PhD Studentship (NERC GW4+ DTP) - Understanding Volcanic Unrest at Italian Volcanoes with Multi-Disciplinary Data, Machine-Learning, and Numerical Models (September 2025 Entry)

About the Partnership

This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the NERC Great Western Four+ Doctoral Training Partnership (GW4+ DTP). The GW4+ DTP consists of the Great Western Four alliance of the University of Bath, University of Bristol, Cardiff University and the University of Exeter plus five Research Organisation partners: British Antarctic Survey, British Geological Survey, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology,  the Natural History Museum and Plymouth Marine Laboratory. The partnership aims to provide a broad training in earth and environmental sciences, designed to train tomorrow’s leaders in earth and environmental science. For further details about the programme please see http://nercgw4plus.ac.uk/

Project details

For information relating to the research project please contact the lead Supervisor via J.Hickey@exeter.ac.uk

Project Aims and Methods

To enable eruption forecasting, carry out hazard assessment, and mitigate risk, a thorough understanding of volcanic unrest is essential. Italy is home to several active volcanic systems, some of which have undergone recent volcanic eruption or unrest (e.g., Etna, Vulcano, Stromboli, Campi Flegrei), often posing a threat to local populations. This PhD project will exploit recent advances in numerical modelling and machine learning (ML) data processing and assimilation techniques to develop new workflows that can interpret deformation, seismic, and other geophysical datasets. Data collection and target volcanoes within Italy will be co-developed with the PhD student according to personal interest and volcanic activity levels, alongside project co-supervisors from the INGV (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia) and BGS (British Geological Survey). Using numerical modelling and the newest ML techniques, the student will simulate the observed multidisciplinary geophysical data to constrain the mechanisms driving volcanic unrest and compare different volcanic systems. Results may be used by the INGV as part of their appointed volcano monitoring and hazard assessment responsibilities, and the student will spend time hosted in Italy with the INGV, where they may also conduct some fieldwork, and at the BGS in Scotland. 

Project partners

The Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) will contribute through hosting a student at INGV, providing staff time as a co-supervisor, providing data and initial training/instruction for data handling, providing support for fieldwork, HPC facilities for data processing and/or simulations and software licenses. 

Training

The DTP offers funding to undertake specialist training relating to the student’s specialist area of research. 

Useful links

Webpage: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/research/groups/csm/activeearth/#a5 

To apply, please click on the ‘Apply’ button above.

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