PhD opening: grain-size effects on coastal nourishment morphodynamics
Are you interested in doing lab experiments and field measurements to better understand and model grain-size effects on coastal nourishment morphodynamics? The Marine and Fluvial Systems group in the Civil Engineering and Management Department is looking for a motivated PhD researcher to strengthen our team. We are an active group of researchers pioneering at the interface of fundamental research in marine and fluvial system and nature-based solutions.
This research position is part of the SOURCE program: Sand nOURisment strategies for sustainable Coastal Ecosystems. The SOURCE philosophy is that carefully planned sand nourishments now will create the required and desired resilient and dynamic multifunctional coastal landscapes of the future.
SOURCE will deliver the scientific knowledge, models and design tools to develop and evaluate nourishment strategies in a multi-stakeholder co-creation process. Our Living Labs are two sand nourishments along the Dutch coast. These will be co-designed, monitored and evaluated by the SOURCE consortium (in particular the 12 PhD and postdoc researchers at 8 academic institutes in total) in collaboration with 25 partners from government organizations, research institutes, nature organizations and industry.
Within the SOURCE program, your project aims to identify the grain-size effects on the morphodynamics of coastal nourishments, including the role of sediment sorting processes. Your research will combine small-scale lab experiments under controlled conditions with unique field observations in our dedicated Living Labs. This combination allows you to study both the driving sand transport processes in great detail under varying wave-current conditions, as well as the morphological evolution resulting from different nourishments designs and sand mixtures. With this fundamental understanding, you will be developing new sand transport model formulations that will be implemented in numerical morphological models that will be used to predict nourishments’ lifetime, spreading and impacts on coastal state indicators.
Being part of the SOURCE team implies close interaction with your UT supervisors as well as fellow researchers within the consortium. Regular consortium meetings will accommodate knowledge exchange with our partners, increasing the relevance and impact of our research. Furthermore, you will present your work at (inter)national conferences and publish your findings in journal papers and a PhD thesis.
Information and application
For more information about the position, you are encouraged to contact Dr. ir. Erik Horstman (e.m.horstman@utwente.nl) or Dr. ir. Jebbe van der Werf (j.j.vanderwerf@utwente.nl).
Please upload your application via the ‘Apply now’ button before May 31st 2024. Your application should include a cover letter (emphasizing your specific interest, motivation and qualifications), a detailed CV, an academic transcript of BS. and MSc education, result of an English test (if you attended a non-English taught MSc program), a publication list (if applicable) and contact details of two referees. Since only three documents can be uploaded per application, please combine documents if needed. An interview and a scientific presentation will be part of the selection procedure.
The first selection interviews are scheduled for 13 and 18 June 2024 preferably in person at the campus of the University of Twente. A second round may be part of the procedure.
We aim for this project to start September 1st 2024. We also welcome students to apply who expect to have finished their MSc thesis by this time.
About the organisation
The Faculty of Engineering Technology (ET) engages in education and research of Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Industrial Design Engineering. We enable society and industry to innovate and create value using efficient, solid and sustainable technology. We are part of a ‘people-first' university of technology, taking our place as an internationally leading center for smart production, processes and devices in five domains: Health Technology, Maintenance, Smart Regions, Smart Industry and Sustainable Resources. Our faculty is home to about 2,900 Bachelor's and Master's students, 550 employees and 150 PhD candidates. Our educational and research programmes are closely connected with UT research institutes Mesa+ Institute, TechMed Center and Digital Society Institute.
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