MRes Physics of the Earth and Atmosphere
Student Stories
The MRes programme provides an ideal training for PhD study, and graduates usually have little trouble obtaining PhD studentships at highly ranked research-focused universities, and over half of our graduates go on to study for a PhD. On average, about one student a year stays on at Leeds, often pursuing a PhD topic related to their MRes project. Other recent graduates have obtained places at Cambridge, Reading, Edinburgh, and UEA, among others. Those graduates who decide to leave academia are also well placed to obtain good jobs – highly numerate graduates with training in independent research are widely sought after. Some of the positions taken up by recent graduates include:
- Housing energy consultant (Building Research Establishment, UK)
- Marine Geophysicist (Guardline Surveys, Aberdeen, UK)
- Geophysicist (Anglo-American Mining, South Africa)
- Environmental Consultant (Haskoning UK Ltd., Peterborough, UK)
- Senior seismologist in the oil exploration industry
- Wind energy resource surveyor (OwnEnergy, USA)
Below are some thoughts on the course from recent graduates:
Bradley Jemmett-Smith (graduated 2009)
“The MRes Physics of Earth and Atmosphere is a great course with a huge scope of taught courses, practical learning through field work and research skills learning. Although I had already studied both Atmospheric and Earth Sciences in the past, I found that the MRes in Physics of the Earth and Atmosphere provided me with a firm grounding in quantitative skills. The MRes really gives you an opportunity to learn new skills or build upon those you already have from whatever undergraduate background you may have come from. In October 2009 I started an Atmospheric Science PhD at the University of Leeds and it is clear the skills I learnt during the MRes have given me a huge advantage in my initial PhD studies. I personally found the MRes thoroughly enjoyable and would recommend it to anyone considering a research career in future.”
Anthony Bloom (graduated 2007)
“In addition to the taught programme, which provided me with in-depth knowledge in a diversity of areas, the research-based side of the MRes programme served as an ideal introduction to scientific research. I had the opportunity to participate in a ship-based field campaign in the North Atlantic, where I focused on air-sea CO2 flux measurements. I then had the opportunity to attend an Air-Sea Interaction Conference in Portland, Oregon to present my results. Having undertaken the MRes programme, I felt well prepared for PhD level research; I am now a PhD student at the University of Edinburgh working on Spaceborne Measurements of Atmospheric Methane.”
Alison Fowler (graduated 2006)
“In 2005/2006 I undertook the MRes course, Physics of the Earth and Atmosphere. I found the course to be a great taster of things to come in a career in research. The MRes gave us students the opportunity to undertake field work; partake in conferences and gain valuable practice presenting our work to experienced scientists. This was particularly useful having come straight from a BSc in mathematics with little practical experience in such things.”
Alison recently completed a PhD at the University of Reading (Meteorology department) in data assimilation and and then moved onto a PDRA continuing to work in this same field.
William Thurston (graduated 2005)
“I came to the MRes with no background in either atmospheric or Earth sciences, but found that the structure of the course gave a good introduction to all aspects of the subject before moving forward onto more specialised topics. The course also allowed me to learn computing and research skills, topics I hadn't covered in my undergraduate degree. As a result of my studies, and having thoroughly enjoyed the chance to do my own research project, I stayed on in Leeds to do a PhD and I feel that the MRes was the ideal grounding for this.”
William completed his PhD in 2009 and went straight to a research job with CSIRO in Melbourne, Australia.
Jason Lowenstein (graduated 2004)
“The MRes course allowed me to take the quantitative and numerical skills that I acquired from my undergraduate degree in General Physics and directly apply them to the fields of Earth and Atmospheric Science. The MRes course did an excellent job of providing a concrete overview of problems in each of these two disciplines, and instilled the knowledge and research skills essential for a PhD or employment in industry.
After completing the MRes Physics of the Earth and Atmosphere course in 2004, I went on to complete a PhD in Atmospheric Physics in 2007. After graduating I joined a renewable energy wind development company called OwnEnergy, where I am currently employed. My role at the company is to conduct upfront site feasibility studies for wind development purposes. I also oversee the in-house wind resource efforts—which include met tower installations, turbine layouts and wind resource assessments. The MRes course provided me with the basic concepts and fundamentals in Atmospheric Science, many of which I still apply in my job, on a day to day basis.”