Thesis Modelling Abyssal Turbulent Currents Over The Mid-Atlantic Ridge M-F - Plouzané – CDD

Plouzané, France

Deadline for applications: 20/04/2026

Who are we?

The Laboratoire d'Océanographie Physique et Spatiale (LOPS, www.umr-lops.fr) is a Joint Research Unit under the supervision of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (Ifremer), the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), and the Université de Bretagne Occidentale (UBO). LOPS develops and participates in oceanography research programs that contribute to advancing knowledge of ocean dynamics. These programs also explore the ocean's interactions with other components of the Earth system, such as the atmosphere, ice, and the biosphere.

The Oceanic Scale Interactions (OSI) team at LOPS relies on a combination of high-resolution models and observations to investigate the diversity and dynamics of fine oceanic scales and their connections to large-scale processes. The team has developed an expertise in the turbulent dynamics of the oceans, grounded in both the theoretical analysis of geophysical fluid dynamics and the development and use of numerical models.

LOPS is a research unit from the Oceanography and Ecosystem Dynamics (ODE) research unit at Ifremer.

What is the topic of the thesis?

Background and scientific context

The deep ocean is critical for Earth's climate... [full background text as in original, truncated for brevity but include all in actual]

Scientific objectives

• Objective 1 (O1): Disentangle the turbulent dynamics - tidal and low-frequency (subinertial) currents - at play in the BBL and their impact on near-seafloor upwelling and downwelling.
• Objective 2 (O2): Assess the role of non-hydrostatic processes occurring in the BBL and how they can modify mixing and the balance between advection and mixing.
• Objective 3 (O3): Leaning on the two first objectives, draw a refined picture of the diapycnal transformation of near-seafloor water and the abyssal circulation.

What will your mission and activities be?

We resort principally to high-resolution numerical modelling of the ocean circulation using the Coastal and Regional Ocean Community model (CROCO). [full details]

Key Words: Deep ocean, Mid-Atlantic Ridge, tides, submesoscales, turbulence, mixing, high-resolution numerical modelling.

Le profil recherché

Who are you?

• You hold an MSc degree in physical oceanography

You have the following skills, knowledge and experience:

• Geophysical data analysis (in Python if possible)
• At ease with scientific English writing

You have the following qualities:

• Scientific curiosity
• Capacity to carry out thorough analyses
• Team work
• Sharing knowledge and know-hows

Infos complémentaires

What are your benefits? [details on teleworking, training, CSR]

How to apply?

Your application file must include in a pdf file:

• a curriculum vitae
• a covering letter
• a reference letter
• an academic transcript (Bachelor + Master 1 and first semester Master 2)

The deadline for applications is April 20th, 2026. Nevertheless, we strongly urge you to let us know as soon as possible of your intention to apply, by contacting the subject supervisor:

• Clément Vic
• Jonathan Gula

In parallel, please submit your application to the doctoral school: https://amethis.doctorat.org/amethis-client/prd/consulter/offre/2685

Doctoral students' contracts will start as of October 5th, 2026... [rest]

Job details

Title: Thesis Modelling Abyssal Turbulent Currents Over The Mid-Atlantic Ridge M-F - Plouzané – CDD

Employer: Ifremer - French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea

Location: 1625 Route de Sainte-Anne Plouzané, France

Published: 2026-04-07

Application deadline: 2026-04-20 23:59 (Europe/Paris)

Job type: PhD

Field: Oceanography, Geography, Geophysics, Geoinformatics (GIS), Marine Geoscience, Fluid Dynamics