To apply, please send an email to physics.office@otago.ac.nz<\/a> with the subject line Funding key:<\/strong> Projects marked with \u2605<\/strong> have a specific grant-funded PhD studentship attached. Projects marked with \u25c6<\/strong> have additional external funding available on a competitive basis. Projects without a symbol will be part of the departmental or University of Otago PhD scholarship nominations.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n If you would like more information about any individual project, please reach out to the associated staff member for a friendly chat. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The rapid expansion of the space industry has resulted in an unprecedented pace of rocket launches and satellites in orbit. Over the past 15 years, rocket launches have nearly tripled, and the number of satellites has surged tenfold, raising significant concerns about environmental impacts. Deorbiting satellites at end-of-life by re-entry releases hundreds of tons of metallic particles annually into the atmosphere, with potential consequences including disruption to ozone recovery via introduction of long-lived ozone-depleting substances. With projections of up to 100,000 satellites by decade\u2019s end, high-altitude pollution from rocket exhaust and re-entries could persist for decades or centuries. This PhD project will provide key insights and recommendations for the management and mitigation of atmospheric re-entry, building on current understanding of ozone in the atmosphere and climate system.<\/p>\n Related links\/publications: <\/p>\n The Antarctic polar atmosphere is a key region driving seasonal-scale changes in the Southern Hemisphere. However, the full picture of chemical-dynamical coupling within the polar region, and links to lower latitudes, remains unsolved. This project builds on recent discoveries by our group with national and international collaborators.<\/p>\n Related links\/publications: <\/p>\n Antarctic sea-ice extent reached record lows in both summer and winter of 2023. A decline began around 2016 after an apparently stable or slightly increasing period since satellite observations began. The Otago Antarctic sea-ice physics group is part of the international effort \u201cAntarctica InSync\u201d, investigating the recent rapid decline. We focus on sea-ice formation and decay in a changing climate, particularly the impacts of freshwater from ice shelves and resulting changes (e.g., supercooling and ocean stratification). We examine these processes through laboratory experiments, field observations, and computational modelling. Projects suit students with backgrounds in physics and\/or mathematics, especially thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, optics, and computational physics.<\/p>\n Related links\/publications: <\/p>\n Solar flares are the largest explosions in the present-day solar system. They are challenging to forecast and can produce X-rays and radiation storms that negatively impact radio communications and the space environment. Subionospheric VLF phase and amplitude respond strongly to flare X-rays; recent work shows that VLF phase on long propagation paths provides good estimates of peak X-ray flux magnitude and its time variation. This project will use AARDDVARK subionospheric observations to test our ability to provide near-real-time warning of flares and the changing X-ray environment.<\/p>\n Related links\/publications: <\/p>\n Extreme space weather can drive very large geomagnetically induced currents (GIC) in grounded systems like power grids. Recent work indicates that a 1-in-100-year storm could cause large-scale blackouts in New Zealand, with billion-dollar economic impacts. Most approaches treat GIC as quasi-DC and purely ohmic, but some argue inductive properties of the grid are critical for <10 s variations that affect peak currents, harmonics, reactive power, and voltage stability. New Zealand operates one of the densest sets of GIC sensors globally. This project will develop existing ohmic GIC models and test them against large events where rapid, high-magnitude GIC variations were observed.<\/p>\n Related links\/publications: <\/p>\n Plasma astrophysics asks how magnetised, conducting matter organises fields, flows, and radiation across the Universe \u2014 from the Sun\u2019s corona and wind to disks and jets around black holes. Our group builds predictive models using a mix of asymptotic theory and supercomputer simulations, working to understand the fluid and kinetic plasma physics that control astrophysical processes. We test theories via collaborations with missions such as Parker Solar Probe, using detailed in-situ measurements to turn the heliosphere into a natural laboratory for wider astrophysics.<\/p>\n Projects are available on topics including:<\/p>\n Related links\/publications: Astroplasma Group<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Every measurement has error, and every model is incomplete \u2014 yet science depends on drawing sound conclusions from both. This project tackles that grand challenge: how to make quantitative, defensible statements when uncertainty is everywhere. Our team develops scalable Bayesian methods that extend the boundaries of what can be computed from complex physical data, through advances in modelling and computation. By improving the machinery of inference, we make it possible to model systems once considered too complex to handle accurately. Better computation drives better science, and clearer understanding of complex systems, from shallow groundwater to evolutionary genetics. Grow your skills with the team leading advances in Bayesian computation for the analysis of complex measurement data, with opportunities spanning theory, algorithms, and industrial applications.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Projects are available on the non-equilibrium statistical mechanics of chemically-driven active mater systems.\u00a0Active matter\u00a0is matter composed of large numbers of active “agents”, each of which consume\u00a0energy\u00a0in order to move or to exert mechanical forces. Examples of active matter span scales from self-organising\u00a0bio-polymers\u00a0to schools of fish and flocks of birds.\u00a0The Jack group works on the theory of chemically-driven active mater, particularly focused on explicitly modelling chemo-mechanical energy coupling and exploring the emergence of collective behaviour using mathematical tools from many-body quantum mechanics.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Rare earth ions in solids provide a unique set of properties for quantum information technology devices. Rare earth quantum memories for light leverage exceedingly long coherence times for both optical and spin transitions, as well as very large ratios of inhomogeneous to homogeneous linewidths, enabling wide-bandwidth operation. Rare earths have also recently achieved prominence in microwave-optical frequency conversion for quantum signals; if made practical, this could strongly impact scaling of superconducting-qubit quantum computers. We have recently shown that rare earths in magnetic crystals could lead to significantly improved performance for both applications. We are looking for new team members to better understand this exciting new class of materials and to create improved memories and transducers.<\/p>\n Related links\/publications: <\/p>\n Individual atoms can be held and manipulated by tightly focused laser beams called optical tweezers. This platform enables studies of few-body physics with an unprecedented level of control, and allows for direct observation of quantum events. Dysprosium is, alongside terbium, the most magnetic atom that exists, which makes it of particular interest. It can have an appreciable magnetic atom-atom interaction in addition to the electrostatic interactions that usually dominate. Interacting dysprosium atoms are therefore expected to have rich spin-dynamics. This project aims at experimentally studying the spin-dynamics of few interacting dysprosium atoms in an optical tweezer. The research may lead to improved magnetic field quantum sensors in the future.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Brillouin microscopy is an emerging technology that utilizes light-sound scattering to characterize 3D material viscoelastic properties with microscopic resolution without requiring physical access. This allows mechanical characterization in otherwise inaccessible regions, including the interior of cells or within the lens of eyes. However, light-sound scattering is a weak process and generally requires long acquisition times as well as elaborate systems to maximize sensitivity. This project develops a novel approach with beam shaping in a stimulated Brillouin microscope to overcome many limitations and translate the newly developed method into cellular biomechanics.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nonlinear optics allows us to change the colour of light. Usually very high fields are required; we generate these in some of the world\u2019s best ultra-high quality crystalline whispering gallery mode resonators, fabricated here in New Zealand. In them light is trapped at the rim of the resonator, allowing different colours of light to interact. We have several experimental projects available:<\/p>\n Related links\/publications: <\/p>\n The project will deliver a working prototype of a quantum-enabled 3D scanning unit for measuring antenna patterns and polarization properties in the GHz to THz frequency domain. The transducer of the scanning unit is based on miniature non-metallic vapour cells containing rubidium atoms. Using laser light the atoms are connected to Rydberg states, where they become very sensitive to external electric fields. By appropriate choice of the atomic quantum states in play the state of polarization of the incoming field can be determined.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The project aims to study Rydberg-mediated interactions between ultracold atomic ensembles held in optical tweezers and is supported by a Marsden Fund Grant and the Dodd-Walls Centre for Photonic and Quantum Technologies. Over the past decade, our group has successfully used a steerable tweezer platform as an optical collider to investigate cold collisions between ultracold atomic clouds. In parallel, we have built up expertise on Rydberg electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in room-temperature vapour cells. This project will combine our optical tweezer capabilities with Rydberg EIT to study how the transmission of light through one ultracold atomic ensemble is affected by a photon stored in another distant ensemble, each held in separate tweezers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\u201cOtago PhD 2026: {Name}\u201d. Please include the following information:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nAvailable PhD Projects<\/h2>\n\n\n
Antarctic atmosphere and space debris<\/summary>\n
Atmosphere research group<\/a>;
Sustainable Space Initiative<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n
Associate Professor Annika Sepp\u00e4l\u00e4<\/a><\/strong>;
Dr Priyanka Dhopade (Mechanical & Mechatronics Engineering, University of Auckland)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\nEnhanced seasonal predictability for the Southern Hemisphere<\/summary>\n
Atmosphere research group<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n
Associate Professor Annika Sepp\u00e4l\u00e4<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\nAntarctica sea ice and ice\u2013ocean interactions in a changing climate<\/summary>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/physicsnews\/files\/2025\/11\/Picture-1-300x201.jpg\")
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Sea ice and ice\u2013ocean interactions publications<\/a><\/p>\n\n
Associate Professor Inga Smith<\/a><\/strong> (Physics);
possible co-supervisors: Associate Professor Greg Leonard (Surveying), Dr Fabien Montiel (Mathematics & Statistics)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\nEarly warning of solar flare magnitude by subionospheric VLF<\/summary>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/physicsnews\/files\/2025\/11\/Picture-2-298x300.jpg\")
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Space Weather 17, 1783\u20131799 (2019)<\/a><\/p>\n\n
Professor Craig Rodger<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\nImproving modelling of Geomagnetically Induced Currents in the New Zealand electrical network<\/summary>\n
Safeguarding our power grids<\/a><\/p>\n\n
Professor Craig Rodger<\/a><\/strong>;
Dr Daniel Mac Manus<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/physicsnews\/files\/2025\/11\/Picture-3-216x300.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\nPlasma turbulence in the Sun\u2019s corona and accretion disks<\/summary>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/physicsnews\/files\/2025\/11\/Picture-89jpg-298x300.jpg\")
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Associate Professor Jonathan Squire<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\nBayesian Computation for Compute-Intensive Analysis of Complex Measurements<\/summary>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/physicsnews\/files\/2025\/11\/Picture-4-300x247.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n\n
Associate Professor Colin Fox<\/a><\/strong> (primary).
Possible co-supervisors include international collaborators such as Markus Eisenbach (Oak Ridge National Laboratory), Volker Oesch (TU Graz), Rob Scheichl (Heidelberg), and Oliver Ernst (Chemnitz).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\nEmergence of collective behaviour in active matter<\/summary>\n
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Associate Professor Michael Jack<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\nSolid state quantum memories and transducers using rare earth ions in magnets \u2605<\/strong><\/summary>\n
Recent work in this area<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n
Associate Professor Jevon Longdell<\/a><\/strong>;
Dr Luke Trainor<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\nSpin-dynamics of few dysprosium atoms in an optical tweezer \u25c6<\/strong><\/summary>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/physicsnews\/files\/2025\/11\/Picture-300x183.jpg\")
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Associate Professor Mikkel F. Andersen<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\nBrillouin scattering microscopy for cellular biomechanics \u25c6<\/strong><\/summary>\n
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Dr Michael Taylor<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\nResonant enhanced nonlinear and quantum optics \u2605<\/strong>\u00a0<\/summary>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/physicsnews\/files\/2025\/11\/Picture-5-300x246.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n\n
by converting microwave qubits into optical qubits we can connect (entangle) different cryogenic based quantum computers through an optical fibre.<\/li>\n
we aim to detect the THz signatures of e.g. ozone in the atmosphere using nonlinear optics in a photonic platform for compact satellite missions.<\/li>\n
mixing microwave and optical frequencies can generate electro-optic frequency combs, which we explore for spectroscopy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Resonant Optics group<\/a><\/p>\n\n
Professor Harald Schwefel<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\nRydberg atomic sensing with laser-interrogated vapour cells \u2605<\/strong><\/summary>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/physicsnews\/files\/2025\/12\/Picture-9-300x225.jpg\")
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Professor Niels Kjaergaard<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\nRydberg quantum optics with ultracold atoms in optical tweezers \u25c6<\/strong><\/summary>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/physicsnews\/files\/2025\/12\/Picture-10-300x116.png\")
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Professor Niels Kjaergaard<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\nNovel supersolid properties<\/summary>\n