Welcome to the International Doctorate Program: M³OCCA

Who we are

The International Doctorate Program (IDP) ‘Measuring and Modelling Mountain glaciers and ice caps in a Changing ClimAte (M³OCCA)’ is a unique interdisciplinary research collaboration involving scientists from the fields of geography, geology, geophysics, computer science, electrical engineering, and mathematics. Our research focuses on the main uncertainties in current glaciology and permafrost measurements, and we are developing new instruments and future analysis techniques, as well as considerably advancing geophysical models. IDP M³OCCA has a strong focus on evolving techniques in deep learning and artificial intelligence (AI), given that the flow of data from Earth observation into modelling is increasing exponentially. Following the successful completion of the first phase of cryospheric research, the IDP M³OCCA programme is currently in its second funding phase.

Our partners

IDP M³OCCA is a collaboration between the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), the Technical University of Munich (TUM), the Microwave and Radar Institute of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Oberpfaffenhofen, and the Bavarian Academy of Sciences (BadW) in Munich. We also cooperate with the University of Innsbruck and its long-term observatory at Hintereisferner in the Austrian Alps.

What we do

IDP M³OCCA aims at educating emerging talents with an interdisciplinary vision as well as excellent technical and soft skills. It comprises nine doctoral positions funded directly from our program and eleven affiliated doctoral candidates. Our doctoral researchers will be guided by interdisciplinary, international teams comprising university professors, senior scientists and emerging talents from the participating universities and external research organizations.