👥 People I currently work with and alumni
🎓 PhD Students (Current and Former)
Dr Isabelle Giddy (2018–2022, UCT & University of Gothenburg)
Giddy completed her PhD in 2022 through a joint program between the University of Cape Town, CSIR, and the University of Gothenburg. Her research focused on upper ocean turbulence in the Weddell Gyre, examining submesoscale flows in ice-impacted regions.
Thesis: “Turbulence in the sea ice impacted Southern Ocean and its implications for primary production and carbon export”
📄 Thesis PDF
📚 Publications:
- 🧊 Vertical Convergence of heat into the Winter Water… JPO
- 🌊 Sea‐Ice Impacts on primary production and export… GRL
- 🌀 Stirring of Sea‐Ice Meltwater submesoscale… JGR: Oceans
Tasha Smith (2019–2025, University of the Witwatersrand)
Tasha's research focuses on the role of mesoscale eddies in shaping heat and CO₂ dynamics in the South Atlantic, using eddy-resolving ocean models.
📚 Publication:
- 🌀The Heat and Carbon Characteristics of mesoscale eddies… JGR: Oceans
Zakiena Hoossen (2019–Present, University of the Witwatersrand)
Zakiena applies machine learning and modeling to study sub-grid scale interactions between the atmosphere and the upper ocean, with focus on the Southern Ocean.
Tesha Toolsee (2022–2025, UCT)
Tesha is a PhD candidate from Mauritius working with Dr. Nicholson and Dr. Monteiro. She investigates synoptic-scale ocean-atmosphere coupling of carbon flux in the Southern Ocean using glider and model data.
📚 Publication:
- 🌊Storm‐Driven pCO₂ Feedbacks in the Southern Ocean… GRL
Vusani Mikosi (2025–Present, UCT)
Vusani is investigating fine-scale physical and biogeochemical drivers of oxygen variability along the West African Margin using glider data.
🎓 MSc Students (Present and Former)
Kevin Schmidt (2017)
Evaluated reanalysis momentum surface fluxes with auntonmous in situ obserations from Wave Gliders in the Southern Ocean
📚 Publication:
- 🌊Evaluation of Wind Products using Wave Gliders… JTECH
Ayanda Mpalweni (2019, UCT)
Explored storm impacts on mixed and transitional layers in the Sub-Antarctic Zone using glider data.
📄 Thesis: Characterising the Response…
Tumelo Comfort Moalusi (2019, UCT)
Studied interannual wind variability in the South Atlantic and its influence on the upper ocean in models.
📄 Thesis
Johan Edholm (2020, University of Gothenburg)
Studied the impact of atmospheric rivers on surface buoyancy and stratification in the Southern Ocean.
📚 Publication:
- Atmospheric Rivers and Summer Buoyancy… GRL
Bongiwe Jojo (2024, UCT)
Analyzed interannual variability of oceanic pCO₂ in sea-ice-impacted regions using satellite and in situ data.
📄 Thesis: Understanding the Interannual Variability of pCO₂ in the Sea-Ice Impacted Southern Ocean.
Gonzalo Ruiz (2024–Present, University of Gothenburg)
Gonzalo investigates fine-scale drivers of CO₂ flux in the Cape Basin using glider observations.
📄 Thesis: Drivers of Air-Sea CO₂ Flux Variability in the Cape Basin.
Nikita Qosholo (2024–Present, UCT)
Nikita studies submesoscale frontal processes in the Cape Basin as part of the QUICCHE project.
📄 Thesis: Fronts in the Ocean’s Surface Boundary Layer of the Cape Basin: The Role of Eddy Stirring