2026 Internship Opportunities

Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS) melting has accelerated in recent decades and could contribute up to one meter of global sea level rise by the end of the century. AIS melt is primarily driven by oceanic heat. In particular, by warm, offshore waters that intrude toward the ice sheet in troughs that cut across the continental shelf. Therefore, these warm water intrusions are very variable in space and in time. Therefore, understanding what controls the timing and frequency of these heat intrusions is crucial to understanding fluctuations in ice sheet melting, and the vulnerability of the AIS under climate change. This project will utilize more than 8 years of data from several oceanographic moorings in the Amundsen Sea, where the most rapidly melting ice shelves are located. We will use this data to characterize the variability in oceanic heat intrusions toward the ice sheet, and also investigate the drivers of these intrusions (e.g. winds, sea ice, etc) using satellite remote sensing data. Understanding these processes is crucial to predict future changes in ice sheet melt.

The student will work as part of a team of researchers in the Ocean Dynamics Lab and larger Cryosphere Research Group at the University of Edinburgh, to carry out a research project examining observations from an oceanographic mooring in the Southern Ocean. The project will involve conducting data analysis in Python, reading scientific papers to help interpret the results, as well as developing scientific presentation and writing skills.

During the internship, the student will learn or improve their scientific computing and data analysis skills, as well as gain familiarity with the process of conducting academic research. The project will put into practice fundamental ideas from physical oceanography and glaciology. The student will also learn how to give an effective research presentation and write a scientific abstract.

Any major in physical sciences or engineering, e.g. geosciences, physics, math, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, computer science.

Prior experience programming in Python is desired but not necessary.

Desirable to provide your own laptop

• The internship is located in the UK. A visa is not necessary for US citizens (who can stay in the UK for up to 6 months as a standard visitor), but may be required for other nationalities. Please get in touch if you are unsure about this.  
• Student(s) are responsible for securing accommodations for the duration of the internship.
• Students will meet with internship mentors in the spring, prior to the internship start date. Reading materials may also be provided.
• Students will need to consult UHS for travel medical requirements. It is the responsibility of the student to be aware of entry requirements and to obtain any necessary documentation. Valid passport required. Students are required to register their travel with the University through Enroll My Trip. Information related to the University’s Permissible Travel Guidelines can be found here. Funding is contingent on travel registration and University approval.