To rain or not to rain: Understanding Pyrocumulonimbus precipitation

The successful candidate will be working under the supervision of Prof. Hamish McGowan, Dr Adrien Guyot at UQ, and Assistant Professor Neil Lareau (University of Nevada, Reno), and will research the thermodynamic characteristics of wildfire triggered thunderstorms (Pyrocumulonimbus - PyroCb). A major focus of the research will be on mechanisms that result in some PyroCb producing precipitation, while other PyroCb do not. This new knowledge will be used to contribute to a larger research program investigating wildfire-atmosphere interactions and their observation and nowcasting using remote sensing technologies.

During the course of the PhD, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to travel to the University of Nevada, Reno, to work with Assistant Professor Neil Lareau and attend international conferences to present their research. They will also have the opportunity to engage with scientists at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. The preference is for the candidate to start the project toward the end of 2023.

The successful applicant will undertake their research as a member of the Atmospheric Observations Research Group within the School of the Environment, Faculty of Science, The University of Queensland located on the St Lucia campus, Brisbane. They will work under the supervision of Prof. Hamish McGowan, Dr Adrien Guyot at UQ and Assistant Professor Neil Lareau at the University of Nevada, Reno, USA. Accordingly, during the course of their candidature there will be opportunities to travel and to conduct research at the University of Nevada, Reno. The candidate will work with existing datasets and have the opportunity to collect data during field research.

This project is supported by the Research project scholarship.

Learn more about the Research project scholarship.

Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.

We take into account your:

• previous academic record
• publication record
• honours and awards
• employment history.

A working knowledge of experience in the analysis of the thermodynamic properties of the atmosphere with a focus on severe weather research would be of benefit to someone working on this project.

You will demonstrate academic achievement in the field(s) of atmospheric science, maths, physics, geography, environmental science, remote sensing and the potential for scholastic success.

A background or knowledge of computational programming experience with Matlab, Python, R, or equivalent would be advantageous is highly desirable.

Before you apply

Before submitting an application you should:

1. check your eligibility for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
2. prepare your documentation
3. contact Professor Hamish McGowan (h.mcgowan@uq.edu.au) to discuss your interest and suitability
4. submit your application by 25 December, 2030 25 December, 2030.

When you apply

You apply for this scholarship when you submit an application for your program. You don’t need to submit a separate scholarship application.

In your application ensure that under the ‘Scholarships and collaborative study’ section you select:

• ‘My higher degree is not collaborative’
• ‘I am applying for, or have been awarded a scholarship or sponsorship'
• ‘Other’, then ‘Research Project Scholarship’ and in the ‘Name of scholarship’ field enter PRECIPITATION-MCGOWAN.

Apply now