We mostly study fluid dynamical processes in the context of the ocean, principally via computational methods. While the motivating context is on global/regional settings and we touch on climate/biogeochemistry/ecology/modelling applications, the focus is on the physical processes. On this site you can find information about our research projects (which also includes some non-ocean things we do), and the members making it happen.
Our research activities are funded by the RGC. We are also partly affiliated with the CORE program. Those interested in joining the group as a student/staff are generally welcome to contact Julian Mak, no guarantees we have openings though (we are essentially fully committed in terms of time and money at this present time). If you are looking for short projects (e.g. UG or MSc students, doesn't have to be within ocean science department itself), then please see blurb at this link.
Virryna has been awarded the Anita Conti Fellowship scheme managed by the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau. She will be spending September to December 2025 as a visitor at LOPS (part of IFREMER) at Brest, working on Arctic oceanography related research.
Bobo has defended her PhD thesis "Combined Physical and Biogeochemical Assessment of Mesoscale Eddy Parameterisations in Ocean Models Across Resolutions" in May 2025. Many thanks to the examiners and particularly the external examiner Chai Fei. Bobo is staying for another six months as a post-doc for the time being.
Julian joined as a co-chair of the NEMO eddy parameterisation working group from April 2025.
Fei Er has defended her PhD thesis "The Application of Machine Learning in Parameterizing Geostrophic Turbulence" in March 2025. Many thanks to the examiners and particularly the external examiner Liu Lin. Best of luck in your next position as a post-doc in Columbia University!
Julian joined the editorial board of EGU Ocean Sciences from August 2024.
Bobo has been awarded the Anita Conti Fellowship scheme managed by the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau. She will be spending September to December 2024 as a visitor at the LOCEAN group at Paris Sorbonne, working on something to do with modelling of marine biogeochemical cycles.
J. R. Maddison, D. P. Marshall, J. Mak & K. Maurer-Song (2025) [doi]
J. Adv. Model. Earth. Syst., 17(4), e2024MS004682
J. Mak, N. Harnik, E. Heifetz, G. Kumar & E. Q. Y. Ong (2024) [doi]
Phys. Rev. Fluids, 9(8), 083905
(editor's highlight)
Animation of the some Lagrangian particles (labelled as rubber ducks) being dispersed in a time-periodic double gyre flow. Driver code by Dan Bartley.
X. Ruan, D. Couespel, M. Lévy, J. Li, J. Mak & Y. Wang (2024) [doi]
Ocean Modell., 190, 102396
F. E. Yan, J. Mak & Y. Wang (2024) [doi]
J. Adv. Model. Earth. Syst., 16(2), e2023MS003915
H. Wei, Y. Wang & J. Mak (2024) [doi]
J. Phys. Oceanogr., 54(2), 359-377
J. Mak, J. R. Maddison, D. P. Marshall, X. Ruan, Y. Wang & L. Yeow (2023) [doi]
J. Adv. Model. Earth. Syst., 15(12), e2023MS003886
R. Torres, R. Waldman, J. Mak & R. Séférian (2023) [doi]
Geophys. Res. Lett., 50(20), e2023GL104688
One of the focus of the group is on mesoscale eddy parameterisation arising from baroclinic turbulence, particularly on the energetically constrained parameterisation GEMOETRIC. Research activities include evaluating the impact on the modelled ocean circulation, on constraining the unknown parameters/processes associated with eddy energetics, and on maintaining/developing/implementing the relevant codes in global circulation models.
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We deploy and develop code/models for tackling optimisation, inference and/or data assimilation problems in the ocean context. Current activities including constraining uncertain parameters associated with eddy energy constrained parameterisations, inference of uncertain physical processes in the South China Sea, employing both the Firedrake and MITgcm ECCO framework. Outlooks include uncertainty quantification and biogeochemical applications.
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Stirring (to highlight the central role played by advection) of tracers is intimately linked to eddy parameterisations, as well as having implications for modelling biogeochemistry, ecology and pollutant dispersion. We are particularly interested in the Lagrangian point of view for dispersion, in quantifying dispersion via methods in dynamical systems and/or more recent Bayesian methods, and the associated computational methods.
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A focus we have is on baroclinic lifecycles, baroclinic turbulence, wave/eddy-mean interaction and shear flow instabilities to complement the modelling work on eddy parameterisation. Current work involves employing optimisation principles in relation to baroclinic equilibration, baroclinic instabilities under the GEOMETRIC framework, as well as symmetry breaking in waves and instabilities.
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PhD student (since Sep 2020)
internship at WMO (Feb 2022 - Jan 2023)
Han Seul is currently researching the South China Sea circulation, using a finite element method that utilises Firedrake. Her fascination is with simple models, and the degree to which they do (and do not) reflect the real world. She received her MPhys degree from the University of Oxford, where she studied the Antarctic Circumpolar Current using an eddy-parameterizing model, looking at different parameterization schemes.
Post-doc (since Jul 2025)
PhD student (Sep 2020 - May 2025)
Anita Conti fellowship to the LOCEAN group (Host: Marina Levy, Sep - Dec 2024)
MSc student (Jan - Jun 2020)
Bobo's interest is in biophysical interactions in the ocean. She obtained a MSc degree in Environmental Health and Safety from HKUST. Before that, she gained experiences in biological science from Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
PhD student (since Sep 2020)
visitor at the CRIOS group (Jul - Dec 2022)
Yongsu's main interest is a clear understanding of the natural phenomena associated with the ocean. He received his BSc and MEng from Korea University. He worked with Prof. Sangyoung Son on storm surge prediction using Delft3D and tropical cyclone prediction using echo state networks. He is currently working on the ocean mesoscale eddy parameterization using inverse methods and MITgcm. Along with his research, he enjoys playing sports (football, swimming, gym training) and skateboarding.
PhD student (HKPFS awardee; since Feb 2024)
Jonathan has a keen interest in studying Earth Science related problems using computational methods. He obtained both BSc Geophysics and MSc Applied Computational Science and Engineering degree from Imperial College London, in which he gained experience in applying numerical modelling and machine learning to various aspects of Earth Science, including geophysical fluid dynamics. Currently, he is using Firedrake / Thetis for storm surge inversion and ocean-related optimisation problems.
Post-doc (since Feb 2024)
Anita Conti Fellowship to LOPS IFREMER (Host: Camille Lique, Sep - Dec 2025)
Virryna's interest lies in understanding the ocean processes at high latitudes, including sea ice change, ocean circulations, air-sea interaction, and climate change. She holds a PhD from the University of East Anglia, where her research delved into the ocean response to Arctic sea ice retreat using coupled climate models in subpolar regions such as the Nordic Seas, Barents Sea, and Svalbard. Prior to that, she obtained a MRes degree in Ocean Sciences from the University of Southampton, with research experience in Arctic upper ocean circulation, particularly in the Beaufort Gyre. Outside of work, Virryna enjoys photography, cooking and baking.
Fei Er Yan
(Feb 21 - Mar 25)
PhD student
PDRA at Columbia University
Dan Bartley
(Sep 22 - Aug 24)
MPhil student
PhD at Imperial College
Wang Huanhuan
(Sep 22 - Feb 23)
Post-doc
RA at HKU
Gautam Kumar
(Mar 21 - Sep 22)
Post-doc
Faculty in IcfaiTech Hyderabad
Liu Yongqi
(Sep 20 - Aug 22)
MPhil student
RA at Xiamen University
Haruki Saegusa
(Jul 21 - Feb 22)
UG researcher
Student at HKUST
Floriane Océane Sudre
(Mar 20 - May 21)
RA + PhD
PhD in Marseille
Chinmayee Mallick
(May 20 - Mar 21)
Research Assistant
Research Assistant at PolyU
Ellie Ong
(Oct 20 - Jan 21)
Visiting scholar
PhD at UNSW
Turnip
(Jun 18 - Jun 19)
Boss
Streetcat, stayed in Oxford
Bob
(Feb 18)
Honourary member
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