LIFD Early Career Researcher Spotlight: Veronika Charpy

Thesis title: Layering in geophysical fluid dynamics

School/ Faculty: CDT in Fluid Dynamics

Supervisors: Prof. David Hughes, Dr Sam Pegler, and Dr Sepideh Khodaparast

Tell us a bit about yourself:

I am currently in the second year of the Fluids CDT programme and have just begun my PhD research. My undergraduate degree was in Mathematics and Physics at the University of Glasgow during which I decided to pursue a PhD in fluid dynamics thanks to an experimental summer project on viscous gravity currents I did at DAMTP.

Outside of my PhD, I enjoy choral singing, playing the violin, and exploring the countryside with my husband Etienne.

What is your research about?

Many GFD systems have a tendency to form layers. For example, in the oceans,  double-diffusion leads to the development of so called thermohaline staircases in which the density varies with depth in a staircase-like manner. This means that we have relatively thick regions in which the density is almost constant alternating with relatively thin regions in which the density changes abruptly. Similar formation of staircases can be also observed in stirred stratified flows or in rotating flows. My research seeks to address some fundamental  questions about the process in which these layers are formed, and about the dynamics within the interfaces, and how these are connected to the broader layers.

What did you wish you knew before starting a PhD?

Since the beginning of my PhD, I have found the freedom associated with independent research a little overwhelming at times... There are so many things one might do on any particular day! In order to stay focused, I have found it very useful to write down the tasks for each week or day before I begin to work so that I have something to guide me towards what I am hoping to achieve in any given span of time.

What are your plans for the future?

Having started my PhD very recently, I simply want to make the most of the time I have. In particular, I am looking forward to gaining some teaching experience over the next few years. Otherwise, I am open to whatever opportunities may come after my PhD, but for now I see myself pursuing research in academia.