEA is now part of the Met Office Academic Partnership and this REP will demonstrate a tangible contribution to that fledging partnership.

Eligibilty criteria

Students must meet all of the eligibility requirements listed below to apply for a REP:

Be undertaking their first undergraduate degree studies (or integrated Masters) – note that students in in their final year who have graduated and no longer have student status at the time the placement starts are not eligible;
Be eligible for subsequent NERC PhD funding (please see the relevant text in the ‘Terms and conditions for training funding’ and associated guidance for further information – https://www.ukri.org/publications/terms-and-conditions-for-training-funding/); and
Have the right to work in the UK.

Students from outside the UK who do not already have right to work in the UK should not apply.

How to apply

The deadline for applications will be midday (12 noon BST) on Wednesday 20 May 2026.

In order to be considered for a placement, please apply to aries.dtp@uea.ac.uk providing the following:

A supporting statement explaining your motivation for applying for this project. Please include answers to the following questions:
- which project are you applying for?
- why have you applied for this project (e.g. what interested you about this project, what in particular made you want to undertake this research)?
- what do you hope to achieve by undertaking this placement (e.g. is it for experience, to gain skills, to develop your interests)?
- what skills do you have that make you an ideal candidate for this placement (e.g. what skills have you developed during your degree that might apply)?
- what do you hope to do when you complete your degree (e.g. have you considered a working in scientific research in the future, or is this your first experience)?
A recent CV
A reference from your personal tutor (please ask your tutor to send this to us directly)
An interim transcript if available
Please also complete the online EDI form (this form is a mandatory part of the application process, but contains ‘prefer not to say’ options for all questions asked)

Selection process

Applications are screened for eligibility
Applications are forwarded to supervisors (the EDI form is not included)
Supervisors shortlist candidates and interview for the placement.

Candidates will be scored according to the following criteria:

Fit to project (e.g. your current skills, area of study, interests)
Enthusiasm for environmental research (e.g. what you hope to achieve through undertaking this placement, why you chose this project in particular)
Evidence of suitability to undertake a research placement (e.g. evidence from your tutor reference, transcript, and CV that you are an engaged student)

Successful candidates will be informed by Friday 12 June 2026.