PhD Studentship: Exploring the Use of Short to Long-range Weather Forecasting to Predict Industry Energy Usage and Resilience

University of Birmingham - School of Geography and Environmental Sciences

We invite applications for a fully funded PhD studentship (3.5 years) hosted by the University of Birmingham and conducted in collaboration with Siemens and the UK Met Office.

This project is ideal for candidates with a background in meteorology, climatology, physics, engineering and any related discipline, and a strong interest in applying advanced physical and computational methods to real-world challenges in the area of hazard assessment and impact forecasting.

The aim of the project is to develop methodologies for forecasting future energy use for various assets and weather scenarios from short term (synoptic scale) forecasting (< 5 days) to mid-century scenario-based climate predictions (time horizon 2030-2050).

The project will explore the merging of data sources to estimate future energy requirements. Using detailed energy usage data from different industrial reference sites (offices, manufacturing facilities etc.) to examine what elements are affected by different weather scenarios, the project will utilise the University of Birmingham’s smart campus building data in order to develop a template for such an assessment. In parallel, working the Met Office and their forecasting team, the project will explore the link between weather predictions and resulting energy usage forecasts on different time scales and the impact of the uncertainty around those e.g., on sub-seasonal time scales.

Join our University of Birmingham Meteorology and Climate group. The studentship is embedded in our University of Birmingham group of Meteorology and Climatology (https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/environmental-health/areas/meteorology-climate). The University of Birmingham is proud to be a member of the Met Office Academic Partnership (https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/moap/home-page) and the studentship is closely related to the current cohort of MOAP-PhD students and the wider PhD cohort in the group of meteorology and climate and the School of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences. The studentship is also closely related to our School of Engineering.

Supervisory team:

• Dr Gregor C. Leckebusch (University of Birmingham)
• Professor of Meteorology and Climatology (UK Met Office Joint Chair); g.c.leckebusch@bham.ac.uk

Candidates should have or expect to receive a first or upper second (2.1) honours degree (or equivalent) in subject specific area like meteorology, physics, climate sciences or related subject areas.

Applications should be made through the University of Birmingham’s online application system via the above 'Apply' button.

Further information can be obtained by emailing Dr Gregor Leckebusch (g.c.leckebusch@bham.ac.uk) and/ or Louise Harry (louise.harry@siemens.com).

We are specifically interested in applications from applicants to be able to start as soon as possible, this academic year 2025/26.

Funding notes:

UK ("Home") students:
Successful applicants will receive substantial financial support, including a stipend matched to UKRI annual rates (25/26: £20,780), fee waivers (25/26: £5,006), and project related consumables, travel and subsistence allowance.

International ("Overseas") students:
Successful applicants may apply and receive funding at the equivalent rate of UK students; however the student will be responsible for payment of the outstanding fee balance.