About the job
Join the Fluid Mechanics and Acoustics Laboratory (LMFA) at École Centrale de Lyon, where we bridge theoretical principles and practical applications in fluid dynamics and acoustics. Our team collaborates with industry leaders and public institutions to push the boundaries of research.
Turbulent convection plays a crucial role in the dynamics of planetary and stellar interiors, as well as in the subsurface oceans of icy moons. These celestial environments are characterized by significant constraints due to global rotation, leading to flow dynamics that operate within a quasi-geostrophic regime governed by pressure and Coriolis forces. Notable behaviors of geostrophic turbulence include pronounced anisotropy in the direction of rotation (as defined by the Proudman-Taylor theorem) and the tendency to develop large-scale structures such as vortices and zonal jets.
Our focus is on Rotating Rayleigh-Bénard Convection (RRBC) as a foundational model for understanding these complex flows in simplified Cartesian settings. We aim to investigate the case of aligned gravity and rotation (known as 'upright' convection), which is typical of polar regions, while also examining the less-explored scenario of misaligned gravity and rotation relevant to fluid dynamics at latitudes away from the poles. This aspect is critical for enhancing regional parameterizations in global spherical models.
This research will employ direct numerical simulations to delve into rapidly rotating Rayleigh-Bénard convection on the tilted f-plane, focusing on transitions to geostrophic regimes. Various fluid types, including water and liquid metals, will be explored. Responsibilities include configuring and executing numerical simulations using Coral, our proprietary high-performance spectral solver written in Fortran; developing scripts in Python or similar high-level languages for data processing and analysis; conducting literature reviews; participating in regular group meetings to report progress; and disseminating findings through scientific publications and conferences.

