It is the first PhD in Italy to offer a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to study the interaction between climate change and its scientific and social implications. The CMCC Foundation contributes to the realization of the PhD of the University of Bologna “Alma Mater Studiorum” with three scholarships. The deadline for applications is May 21, 2020.

The PhD program of the University of Bologna in “Future Earth, Climate Change and Societal Challenges” is now open for applications.

The PhD program is done in collaboration with CMCC, CNR, INGV and the Environmental Regional Protection Agency. Prof. Nadia Pinardi (University of Bologna, Department of Physics and Astronomy, and CMCC) is the coordinator.

Please find how to apply here. Available positions: 19 scholarships.

The deadline for application is May 21, 2020 (at 01:00 pm, Italian time).

The PhD is the first in Italy to be focused on the understanding of the Earth System considering both natural and man induced hazards, climate change adaptation and mitigation and the current and future societal challenges due to climate change. To understand and address these challenges, we need a multidisciplinary approach and the ability to look towards the future.

The PhD program is organized around 4 themes in the fields of (a) The Earth system; (b) Impacts, adaptation and vulnerability; (c) Technological innovations for a decarbonized society and (d) Socio-economic and legal studies for mitigation of climate change.

The CMCC Foundation contributes to the realization of the PhD while funding 3 scholarships, with the following different research themes (for more information on CMCC scholarships, see the official website of the PhD program):

Climate downscaling and oceanography: Downscaling of seasonal forecasts for coastal areas of the ocean
This research topic is concerned with the development and implementation of new coupled seasonal met-ocean predictions in coastal areas. The activities will exploit the existing Copernicus Climate Service (C3S) Seasonal Forecasting products, developed by CMCC, and downscale them by means of statistical and deterministic (with numerical models) approaches in the coastal and marine domains. The numerical models to be used for the ocean will be the new generation unstructured grid models capable of resolving the coastal geometry in details. The skill of the downscaled seasonal coastal forecast will be assessed with observations and user-relevant indicators will be developed for Essential Climate Variables (ECVs). The coastal seasonal forecasting system will provide the ECV indicators will be selected in order to show improved ecosystem and risk management on the basis of the forecasts.

This scholarship is funded by the Fondazione CMCC (Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici) and the successful applicant will carry out the research in Lecce, after the general courses/training period in Bologna. The Lecce laboratory: https://www.cmcc.it/research-organization/research-divisions/ocean-predictions-and-applications

Oceanography and marine pollution: Marine pollution modeling and risk mapping
Oceanographic monitoring and modeling will be used to study the pathways and fate of marine pollutants such as hydrocarbons and marine litter. The activities will consider advanced modelling methods and risk mapping techniques related to tracing pollutants on local and regional scales. The PhD will also consider the coupling of pollutants models with meteo-oceanographic fields from operational oceanography products such as Copernicus Marine Monitoring Environment Service and downscaled high resolution limited area systems. Ensemble and multi-model methods, risk assessment and eventually decision support systems will be developed. Integration of modelling and observing systems for model validation will be carried out. The PhD will further develop the MEDSLIK-II oil spill community model (http://www.medslik-ii.org/) and the CMCC marine litter model. Possible key questions are identified as follows: Which factors affect the dispersion of the pollutants in the marine environment? What happens to the contaminants on the ocean’s surface, in the water column and the sediments? How do marine pollutants interact with marine habitats? How do they influence marine and maritime resources? What is the rate of fragmentation, biofouling, and sedimentation of plastics? What are the mechanisms of beaching, seabed deposition?

This scholarship is funded by the Fondazione CMCC (Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici) and the successful applicant will carry out the research in Lecce, after the general courses/training period in Bologna. The Lecce laboratory: https://www.cmcc.it/research-organization/research-divisions/ocean-predictions-and-applications.

Ocean predictions: Wave induced mixing processes and their parameterization in coupled wave-current numerical models
This PhD research scholarship deals with the understanding of wave induced mixing processes and their parameterizations in numerical ocean models. The final objective is to improve the coupled wave-current numerical model of the Mediterranean Sea in hindcast and forecasting mode. This project is connected to the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (https://marine.copernicus.eu/).

This scholarship is funded by the CMCC Foundation CMCC Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change Foundation(CMCC), Ocean Modeling and Data Assimilation Division located in Bologna and the successful applicant will carry out the research in Bologna. The Bologna Laboratory: https://www.cmcc.it/research-organization/research-divisions/ocean-modeling-and-data-assimilation.

Please find “How to Apply” and details about courses/training here:

The official website dedicated to PhD program in “Future Earth, Climate Change and Societal Challenges”

Visit the page dedicated to this PhD program on the CMCC website.

Visit the page dedicated to the Call for applications for admission to the 36^th cycle of PhD programs of the University of Bologna.