PhD Studentship: Monitoring complex ecosystems - critical transitions in time series for soil health and earthquake emergence
University of Exeter
PhD Opportunity: Critical transitions in timeseries from soil & earthquakes From the collapse of the Amazon rainforest to financial markets, from earthquakes to degraded farmland - complex systems in the natural and human world can shift suddenly and irreversibly. Understanding such critical transitions ranks among the most urgent challenges in modern ecosystem sciences and societal preparedness. This PhD project puts you at the frontier of detecting such transitions in time series, drawing from original data fr...
PhD Opportunity: Critical transitions in timeseries from soil & earthquakes From the collapse of the Amazon rainforest to financial markets, from earthquakes to degraded farmland - complex systems in the natural and human world can shift suddenly and irreversibly. Understanding such critical transitions ranks among the most urgent challenges in modern ecosystem sciences and societal preparedness. This PhD project puts you at the frontier of detecting such transitions in time series, drawing from original data fr...
Opportunity details
PhD Opportunity: Critical transitions in timeseries from soil & earthquakes From the collapse of the Amazon rainforest to financial markets, from earthquakes to degraded farmland - complex systems in the natural and human world can shift suddenly and irreversibly. Understanding such critical transitions ranks among the most urgent challenges in modern ecosystem sciences and societal preparedness. This PhD project puts you at the frontier of detecting such transitions in time series, drawing from original data from soil and agriculture, as well as geohazards. The project Although difficult to describe mathematically in their full multiscale complexity, many complex systems leave warning signals in their data - subtle mathematical fingerprints that appear before a rapid transition unfolds. But reading those signals is hard. Real-world data is noisy, assumptions don't always hold, and the stakes of getting it wrong are high. You'll use and help further develop an open-source Julia-based toolkit, developed by co-supervisor Dr George Datseris, to tackle this detection problem in two exciting, real-world settings: Earthquakes. Can robust, consistently detectable signals in seismic data help us better understand the build-up towards earthquake rupture? You'll apply cutting-edge dynamic systems methods to seismological timeseries to find out. Soil ecosystems. Soils are complex, living systems that shift between states as seasons change, extreme weather hits, and agricultural practices evolve. You'll analyse soil timeseries to track how these transitions happen, and what drives them. Across both applications, a core challenge is distinguishing real transitions from statistical noise. You'll build rigorous frameworks for quantifying confidence in what the data is actually tell...
Eligibility
What We're Looking For We welcome applicants from anywhere. Strong candidates will have: A solid grounding in mathematical or physical sciences Interest in dynamical systems and complex system behaviour Some coding experience (Python and/or Julia) Enthusiasm for working across disciplines An independent, self-motivated approach to research You'll gain skills spanning dynamical systems theory, data science, earthquake science, and soil ecology, working with large, real-world datasets throughout, and collaborating with the non-profit organisation Earth Rover Program. For candidates with degrees from outside the UK, international tuition fees will need to be covered by other funding sources.
Requirements
What We're Looking For We welcome applicants from anywhere. Strong candidates will have: A solid grounding in mathematical or physical sciences Interest in dynamical systems and complex system behaviour Some coding experience (Python and/or Julia) Enthusiasm for working across disciplines An independent, self-motivated approach to research You'll gain skills spanning dynamical systems theory, data science, earthquake science, and soil ecology, working with large, real-world datasets throughout, and collaborating with the non-profit organisation Earth Rover Program. For candidates with degrees from outside the UK, international tuition fees will need to be covered by other funding sources.
Funding and benefits
Funding eligibility: UK Students. Funding amount: UK tuition fees and an annual tax-free stipend of at least £21,805 per year.
How to apply
You'll apply cutting-edge dynamic systems methods to seismological timeseries to find out. Across both applications, a core challenge is distinguishing real transitions from statistical noise. We actively encourage applications from people of all genders, nationalities, and backgrounds. For further information regarding this studentship and to apply for it, please visit the following website: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/funding/award/?id=5849
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Benefits
Funding eligibility: UK Students. Funding amount: UK tuition fees and an annual tax-free stipend of at least £21,805 per year.
Eligibility summary
What We're Looking For We welcome applicants from anywhere. Strong candidates will have: A solid grounding in mathematical or physical sciences Interest in dynamical systems and complex system behaviour Some coding experience (Python and/or Julia) Enthusiasm for working across disciplines An independent, self-motivated approach to research You'll gain skills spanning dynamical systems theory, data science, earthquake science, and soil ecology, working with large, real-world datasets throughout, and collaborating with the non-profit organisation Earth Rover Program. For candidates with degrees from outside the UK, international tuition fees will need to be covered by other funding sources.
Requirements
What We're Looking For We welcome applicants from anywhere. Strong candidates will have: A solid grounding in mathematical or physical sciences Interest in dynamical systems and complex system behaviour Some coding experience (Python and/or Julia) Enthusiasm for working across disciplines An independent, self-motivated approach to research You'll gain skills spanning dynamical systems theory, data science, earthquake science, and soil ecology, working with large, real-world datasets throughout, and collaborating with the non-profit organisation Earth Rover Program. For candidates with degrees from outside the UK, international tuition fees will need to be covered by other funding sources.
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